tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59484354600479759252024-03-14T12:31:58.927+08:00Life Begins Now, Not Tomorrowdon't let procrastination steal your today and tomorrowsAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839100548392296162noreply@blogger.comBlogger267125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948435460047975925.post-54035046984780873762017-12-05T21:04:00.002+08:002017-12-05T21:04:56.521+08:00Letting Go ... 051217It's been aeons since I even remembered I had a blog that used to serve as sort of a chronicle of the misadventures and the blessings in my life.<br />
<br />
After moving to the sandpit as I called the place I was in for 7 years, life took on its own busy schedule of work and then when the daughters moved over to juggling demanding worklife and balancing that out with being a hands on wonder mommy that did everything on my own without help. The days got so hectic and time flew by.<br />
<br />
In those years that I was away so many more things happened and I'd like to say life was a fairytale in the sandpit with oodles of cash I didn't know what to do with and men at my beckoning. But alas I've never had the opportunity to live a fairytale life ... EVER.<br />
<br />
With little remorse or sadness, I welcomed the news of my rapist death with somewhat a sigh of relief, he would not live to be a burden or a demon to anyone else. He'd already done his damage. <br />
<br />
My mom went through her own battle with breast cancer and thankfully has been blessed with a clean bill of health post chemo sessions. But with all treatments the side effects is the increasing presence of Parkinsons<br />
<br />
My grandma passed away and to say I've accepted her passing is far from the truth. I still often think of her being around tottering to her own devices. But for a lady born in her time she was far more independent and farsighted than expected. She gave me solid advice from the day my ex walked out on the girls and I. She always said "<i><span style="color: blue;">Hold you head up high, be focused on the children, a man isn't the begin or end all of life and reap from the effort you put in for your girls. They need a strong mother to raise them right</span></i>." Her passing in 2014 was a huge shock for me ... but I guess for the life she'd lived and all her experiences, talents, joys and heartbreaks were laid to rest somewhere in the Straits of Melaka.<br />
<br />
My dad had been diabetic from very young, and just months before my shortlived marriage, he'd suffered a diabetic stroke. I still believe if he'd had a little more spunk, he'd have recovered but that's my dad. From the time he'd turned 40, every subsequent birthday would be followed with the line "who knows this might be my last". Even in the years that I was away abroad, every time I called to wish we'd have this conversation. But this year, on his 77th birthday, when I spoke to him, he didn't say his classic line. His diabetes was wreaking havoc since 2010, with leg amputations, repeated infections on the foot and by April this year the dreaded bedsore had made its appearance.<br />
<br />
I'd had my own misadventure in the sandpit, having been unceremoniously laidoff from a job that I'd took up 7 weeks prior and remained unemployed despite all efforts to find gainful employment. So hearing dad's health was on the decline, I opted to comeback home the moment the exams of my elder girl were over. <br />
<br />
We got home, we told mom and dad my big secret of joblessness for the last year, the struggles and friendships that helped us through. I found work here, on contract basis - something better than nothing. My folks completed their 47th anniversary 4th July'17 and the next day dad was admitted to the General Hospital because the bedsore needed to be debrided and cleaned and addressed - it was the first time I actually saw the wound and I realised my dad was suffering.<br />
<br />
I won't ruminate on the following days but on the 30th of Jul'17 .. 25 days after being admitted my dad breathed his last with my brother and me there. My sister was flying home when he passed. It's nearly 5 months now and I still feel like if I look into his room I might find him there watching his TV and I might cheekily say Pa want a peg? But he's not there anymore ... he's gone too ...<br />
<br />
The one thing I've come to accept is that we're all growing up and old and soon familiar faces one by one will become memories and someday I too will form a part of the tapestry of memories<br />
<br />
The girls have grown and flourished whilst abroad. I have built a good bond with them I hope that will last through their lifetime. I've learnt to not allow the sting of being walked out on as a wife affect me too much nor the length of time it took to get my divorce. I'd rather spend all my time and energy in molding my 2 girls to be good people who have something to give back to humankind.<br />
<br />
Letting go might be hard but I've decided that as hard as it seems it's the best remedy to the hurts and pains that it causes by holding on. We aren't perfect people but we can try to live good lives without causing anyone else pain.<br />
<br />
The sun sets each day and rises on the morn of the next and we too will ebb and flow in life ... be brave enough and have faith that for each struggle there is a reward and victory in it.<br />
<br />
Be well everyone. God Bless<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839100548392296162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948435460047975925.post-44510828032190400202013-11-23T15:58:00.002+08:002013-11-23T15:58:39.289+08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sometimes beauty is seen when we least expect it to take our breath away ... </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I have my handy iPhone to help me immortalize such fleeting moments ..</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">let me share what my eye sees in the world around me .... </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9hcUaYqhO3Q/UpBeP8uQ6yI/AAAAAAAAHZg/HY-GaZdZjvk/s1600/2013-11-15+16.34.44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9hcUaYqhO3Q/UpBeP8uQ6yI/AAAAAAAAHZg/HY-GaZdZjvk/s320/2013-11-15+16.34.44.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-coQkTfVgiU8/UpBePISGndI/AAAAAAAAHZc/GXXNPpM3rJo/s1600/2013-11-15+16.34.46-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-coQkTfVgiU8/UpBePISGndI/AAAAAAAAHZc/GXXNPpM3rJo/s320/2013-11-15+16.34.46-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hi1EyYA1noo/UpBePG0F_YI/AAAAAAAAHZY/d879iJvlT9c/s1600/2013-11-17+07.54.22-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hi1EyYA1noo/UpBePG0F_YI/AAAAAAAAHZY/d879iJvlT9c/s320/2013-11-17+07.54.22-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZNTm2f5T10Q/UpBeRRqZ1OI/AAAAAAAAHZw/JQFUwlDcHqw/s1600/2013-11-17+07.59.27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZNTm2f5T10Q/UpBeRRqZ1OI/AAAAAAAAHZw/JQFUwlDcHqw/s320/2013-11-17+07.59.27.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wM8UPYihWwI/UpBeRm6-AjI/AAAAAAAAHZ0/IQtwnZ0s4mc/s1600/2013-11-17+08.15.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wM8UPYihWwI/UpBeRm6-AjI/AAAAAAAAHZ0/IQtwnZ0s4mc/s320/2013-11-17+08.15.59.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GSlhzJJRl-Q/UpBeSJLYbpI/AAAAAAAAHZ4/PiE8wQLkidc/s1600/2013-11-18+16.16.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GSlhzJJRl-Q/UpBeSJLYbpI/AAAAAAAAHZ4/PiE8wQLkidc/s320/2013-11-18+16.16.26.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pn0ubHEme9A/UpBeTi_379I/AAAAAAAAHaI/O51AKLd6neI/s1600/2013-11-23+08.07.29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pn0ubHEme9A/UpBeTi_379I/AAAAAAAAHaI/O51AKLd6neI/s320/2013-11-23+08.07.29.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q9JxmyLFnrk/UpBeUAOtWiI/AAAAAAAAHaM/HmkDpD7qd6M/s1600/2013-11-23+08.23.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q9JxmyLFnrk/UpBeUAOtWiI/AAAAAAAAHaM/HmkDpD7qd6M/s320/2013-11-23+08.23.35.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1NmnVw4l08/UpBespu7PbI/AAAAAAAAHac/-lzG2TMQYH0/s1600/2013-07-27+12.48.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1NmnVw4l08/UpBespu7PbI/AAAAAAAAHac/-lzG2TMQYH0/s320/2013-07-27+12.48.59.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0FupTX-mQVk/UpBer6nhg2I/AAAAAAAAHag/yBhslz5Vj_8/s1600/2013-08-15+18.55.12-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0FupTX-mQVk/UpBer6nhg2I/AAAAAAAAHag/yBhslz5Vj_8/s320/2013-08-15+18.55.12-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GOgRvlFhY5A/UpBesY_x5kI/AAAAAAAAHaY/luSp4yHvgoQ/s1600/2013-08-20+08.54.36-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GOgRvlFhY5A/UpBesY_x5kI/AAAAAAAAHaY/luSp4yHvgoQ/s320/2013-08-20+08.54.36-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zubPzKSiLYE/UpBeul0re_I/AAAAAAAAHaw/NWikSH4mJ6A/s1600/2013-08-20+09.06.49.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zubPzKSiLYE/UpBeul0re_I/AAAAAAAAHaw/NWikSH4mJ6A/s320/2013-08-20+09.06.49.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-69_VUo-Xz-Y/UpBevB38lYI/AAAAAAAAHa0/JlcruUrvfQk/s1600/2013-08-20+19.15.10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-69_VUo-Xz-Y/UpBevB38lYI/AAAAAAAAHa0/JlcruUrvfQk/s320/2013-08-20+19.15.10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CRrS9sEYUsE/UpBevGahTsI/AAAAAAAAHa4/1TnQ8_1462w/s1600/2013-09-01+18.45.10-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CRrS9sEYUsE/UpBevGahTsI/AAAAAAAAHa4/1TnQ8_1462w/s320/2013-09-01+18.45.10-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TSD96AwPUeM/UpBewa9tOTI/AAAAAAAAHbI/zBsqPfCM_EA/s1600/2013-09-17+08.50.55-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TSD96AwPUeM/UpBewa9tOTI/AAAAAAAAHbI/zBsqPfCM_EA/s320/2013-09-17+08.50.55-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QgDFYhgxXxY/UpBexZU0xMI/AAAAAAAAHbQ/I5nDtAQ3OZM/s1600/2013-10-23+07.24.39.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QgDFYhgxXxY/UpBexZU0xMI/AAAAAAAAHbQ/I5nDtAQ3OZM/s320/2013-10-23+07.24.39.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ob95jgClFMk/UpBexLqYnlI/AAAAAAAAHbM/dsx4SeeO6ZQ/s1600/2013-10-23+07.40.26-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ob95jgClFMk/UpBexLqYnlI/AAAAAAAAHbM/dsx4SeeO6ZQ/s320/2013-10-23+07.40.26-1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O1X3fPxE6NQ/UpBeyAiNkII/AAAAAAAAHbY/Evsnf68bYL8/s1600/2013-11-03+20.04.12+HDR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O1X3fPxE6NQ/UpBeyAiNkII/AAAAAAAAHbY/Evsnf68bYL8/s320/2013-11-03+20.04.12+HDR.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F6bIcfuXwcU/UpBeyx5W5aI/AAAAAAAAHbk/sF8-a3O7jzU/s1600/2013-11-03+20.04.58+HDR-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F6bIcfuXwcU/UpBeyx5W5aI/AAAAAAAAHbk/sF8-a3O7jzU/s320/2013-11-03+20.04.58+HDR-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lVGkO7TPWMk/UpBezBMJPaI/AAAAAAAAHbs/_nD8LrWoxSQ/s1600/2013-11-04+07.51.13-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lVGkO7TPWMk/UpBezBMJPaI/AAAAAAAAHbs/_nD8LrWoxSQ/s320/2013-11-04+07.51.13-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g35wb_WM47A/UpBfV1FDfaI/AAAAAAAAHb8/Ys9ZOtxxoEg/s1600/2013-01-15+07.56.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-g35wb_WM47A/UpBfV1FDfaI/AAAAAAAAHb8/Ys9ZOtxxoEg/s320/2013-01-15+07.56.30.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tydzgKxi-FE/UpBfVKJo1ZI/AAAAAAAAHb4/HvhERR7ypd8/s1600/2013-02-08+18.18.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tydzgKxi-FE/UpBfVKJo1ZI/AAAAAAAAHb4/HvhERR7ypd8/s320/2013-02-08+18.18.18.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_UKWLYa7A1o/UpBfV_1JdjI/AAAAAAAAHcA/EOPEp_ZRugU/s1600/2013-02-24+18.33.47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_UKWLYa7A1o/UpBfV_1JdjI/AAAAAAAAHcA/EOPEp_ZRugU/s320/2013-02-24+18.33.47.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h4AWAj0FTb4/UpBfYUP7lvI/AAAAAAAAHcc/eXLTgrqNoKs/s1600/2013-02-24+18.36.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h4AWAj0FTb4/UpBfYUP7lvI/AAAAAAAAHcc/eXLTgrqNoKs/s320/2013-02-24+18.36.59.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bNrmVpLZKLo/UpBfX5-94tI/AAAAAAAAHcU/fi6esG6RBfY/s1600/2013-02-26+12.40.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bNrmVpLZKLo/UpBfX5-94tI/AAAAAAAAHcU/fi6esG6RBfY/s320/2013-02-26+12.40.35.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5jWTXTojMPw/UpBfXnoJc2I/AAAAAAAAHcQ/BnrNU-PP4vo/s1600/2013-03-01+10.17.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5jWTXTojMPw/UpBfXnoJc2I/AAAAAAAAHcQ/BnrNU-PP4vo/s320/2013-03-01+10.17.46.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7MW6J6firvA/UpBfZZCsBTI/AAAAAAAAHck/5klCaA0OpV8/s1600/2013-03-01+17.05.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7MW6J6firvA/UpBfZZCsBTI/AAAAAAAAHck/5klCaA0OpV8/s320/2013-03-01+17.05.43.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jJmw4JJuHsQ/UpBfZiIh7_I/AAAAAAAAHcs/bCYufvlFKc8/s1600/2013-07-15+18.32.09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jJmw4JJuHsQ/UpBfZiIh7_I/AAAAAAAAHcs/bCYufvlFKc8/s320/2013-07-15+18.32.09.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zTPNmhpTPn8/UpBfauvVLfI/AAAAAAAAHc0/dFJ4w80VoKg/s1600/2013-07-27+12.54.28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zTPNmhpTPn8/UpBfauvVLfI/AAAAAAAAHc0/dFJ4w80VoKg/s320/2013-07-27+12.54.28.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O6QEQjsdoKg/UpBfbr50B9I/AAAAAAAAHc8/BGJdDIf1Bwg/s1600/2013-07-27+12.57.01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O6QEQjsdoKg/UpBfbr50B9I/AAAAAAAAHc8/BGJdDIf1Bwg/s320/2013-07-27+12.57.01.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kT3QFy1Ylrg/UpBfcunJ3tI/AAAAAAAAHdE/cso9gFnVv8k/s1600/2013-07-27+12.58.13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kT3QFy1Ylrg/UpBfcunJ3tI/AAAAAAAAHdE/cso9gFnVv8k/s320/2013-07-27+12.58.13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kburp5zMc78/UpBfc2U4HII/AAAAAAAAHdI/f3qo20nNwmg/s1600/2013-07-27+13.03.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kburp5zMc78/UpBfc2U4HII/AAAAAAAAHdI/f3qo20nNwmg/s320/2013-07-27+13.03.55.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0dlOA31ftk/UpBfdtoGm9I/AAAAAAAAHdQ/t-I7EhXHUhU/s1600/2013-07-29+19.09.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q0dlOA31ftk/UpBfdtoGm9I/AAAAAAAAHdQ/t-I7EhXHUhU/s320/2013-07-29+19.09.03.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
.<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839100548392296162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948435460047975925.post-77515596063287290422013-10-04T00:28:00.002+08:002013-10-04T00:28:23.302+08:00Q3 and Chugging Along 2013 .... Oct 03, 2013<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Time sure as hell flies by when you're occupied and busy.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Coz otherwise it has this knack for crawling almost like a vacuum nothing moves.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That kind of "stillness" to me is suffocating.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Perplexes me no end.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am like one of those characters in literature books that seems to be waiting for something in the horizon to happen to shake the world, to wake it up from its lulled lazy slumber.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Q3'2013 has been quite hectic.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Even then I feel like I am in a never ending limbo</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">July 1st saw me take over the helm of the project I have been working on since last year. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What a journey of ups and downs and horrible devastating moments of self doubt when everything you put in with a passion is overlooked and bypassed or made insignificant by those who have a say in your progress.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Naturally it was very emotional time for me.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To be recognised for the work and dedication I have put in selflessly</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But on one hand while recognising my efforts, I was hearing but oh we're still concerned because of perceptions out there that people have of you.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These perceptions are exactly what they are.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Ideas perceived by some individuals who continue to bang their empty tin cans trying to tell everyone this is how she is - she's not good enough, she's not qualified, she's not exposed, she's etc etc etc .... after a while you get tired trying to prove people how wrong their idea of you is.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And I let them think I am whatever they want to think of me.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Am too bloody old to be popularity queen.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When school closed out, the plan was that the girls head to Italy for a couple of weeks to allow me time to settle into my new routine of being in charge.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Luck would have it, tickets paid for and everything ... Chickenpox arrived.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">First Ashna and then Kasha.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Needless to say both ended up spending the first 3 weeks of summer cooped up at home.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Then it was time to head home for the summer holidays. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This year I ACTUALLY took 30 days straight.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My brother was finally getting married .... YAY a wedding in the house.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My brother has converted and they were having a Muslim nikah (solemnization) and it was a little nerve-wrecking trying to understand religious, cultural dos and don'ts so that everyone would have a happy celebration of 2 people coming together in marriage.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Some hiccups along the way, ruffled feathers, raw nerves, egos, and typical pre-marital drama tears and arguements went on but on the day itself ... it went smooth and was an encapsulation of a beautiful union cross-cultural and religions.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">To the newly weds, this is a lifetime commitment and a journey full of adventure - I wish you happiness and love through all your days as you nurture your marriage and the family to come.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">All too soon wedding over, it was time to head back to Dubai - still in its scorching mercury levels and humidity that left you drained and listless.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But day one back behind my desk - had a little excitement in my Carpentry section of my project. We had a chap nailgun his 3 fingers together while building a crate - AAIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE what a welcome back to work.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But thank God, it turned out despite initial fears to be a minor injury and the chap is well recovered and back at his job - a lot more careful now - nobody wants to ever go through that kinda pain ever again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">September rolled on in .. and 60 hour weeks chugged up. Work was moving along. Things were beginning to be routine. But I got a awesome gift end of September from my client - an email appreciating my efforts and my leadership - BOOOYAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH now that was UBER special. Finally a little recognition for a year of slogging ... and it came at a time when I needed it ... so Yeah! Thank you Mr. Templin and Mr. Cotharn ... your words inspire me to do better ...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So as we're crawled into Q4'13 what's ahead? More adventures for sure .... </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Looking forward as the mercury starts to drop ever so slightly ... there's the Dubai Air Show, there's my brother and sister inlaw visiting in December and some definite scenic tours with my road knowledge of the UAE heheehe </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Onward we go .... till next time Happy Trails y'all </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839100548392296162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948435460047975925.post-31113255640726317132013-04-26T23:09:00.001+08:002013-04-26T23:10:09.226+08:00A Picture Speaks A Thousand Words .... 26 April, 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9biUB3Dv3y4/UXqSrDzruqI/AAAAAAAAHKI/XKuMyGUa2kU/s1600/2012-12-17+10.26.19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9biUB3Dv3y4/UXqSrDzruqI/AAAAAAAAHKI/XKuMyGUa2kU/s320/2012-12-17+10.26.19.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pd7DZ94aTmM/UXqS8N9SoLI/AAAAAAAAHKQ/8Ib_XC0V4xQ/s1600/2012-12-02+16.30.14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pd7DZ94aTmM/UXqS8N9SoLI/AAAAAAAAHKQ/8Ib_XC0V4xQ/s320/2012-12-02+16.30.14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yl1SQlbqduc/UXqS9mD-uFI/AAAAAAAAHKY/2u3YO4nvGLQ/s1600/2012-12-04+07.52.45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yl1SQlbqduc/UXqS9mD-uFI/AAAAAAAAHKY/2u3YO4nvGLQ/s320/2012-12-04+07.52.45.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1_gKAJKCSdI/UXqS_tB6enI/AAAAAAAAHKg/RlG8cIXCrY8/s1600/2012-12-04+07.53.02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1_gKAJKCSdI/UXqS_tB6enI/AAAAAAAAHKg/RlG8cIXCrY8/s320/2012-12-04+07.53.02.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MX_JrBW60Qg/UXqTAY8R6pI/AAAAAAAAHKo/m5Iog3AHang/s1600/2012-12-04+08.03.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MX_JrBW60Qg/UXqTAY8R6pI/AAAAAAAAHKo/m5Iog3AHang/s320/2012-12-04+08.03.23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-euwYvSYU_4k/UXqTCLeovMI/AAAAAAAAHKw/AvwCC1t0ccU/s1600/2012-12-04+08.14.11-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-euwYvSYU_4k/UXqTCLeovMI/AAAAAAAAHKw/AvwCC1t0ccU/s320/2012-12-04+08.14.11-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0k6UcLoG_0c/UXqTXZvVuMI/AAAAAAAAHK4/N72aHthyVC4/s1600/2012-12-17+08.05.24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0k6UcLoG_0c/UXqTXZvVuMI/AAAAAAAAHK4/N72aHthyVC4/s320/2012-12-17+08.05.24.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uAsrcwYoLJc/UXqTb6xH7DI/AAAAAAAAHLA/N45-tABHhl0/s1600/2012-12-17+08.05.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uAsrcwYoLJc/UXqTb6xH7DI/AAAAAAAAHLA/N45-tABHhl0/s320/2012-12-17+08.05.32.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JX_L7011seY/UXqTgs28zNI/AAAAAAAAHLI/XmspQKPPg68/s1600/2012-12-17+08.09.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JX_L7011seY/UXqTgs28zNI/AAAAAAAAHLI/XmspQKPPg68/s320/2012-12-17+08.09.35.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VveOk9ewP1U/UXqTiluCs0I/AAAAAAAAHLQ/YbsL2ELjF1w/s1600/2012-12-17+08.16.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VveOk9ewP1U/UXqTiluCs0I/AAAAAAAAHLQ/YbsL2ELjF1w/s320/2012-12-17+08.16.50.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_mrxDj3s_gs/UXqTkpVMJ0I/AAAAAAAAHLY/miFekSnRCp4/s1600/2012-12-17+08.17.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_mrxDj3s_gs/UXqTkpVMJ0I/AAAAAAAAHLY/miFekSnRCp4/s320/2012-12-17+08.17.20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZnoSDbRDNNI/UXqTkyE1giI/AAAAAAAAHLg/lOCnzVmVihg/s1600/2012-12-17+19.44.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZnoSDbRDNNI/UXqTkyE1giI/AAAAAAAAHLg/lOCnzVmVihg/s320/2012-12-17+19.44.26.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2UtmYq74aPU/UXqTl3JV2iI/AAAAAAAAHLo/NIE586qkf-0/s1600/2012-12-18+07.33.52.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2UtmYq74aPU/UXqTl3JV2iI/AAAAAAAAHLo/NIE586qkf-0/s320/2012-12-18+07.33.52.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--xBr5jeg_R0/UXqUYoCtnHI/AAAAAAAAHME/T38Rqt3vsEk/s1600/2013-01-04+14.34.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--xBr5jeg_R0/UXqUYoCtnHI/AAAAAAAAHME/T38Rqt3vsEk/s320/2013-01-04+14.34.59.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pgn_8CqwQDc/UXqUdIPzSTI/AAAAAAAAHMM/tJJKnsoWl8s/s1600/2013-01-04+15.44.16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pgn_8CqwQDc/UXqUdIPzSTI/AAAAAAAAHMM/tJJKnsoWl8s/s320/2013-01-04+15.44.16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i36yJXQlePY/UXqUdnaG5sI/AAAAAAAAHMU/pUb0DBjUDjI/s1600/2013-01-04+16.13.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i36yJXQlePY/UXqUdnaG5sI/AAAAAAAAHMU/pUb0DBjUDjI/s320/2013-01-04+16.13.26.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jfuBoJfKOLI/UXqU-6eqx4I/AAAAAAAAHMc/0vEddxwHS4I/s1600/2013-01-22+07.35.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jfuBoJfKOLI/UXqU-6eqx4I/AAAAAAAAHMc/0vEddxwHS4I/s320/2013-01-22+07.35.30.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EV1FvkcFZ7w/UXqVARo9tpI/AAAAAAAAHMk/tiCunJzyGfA/s1600/2013-01-27+07.34.21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EV1FvkcFZ7w/UXqVARo9tpI/AAAAAAAAHMk/tiCunJzyGfA/s320/2013-01-27+07.34.21.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jjtKpG2Owm0/UXqVBRF949I/AAAAAAAAHMs/M-3sK0LV96g/s1600/2013-01-27+15.34.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jjtKpG2Owm0/UXqVBRF949I/AAAAAAAAHMs/M-3sK0LV96g/s320/2013-01-27+15.34.23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l90hsG3UT7U/UXqVC9IR0hI/AAAAAAAAHM0/tiRYg4lG_bI/s1600/2013-02-06+07.58.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l90hsG3UT7U/UXqVC9IR0hI/AAAAAAAAHM0/tiRYg4lG_bI/s320/2013-02-06+07.58.54.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9dfcXfC2tvE/UXqVDIqr7SI/AAAAAAAAHM4/mCQuIax0nIA/s1600/2013-02-08+18.21.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9dfcXfC2tvE/UXqVDIqr7SI/AAAAAAAAHM4/mCQuIax0nIA/s320/2013-02-08+18.21.05.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5fiQrqP-f_o/UXqVElg5dSI/AAAAAAAAHNE/eUNhjPjNA1c/s1600/2013-02-09+15.48.51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5fiQrqP-f_o/UXqVElg5dSI/AAAAAAAAHNE/eUNhjPjNA1c/s320/2013-02-09+15.48.51.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KsEM3Sj4qtg/UXqVL3QO2vI/AAAAAAAAHNQ/P3cxhVlG9H4/s1600/2013-02-14+13.46.48.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KsEM3Sj4qtg/UXqVL3QO2vI/AAAAAAAAHNQ/P3cxhVlG9H4/s320/2013-02-14+13.46.48.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y43pMzV3RDc/UXqVOtb1A-I/AAAAAAAAHNY/BuZmnX-6ayk/s1600/2013-02-15+16.42.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y43pMzV3RDc/UXqVOtb1A-I/AAAAAAAAHNY/BuZmnX-6ayk/s320/2013-02-15+16.42.31.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mixgYxSmTuk/UXqVOxJSf-I/AAAAAAAAHNc/kyummOz6eqM/s1600/2013-02-16+11.47.15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mixgYxSmTuk/UXqVOxJSf-I/AAAAAAAAHNc/kyummOz6eqM/s320/2013-02-16+11.47.15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cb7yMlzVGn0/UXqVRmrn5bI/AAAAAAAAHNo/xC3NHlHz2m8/s1600/2013-02-16+18.06.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cb7yMlzVGn0/UXqVRmrn5bI/AAAAAAAAHNo/xC3NHlHz2m8/s320/2013-02-16+18.06.59.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O1SX2Np2pUE/UXqVTJp62XI/AAAAAAAAHNw/fbcF0C_pN7A/s1600/2013-02-26+12.40.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O1SX2Np2pUE/UXqVTJp62XI/AAAAAAAAHNw/fbcF0C_pN7A/s320/2013-02-26+12.40.35.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1ONrnZAgn14/UXqVcmAodtI/AAAAAAAAHN4/1bFESJrcGSU/s1600/2013-03-01+10.17.50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1ONrnZAgn14/UXqVcmAodtI/AAAAAAAAHN4/1bFESJrcGSU/s320/2013-03-01+10.17.50.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OwSdPvSiNws/UXqVkJqfd3I/AAAAAAAAHOQ/lr8xeQPn2F8/s1600/2013-03-01+17.12.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OwSdPvSiNws/UXqVkJqfd3I/AAAAAAAAHOQ/lr8xeQPn2F8/s320/2013-03-01+17.12.05.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QjT7xIqyah8/UXqVnI5g1qI/AAAAAAAAHOY/kCGrJGFKuCw/s1600/2013-03-07+07.55.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QjT7xIqyah8/UXqVnI5g1qI/AAAAAAAAHOY/kCGrJGFKuCw/s320/2013-03-07+07.55.07.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cl5HmcOrNO4/UXqVs5eL7ZI/AAAAAAAAHOg/ImLfsaB63Hw/s1600/2013-03-07+08.03.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cl5HmcOrNO4/UXqVs5eL7ZI/AAAAAAAAHOg/ImLfsaB63Hw/s320/2013-03-07+08.03.35.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839100548392296162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948435460047975925.post-80457660596830799862013-04-26T22:30:00.001+08:002013-04-26T22:30:49.427+08:00What's Been Going On? .... 26 April, 2013<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Well we all survived the 2012 mania.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We entered 2013 not quite sure how it was going to work itself out seeing that the '<span style="color: red;">End of the World</span>' came and went without so much a hullabaloo not even a whimper.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">But 2013 on the other hand is turning out to be quite a year.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">January 1st French troops in Mali ... what a great start to the year huh? More war and death and general hopelessness in humanity having lost its sensibilities.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">February Hillary Clinton steps down as US Secretary of State amid speculations she might be looking at the Presidency down the road.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ub5Ojh1dhXk/UXqNKcGds4I/AAAAAAAAHJo/M7PHfrmdZZM/s1600/2013-04-22+09.16.05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ub5Ojh1dhXk/UXqNKcGds4I/AAAAAAAAHJo/M7PHfrmdZZM/s320/2013-04-22+09.16.05.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">On February 15th the Chelyabinsk Meteor enter Russia and cause damage to property and life. Suddenly all those sci-fi thrillers that put Earth in the trajectory of Asteroids and Meteors wasn't just on the big silver screen. It was very real for the people in that town.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In February we had closer to home in Malaysia the Lahad Datu standoff with invading little band of Sulu army. The whole shingding looked like a badly written script by an ailing Barisan National government to further delay from dissolving Parliament and paving the way for General Elections 13 - the one that has been long awaited and call-on for. Malaysians are ready for change. Ini Kali Lah is the tagline .... and I hope it will be the elections we've all had a role to play in and make a difference</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In April we had the Boston Marathon Bombing by the now infamous Tsarnaev brothers - Tamerlan now deceased and Dzokhar in custody. Again it seemed all too scripted from nobody to tagged terrorists with weapons of mass destruction. I feel troubled with how the news was reported, how the facts are being suddenly rushed to fit the need of a nation so caught up in misaligned paranoia. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o0NQ6_SJdfs/UXqNMwNn7JI/AAAAAAAAHJw/nx0Fxtc8V_A/s1600/2013-04-10+18.26.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o0NQ6_SJdfs/UXqNMwNn7JI/AAAAAAAAHJw/nx0Fxtc8V_A/s320/2013-04-10+18.26.34.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In general our Muslim brethren have as usual not been doing their faith any favours. No thanks to the small % of mentals who keep promoting violence and intolerance. Perpetuating their Jihadi fundamentalism to a generally 'illiterate' audience. The liberal and middle way Muslims keep having to bear the brunt of these maniacs. It is not fair to the believers who just go about their lives with no inclination whatsoever to your Jihadi World Domination cry.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">All over the world it almost seems to me people are generally losing any marbles they might have possessed at some point in their lives. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">All in all 4 months of 2013 has been upheavals of all sorts everywhere.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The news is full of tragedy, loss of lives, destruction, devastation. Is there ever any happy news? Good things happening around us? </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">No??!! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Am not surprised. Good news doesn't sell as much.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In the UAE, we've had some pretty strange weather. It is April and we're still got sporadic rain and drizzle. It hots up on minute and drops the next. Probably as a result of a crazy European weather that's still snowing even though it's well into spring on a technicality.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4gI-7sm8eoQ/UXqNJu_PM2I/AAAAAAAAHJg/79gHNUubJoI/s1600/2013-04-22+07.40.31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4gI-7sm8eoQ/UXqNJu_PM2I/AAAAAAAAHJg/79gHNUubJoI/s320/2013-04-22+07.40.31.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In April, my friend Suzanne left for Germany to start her next phase of life's adventures. It left a void for us 3, as she'd been there for me since my arrival in Dubai 3 years ago. Giving me a shoulder to cry on on those really down depressing days. Home cooked meals to cheer me up. When she became a part of my home, she took care of the girls for me when I was tied up and drowning with work.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Suddenly it was silent, quiet days ahead. And we're still getting used to it. Thankfully though it is modern days and a myriad of options to stay in touch with. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The good news on my side, my brother has finally decided to settle down. Some major changes took place. He embraced Islam. My sister and I went down to Malaysia to finalise the engagement and both family meeting up. All the stress pre-event and it went pretty well and both of us are happy for him and our future sister inlaw.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I guess we're a multi everything family. And that diversity is what makes us special. We have learnt to accept different faiths and races into our lives and we enjoy being 'rojak' as we are. Its never an easy path being different from everyone else. But there's nothing wrong in being the rainbow stripped zebra when everyone else is Black and White. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bdhgZoLXAKQ/UXqNRc4oXYI/AAAAAAAAHJ4/LTQOn5bCZ4U/s1600/2013-04-10+18.40.35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bdhgZoLXAKQ/UXqNRc4oXYI/AAAAAAAAHJ4/LTQOn5bCZ4U/s320/2013-04-10+18.40.35.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My driving in Dubai has been an adventure. 2 fines and 2 Black Points later, am still getting used to finding my way around. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Since I am driving, and it does get boring, I do take photos of my skylines to cheer me up. </span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> And with the longer than usual winter and the late but surely here summer, there's some amazing skyline moments.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Am still waiting on getting myself a nice fancy DSLR but for now my iPhone 4S is serving me well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Here's to the next 8 months being as memorable as the last 4. We're chugging along. A few theme songs play in the background - each symbolic of the moment we have experienced and are richer from by way of lesson learnt.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In Malaysia it is an exciting time as we get closer to GE13 on 5th May 2013. I am going home to cast my vote. Because I believe it is my right and responsibility to do so. For my country and her people. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So till next time then, ... happy trails everyone</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839100548392296162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948435460047975925.post-78250221296161270092013-01-28T17:47:00.000+08:002013-01-28T17:47:32.992+08:00We Are Alive .... Jan 28, 2013<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">All that Mayan mania and the apocalypse .... Complete waste fearing the unknown. Instead we woke up on the winter solstice morning somewhat curious if indeed we were in the last hours of life. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Nope everything was proceeding as normal. Nothing out of the usual repetitious cycle.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Christmas was a quiet affair and the first time the girls and I spent it on our own and it was here in Dubai.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We did want to have a mini year end party and we had but 2 guests and it was a pleasant evening of talk and friendship.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZRHvtAec9DY/UQZHGfkuCuI/AAAAAAAAHIw/FIMfva0Ivkc/s1600/2013-01-10+07.38.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZRHvtAec9DY/UQZHGfkuCuI/AAAAAAAAHIw/FIMfva0Ivkc/s320/2013-01-10+07.38.34.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">New Years Eve rolled in quietly. We went and watched The Hobbit together, skipped the Burj Khalifa fireworks display coz it was utter mayhem in crowd control over there and being squashed in such a crowd was NOT the way I wanted to start my new year. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Having said that, I didn't actually start my new year on a very positive note. There was a small incident that took place that kind of seriously dampen my view of the world.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But this is me, I always bounce back. Get up dust off and face the next day with hope things will get better.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If anything, 2013 is off to a very difficult, frustrating start. It's not something new to me but I'd really hoped things would be a little smoother sailing as the years go by. Not a chance. Pretty much the standard status quo.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7Arzjq9xMLA/UQZGsKTDbhI/AAAAAAAAHIY/Hv4PFjWqH2Y/s1600/2013-01-15+07.56.30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7Arzjq9xMLA/UQZGsKTDbhI/AAAAAAAAHIY/Hv4PFjWqH2Y/s320/2013-01-15+07.56.30.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The 1st month is almost over. And then there's all those New Years to go till about April when things begin to start chugging along, and then in another blink we're up again for one year ending and another rolling in.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sometimes the predictability of it all bores me. I wish I was an adventurer always in something new. Something unpredictable and giving me the chance to rollercoaster it coming out ace.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">But reality is we are here and now. We have to make our own adventures happen. We have to deal with the people around us, accept and change what we have to and can. Grow as a person. Develop our thinking, adapt, assimilate work on being the change that people want to embrace. Making a difference however small in the positives of humankind.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XXPCySGjWao/UQZGzemLlvI/AAAAAAAAHIg/JfNTBmY1-j0/s1600/2013-01-04+14.34.59.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XXPCySGjWao/UQZGzemLlvI/AAAAAAAAHIg/JfNTBmY1-j0/s320/2013-01-04+14.34.59.jpg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I may be off to a typical rocky start but hell I'm an ace at making it through the rockies.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A little off the mark but Happy 2013 to everyone ... and the Mayans were partying too much they kinda forget to update the calendar ... here's you, me and the world we live in. Let's try to be that change we want to see happen.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0mVoQbfRyWE/UQZG5w7gyII/AAAAAAAAHIo/G-7qg8t89Gg/s1600/2012-11-02+17.50.20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0mVoQbfRyWE/UQZG5w7gyII/AAAAAAAAHIo/G-7qg8t89Gg/s320/2012-11-02+17.50.20.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Happy Trails till the next time.</span></div>
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839100548392296162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948435460047975925.post-18609499823795409802012-06-26T23:36:00.000+08:002012-06-26T23:45:17.695+08:00Mid-2012 Rambling ... June 26, 2012<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have to be honest and say that my blogging momentum has obviously ebbed. Not from the lack of having anything to say but more from the fact that rambling on about specifics in my life as it stands will likely bored the hell out of anyone.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I think also I'm kinda reached a saturation with how every time I write something that's bugged me and the rollercoaster ride it takes me on before I reach some plateau of self acceptance with the obvious or inevitable, my support team kicks in to reinforce my self worth and juicing me up to the next bump in the ride.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I mean sometimes I admit, I do see myself as a little bit of a superwoman - considering all the bloody juggling I've been doing these last 10years. I've grown up somewhat. Grown older most definitely. Grown wiser not necessarily. I go through these endless cycles of ups and downs I sometimes think I should change my name to Rollercoaster Ani hahaahha and if anyone dares find some sexual lewd innuendo in that - I beg your pardon! I was referring to the constant challenges that come my way, even when I distinctively remember putting all effort to avoid unpleasant situations.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One big thing I've come to acknowledge is that life is what we make of it. And when my mind is cluttered and troubled, I tend to see myself as some tortured soul. But don't get me wrong here. I am NOT asking for sympathy from anyone. If anything it is at those times that I inadvertently make some incredible self discoveries about myself.</span><br />
<br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I've learnt that I have an amazing level of patience when I least expect it, but when I should display some, my nerves get raw and edgy and **kaboom**. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have grown a little worn around the edges and don't cut as sharply as I may have in the past. But again when I should fake fawn over jidiots in my path, I am like a triple blade Gillette razor. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The capacity with which I tend to accept injustices served upon me is </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">unfathomable. And I explode when I reach the threshold (</span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">tahap membimbangkan</i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">) and then I'm not someone you want to irk some more. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But all in all I have learnt, as life keeps serving lemons and pickles, I've had to learn to take it all in stride and try to make something other than lemonade or zezz up meals.</span></li>
</ol>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And it is this taking it all in my stride which is really something that bugs me the most. Because it almost seems cowardice of me to settle for less than what I am worth. I want to be able to just walk up to the people who make unhappy and asked them not so politely "What the fuck is your problem really?" but the rational side of me says to the warrior me "Step back ani, step back. Not worth it engaging into battle."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bringing the girls over has changed my existence in Dubai tremendously. I used to count cracks in the wall. Now my days start at 5am and usually end around midnight. And still I feel like I am not doing enough for the girls. I feel I am not encouraging them enough in developing into better people. I find myself exhausted coming home from my day job and changing into the roles of cook, maid and laundry queen.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After 2 years, apparently I was on a Consultancy contract - hmmmmm aren't Consultants paid heaps of moolah? Why is my bank balance still dark bleeding red then???????? I now was given the designation of Project Operations Manager (<i>whoa isn't that 2 roles for the salary of 1</i>) in the renewed contract. I also seem to be the only employee with a 8:30am to 6:30pm official working hours - hmmmmmmm everyone else is a 9:00 t0 5:30. I need the job - so <i><span style="color: orange;">shaddupurface</span></i> ani</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Reduced housing benefits - which effectively sees me having to put aside another 20k to top up my housing in ever costly Dubai on top of the school fees and external tuition fees which effectively means 46% of my per annum wages. The balance 54% is spent on food, bills, and the occasional treat for the kids and even more rare on myself. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If the telephony and utility bills are anything to go by ... that takes another 20% of per annum income. Food and consumables is another 25-30% of that per annum sum leaving me anything between 4-9% of total per annum wages for the emergency, the incidental, the nice to have, the wishlist and well balances from back home. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Almost makes me want to slit my wrists and bleed the same colour of my bank balance every month. But I keep telling myself you have a job, you are making ends meet, you are still better off than most. That's my mantra. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm no superwoman, just a very challenged woman trying to make the best of things and keep all those who depend on me, look up to me happy. That's all I can really do at this point.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Am working on putting a <span style="color: orange;"><b>Focus Feel Good Positiveness Board/Wall</b></span> up in my room - so that the first thing I see each morning are words that give me strength and courage. Words that make me smile more, count my blessings and give thanks that God has seen it befitting I should be alive this one more day to try and make that difference <b>only</b> I can make by being true and honest to myself and all who are around me.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But if there's one glaring point I have to admit to myself is - at 41, and with all the stress, my body is telling "Slow down girl slow down." Circumstance however says, "Move that fat-ass now momma or you gonna be flipping burgers to feed the family."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So writing which was my escape and vent point has had to come to a halt as I juggle everything else going on with my life and still try to smile my toothy gap grin.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Life is not bed of roses. Never known it to be, but for all the hardwork blood sweat and tears I'm sure someday I'll get the privilege to sit back and watch the world go by knowing I paid my dues in full and more. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839100548392296162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948435460047975925.post-19976531519633882632012-04-03T18:21:00.001+08:002012-04-03T18:21:49.837+08:00New Chapters .... Apr 03, 2012<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>WARNING:</u></b> Time for an inane worthless rambling coz there are other issues cluttering my mind and this is a form of diversion.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With the many upheavals and sudden unforeseen challenges of Q4 '11, some decisions had to be made. And I guess you can say, given the circumstances there was not really much time for me to think ponder and plan through even though I'd been looking around at some options since moving to Dubai in May 2010 of bringing my girls over to join me and for the 3 of us to have our own little family unit away from all the usual dramas of past years.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So in having found myself in a reactive state of being, I had to expedite a lot my decisions to what was going to be good quickly in the short term solution for the kids and me. I decided that's it the girls are moving to Dubai pronto.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now saying that out aloud is a lot easier than the actual process of it. They were on 3rd term holidays when this was decided. All the British/American curriculum schools in Dubai new academic term starts in September after the summer vacation. Indian curriculum new academic years commence in April. What do I do???</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cost wise the former would be a liver and spleen every month. The latter would be the same for maybe quarterly. So I opted with Indian - started my school hunting - not much luck with some of the 'prime' schools - they didn't even entertain my inquiry calls.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally I came upon GIIS and the Registrar was extremely helpful and was able to understand my predicament about school placement for the girls. When they were here in December, I had them do their assessment tests with a decision to embark on French as a 2nd language instead of Hindi. Thankfully they were accepted and were scheduled to start April 1st.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VnbFL81Co4o/T3rEI46RnBI/AAAAAAAAHCM/kMKPtQIEL5M/s1600/Giis+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VnbFL81Co4o/T3rEI46RnBI/AAAAAAAAHCM/kMKPtQIEL5M/s400/Giis+.jpg" width="300" /></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now began the next phase of exercise - getting them into Dubai on a Dependents Residence Visa and me being the sponsor. I swear to you this being a typically Patriarchal society, I hit the first wall when I was asked for the No Objection Cert/Consent Letter from the father. Are you kidding me? The man hardly even pays his monthly maintenance on time, so we had to find a proper way forward. And thankfully having FINALLY gotten my divorce decree, and registered my divorce back home at JPN and getting copies and attestations done for an arm and a leg all the way. Everything had to be done at Ministry of Foreign Affairs Msia, then at the UAE Embassy and then again at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs UAE - and everything at some exorbitant cost.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(<i><span style="color: orange;">Note: Jacob if you troll my blog - yup these are YOUR two daughters as they are now since you've not since them in 10years</span></i>)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I got rejected the first time by some patriarchal ass at the Immigration Dept. So I went again, with all my paperwork and went to the Ladies section and explained and showed more papers, paid more fees, more typing fees, more translations fees, more attestation fees and FINALLY I got my approval for Entry Permit for the girls to travel into Dubai on.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Coughed up 2 adult fare one-way tickets and the kids flew into Dubai in mid-Jan as UMRs - they had fun flying in and the next day I was back in the Immigration Dept waiting to process their Residence Visas - thankfully I got the same ladies who congratulated me - some empathy was a reassurance that not every point of this journey was going to be a nightmare, there'd be pockets of rainbows and sunshine, I left with the much needed Residence Visa in their passports. I did it with a little help from friends and well-wishers who come out of nowhere and help me when I'm down.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So school placement down, Visa in hand - then came the school fees and transportation fees, books, uniforms, clubs, games, shoes, bags, tuck boxes .... in a month I have written cheques amounting to over AED65k just for 2 kids - 1 academic year. How am I managing this? By cutting back on everything else I can think off and going bare essentials. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The kids started school April 1st and are settling in to the new routine. They've had an extended vacation since arriving in Dubai after attending about 3 weeks of school back in Seremban. Ashna as usual goes neat come back neat, Kasha is my little messy queen - goes pretty comes back like a ruggamuffin ahahahhaha oh well, reminds me of my brother as a kid - goes in white crisp uniforms returns in some shades of brown. Here's to Ash and Kash and their new adventures at school and in Dubai. Life's a rollercoaster girls, learn to smile as you ride it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y1YpdNxQL14/T3rFxxNWqyI/AAAAAAAAHCU/n_kSEpR1dhk/s1600/ani_0412.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Y1YpdNxQL14/T3rFxxNWqyI/AAAAAAAAHCU/n_kSEpR1dhk/s400/ani_0412.jpg" width="300" /></span></a><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And people are wondering how this old lady is doing lately - this a picture of me on a <b>REALLY REALLY Good day</b> .... imagine what a bad day looks like then if this is a really really good day - GAWD!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyways am coming up to completing my 2nd year in Dubai. A lot has happened since and a lot more will continue to happen. I mean there's no use in fighting the obvious cycles of life.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I figure after all the time it took me to get through my divorce, make a decision to look abroad of opportunity for myself and finally moving the girls so it's ani and the BratAngels in Dubai (for now) it's a constant evolution we are in.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm not getting any younger. But hopefully getting a little smarter along the way - <i>Not too sure about this though.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I do however note my patience levels are on extreme ends these days - either saintly enduring or demolition derby. The objects experiencing the former are lucky bastards because if it was the latter am in a very vile bile spewing mode now and smashing faces would be an extremely pleasant time pass for me.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But then that's just raw me, a mishmash and I make no excuses for me. Kinda decided I'm tired from living for others. I mean I still am sorta living for others but this by choice, for my kids. But otherwise the proverbial 3rd finger is freely used because at the end my sanity is at stake and mental health in jeopardy trying to please everyone else especially when none of what you do is ever enough for their own demented little minds.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We're into Q2 '12 but nothing's really panned out the way I planned, only good thing is kids and me are together here in Dubai. We got our little simple place we call home, they have school, I have a job to pay those bills and fees. It's not the Gulf Dream of wiping my ass with Dirhams and swimming in pools of it. Everything in modest amounts almost embarrassingly humble but our hearts are happy together - that's the bottomline.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Happy Trails everyone, my mind is a clutter of too many things, but eventually everything sees light at the end of the tunnel. There's God and there's Karma - both will eventually make me smile someday.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839100548392296162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948435460047975925.post-63696594009503989822012-02-11T17:25:00.001+08:002012-02-11T17:25:44.233+08:00Winter Desert Style ... Feb 11, 2012When I came to Dubai for my interview in Dec 2009, I didn't really notice it was winter. Perhaps just too excited about the prospects then of change. <br />
<br />
Winter 2010-2011 was a pretty interesting experience. It was cold from Dec to Apr and then summer kicked us in the face with a scorcher. <br />
<br />
I went on a trek to Hatta - my first attempt at climbing anything vertical, but braved myself for the slips slides and plain bumps as we tried some slopes around the Hatta Dam. <br />
<br />
I also had a day out in Fujeirah with Tony, Michelle and their son Lucas and maid Nani on a day trip picnic on the beach and shopping at the Friday market on the way home. <br />
<br />
There was the BBQ at Creek Park with Sunu, Lal, Shanti, Sudhir, Anil and Savita with their kids. A whole day of lazing in the winter cool, with food on the bbq. <br />
<br />
Last was the 8 hour marathon with Suzanne, Raja and Marcus in Ibn Battuta Mall. We walked so much it was more than a marathon clearly confusing everyone with a Filipino looking Msian chinaman and 3 Msian Indians speaking Malay and cackling like mad. <br />
<br />
All too soon winter was over. The summers make you less likely to plan outdoor gatherings. <br />
<br />
Winter 2011-2012 so far has had the girls here with me. So we had more things to do. <br />
<br />
We went to Al Ain Zoo, up the Burj Khalifa, to Outlet Mall, on a trek up some pretty misleading looking slopes in Fujeirah, a picnic in Mamzar Park, a whole day out in Umm Al Quwain for a picnic on the beach and a late evening BBQ before heading back. <br />
<br />
There are still plans for another trek, another picnic, an overnight camping trip to make the best of the cool weather before the mercury starts to rise. <br />
<br />
Its been a fairly active winter. Let's see how we wrap it up. But with the girls here, it has been great better than the last one. And we are together. That's all that matters. <br />
<br />
What you been up to lately? Till next time, happy trails Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839100548392296162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948435460047975925.post-76745859820581137142012-02-01T02:32:00.001+08:002012-02-01T15:41:16.755+08:00Communication Is An Art .... Jan 31, 2012<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Anyone who has ever met me usually remembers me as the noisy one. Always talking, sometimes strong opinions. Other times non-committal. But always clearly audible. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">That may not have always been a positive thing. But honestly it was my way of covering up my own nervousness. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I can still talk both sense and nonsense with earnestness with most anybody. Even strangers find it easy to have a chat while waiting in queues or on flights. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">But I find two terrifying circumstances when I should speak that I completely lose my art of communicating. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">1. When in the work environment. And especially when I've had a few obvious indications my opinion means nothing. So even if I know it's worth sharing, I hold my silence. Does me favours obviously in my advancement. I get frustrated. I have all these powerful sentences stewing in my mind but never verbalised. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">2. When its my immediate family. My sister calls it the ani syndrome. When something upsets me I choose to crawl into a well of silence or immediately change topics and avoid addressing the matter. Once again detrimental to my own sanity. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">If I can wax lyrical and be so eloquent in other circles, why am I challenged with these particular scenarios. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Come to the conclusion that I am afraid of saying my mind (in being typically cautious ani) and burning bridges all around. Family is important and well pay cheques keep bills at bay and food in the belly. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Casual interactions, forums, workshops are all meant to explore and define oneself. Work and family on the other hand perceptions are precariously pivotal. And yet I realise these are the two areas one should be truest to oneself. Otherwise the perceptions become skewed. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Whilst one would assume by now I'd be a communications specialist given my verbosity in general, I'm, to be honest, still learning the minefield. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Now there's creating communications effective, honest, open and evolving with my BratAngels. We've all been through some tough times. It's now to forge those ties that bind mother and children. That is the legacy they won't forget that they always could talk to me. We're teething now. Tweaking and working towards communicating without prejudice. Wish us well in our journey in the beautiful art of communication. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</span><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Happy trails till we meet again</span> </div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839100548392296162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948435460047975925.post-81360815609955604072012-01-31T03:51:00.001+08:002012-01-31T12:34:48.419+08:00Time Keeping in Dubai ... Jan 30, 2012<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The one thing that is seriously a pet peeve of mine is keeping time with regards to appointments. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I mean there's jokes enough back home about Malaysian time i.e. being late, here in Dubai you gave a different demon to deal with. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Aside from a rather similar affliction of Malaysians, we have the Subcontinent version of time keeping. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Take this example. I made an appointment for 10am because I had to go do something first and then be home to get the errand related to this appointment done. What happens????at 8:20 I get a call saying there in 10minutes. This of course now messes up my plans and to add insult to injury the wait becomes 30mins. Ok so it gets done and I can go with life. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The other kind gives you 9am so I'm up and waiting and if I see the end of a whisker about 5pm of the said day I feel blessed by the dungu turning up at all. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">It could be worse. No show and 4 days later receive an irritable call for not being there at dungu's convenience. I mean seriously. Of course then there's the "someone will call you back for an appointment" which incidentally is now 4 weeks and not a whisper. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">If you need after sales care or customer service or maintenance work done.... Good luck in keeping your sanity intact. It's either too early, too late or not at all. It's never at you the customer's convenience. You have to take time off your work/life to wait in bated breath. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr for Pete's sake keep to appointments - makes for less grief all around. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Happy trails</span> </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839100548392296162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948435460047975925.post-77500588312030543072012-01-27T23:11:00.000+08:002012-01-27T23:11:20.304+08:002011 A Year That Was ... Dec 31, 2011<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">When 2011 came into being, I'd had sort of crawled into the year not too sure what was ahead of me and how I was going to make this move to Dubai anything of a success for me let alone for anyone who mattered in my life.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Every step of the way is always stopping pondering weighing if the choices I make are for really the good of those I care about. But 2011 January came with me feeling sorta like in a limbo and no direction of what was to come. The feeling of loneliness in a strange land kept a stronghold grip on my neck. And to be honest, I have to look back and realise I was having a mild bout with depression. Thankfully though I am somewhat resilient in these deeps and valleys and after some rounds of self pity - which serves no purpose in rectifying the issues, I tried to crawl out of this wallowing and move along.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In February we had an office move. Being not really specifically assigned to any task per se, I decided to attach myself back to what I was familiar with - IT and thankfully the IT Manager here being another Malaysian understands the frustrations I felt/still feel at my state of limbo.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We started the move, I offered to coordinate, to help with inventory control, to label desk and network points and send update emails in my usual tongue-in-cheek manner. Some people liked it, some people bitched about it and generally well things moved a little. Apparently I suddenly created a visibility for myself in undertaking this with the IT team. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Then as the move settled in, and the hiccups and the whining that some primadons in the office got addressed it was like oh-oh what do I do now. Then came along a new little venture. The company was opening up and office in DWC at the new airport and the space we had needed to be set up. WOW MOMMA that was really like out in the boondocks with just sand for miles and every sandstorm meant triple cleaning to make the place look inhabitable.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But with the IT guys Raja and Vallie, we got down to making it happen. There was also Gen. Mahesh - whose unlimited resourcefulness in finding solutions for the interim and long term we made it happen. 4 brown people making things move and shake and from a sand caked warehouse and office space, we got desk and chairs and phone lines and cleaning services into place. This went on till May before the Ops team there decided to take over the coordination side of things that I was handling. Slowly I phased myself out coz I understand I'm not into politics and when it rears its ugly ass-kissing head, I make exit stage right pronto.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But in May, my dad had another bout with gangrene and this time a decision was made. In order to give the patient a quality of life - one not regulated by constant visits to the ortho-surgery for amputations, the advice was to amputate till below the right knee where blood flow was good and healing of the wound would be better. Dad agreed, but it meant he'd lost his mobility.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">3 months he spent at a nursing home post surgery coz he needed constant care. My brother undertook the shuttling around. Mom was handling the kids in Seremban. When dad was coming home in August, I went home for a few days in conjunction with Eid break here in the Middle East.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">At that time we started talking about the girls coming over to Dubai during their December vacation. It was should they travel UMR or should I come back and get them which would mean 2 return tickets *ouch ouch ouch* on my pockets - so ok they agreed to UMR i.e. travelling as Unaccompanied Minors on Emirates.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But fate as it would decided things were to be different. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In November we learnt mom had found a lump in her left breast, the mammogram and biopsy said cancer and surgery would be needed immediately - that was the first action required. I flew back to Malaysia for that, dad was again put into a nursing home for his care. The useless maid we've had for 7 years was going on a vacation - so we left her to carry on. I was there for the surgery, but left with the kids back to Dubai.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now obviously with mom's health issue, something had to be done. So kids came here, and sat for assessment tests and got admitted into a school here and well it was all sorta rolling into a big snowball of activities. We went home together for a Christmas that was silent and quiet since dad was still in nursing care and mom was in recovery preping for her first of six chemo sessions which doctors say will cull the spread of the cancer any further. We pray all this goes well.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thankfully my sister arrived end of December to be with mom for the first chemo session and so the plan of moving the kids had to go into full gear now. We managed to run around in December when I was there with the paper work. And left more with my sister and brother to complete.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We spent the last day of 2011 at home making mutton currypuffs that my grandma is famous for. I cooked some lunch and we took it up for dad's dinner at the home. After spending some hours with dad, we got home and had a little dinner at Gaban - a restaurant we used to frequent before with school buddies back in the 90s. Then home to welcome the new year in a quiet manner - it was not a festive year 2011. And I had packed and was ready to leave New Years Day back to Dubai. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I would have to say this has had to be one of the most trying of years. We had many along the way in the past decade that really tested us. I am blessed that my siblings have always stood by me through my hard times. I am blessed that I have beautiful smart kids who I shall soon have with me in Dubai. I am blessed that despite whatever happens, God always carries me through it better prepared for the next challenge. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Bring it on 2012 ... what doesn't kill you makes you stronger they say and I've not been killed so far so you know I am stronger :))</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Happy Trails and Happy New Year!!!!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839100548392296162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948435460047975925.post-90041691202610177442011-12-04T19:21:00.001+08:002011-12-05T21:04:41.074+08:00Learning Life's Lessons ... Dec 04, 2011<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The one thing I have come to realise about life is that there are countless lessons. A never ending journey on a learning curve. Just when you think you've aced all the curve balls life can throw you it digs deep into its reservoir of experience and hurls you another one. One that comes at you so fast it knows the air out of you and you find yourself face forward on the ground gasping.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The good thing however is that forget the innumerable times you've found yourself in this predicament, the <strong><span style="color: red;">FACT</span></strong> that you find yourself again in such state tells you that you survived the last onslaught, you picked yourself up, dusted off and went looking for the next curve ball life could muster or conjure for its amusement.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">My family has had quite the year. In May dad lost a leg the lower right leg to diabetes, this post losing some toes a year earlier to the same. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The recent death in the family meant more than just the end of a life. It also meant the survivors of that life had to now come to terms with the past we've kept so well hidden. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Then the latest in the series of curve balls was mom's sudden health issue and how in a span of 3 weeks everything went from "Oh ok. Go see a doctor ma" to "OH HELL! keep calm and let's see what the doctor says ma" to "Ma just go into this surgery knowing it's all going to be well" to "It went well and now next step forward".</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Then I have to take a look around and notice the lives around me. All seem to be experiencing one thing or another. Talking and sharing sometimes helps put perspective into the challenges. Helps define and determine the approach to resolving these endless cycles.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">More importantly is what lessons do we derive from these trials and challenges and what changes do we make to our lives in order to rise above all of these with courage and sanity intact.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Every time life starts to knock the wind out of me, I think of Mitch Albom's books that I have read. Some take heed from the lessons of the book, some dislike the style in which he writes and toss the book into the read but not impressed pile.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I remember some distinct points from each book which reading in my late 30s helped me cope with some of the past I was struggling coming to terms with. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong><span style="color: orange;"><u>Tuesdays With Morrie</u></span></strong> - I cannot remember who suggested that I pick this book up but I don't regret doing so. I made me reassess how I wanted to live my life. Did I want to be trapped in my own sorrows and miss the simple pleasures life has to offer or did I want to make an indelible difference in the world by just making the best of each day I was given. I guess you might say I picked the idea of the latter. However having been always the proverbial worry wart who imagines problems for situations even before arriving at the said, this is a huge turnaround from character. I am pleased to inform you the change is gradual but happening.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: orange;"><u><strong>Five People You Meet In Heaven</strong></u></span> - I picked this up soon after TWM cause I liked it so much. This book somewhat emphasised the "do unto others as you would others unto you" and that in living life, we constantly come in contact with strangers and our actions knowingly or unknowingly may cause them to react in situations beyond their common sense. Be good to all we meet, we never know their real stories behind the facades they display to the world at large.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><span style="color: orange;"><u><strong>Have A Little Faith</strong></u></span> - A Rabbi and an ex-con turned Pastor. What complete opposites. And yet what a journey of faith they take you on. How God works in mysterious ways. I have always held on to the belief that we are all heading to the same God, just by different paths. Does not make anyone more or less important in the eyes of God. It is we mortals that seem to qualify each others importance before God's eyes. Stop, prove to be the beacon in your actions and be a reflection of what faith is about. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong><span style="color: orange;"><u>One More Day</u></span></strong> - is a hard book to accept, because it involves the central character's one day with his dead mother, going about day to day things like she was alive - a fantasy to most catching and making amends with a deceased loved one. Revisiting the hurts, the betrayals, the unspoken. But in a nutshell the lesson is we need to forgive ourselves, our transgressions and transgressors and also our past in order to heal and be whole for our present and futures.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I would suggest to everyone to spend a little time going through the 4 books and sharing with me their thoughts of the ideas and concepts of life they may have gleaned from those pages.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I've told myself love to myself for who I am. Imperfection is me but I am still uniquely me. My children may be the result of a now defunct marriage but they are my children my precious ones to mold with the right attitudes towards life. As their mother it is my duty to rise above my own past failures and follies and from those lessons teach them to live more fulfilling lives both beneficial to themselves and to society. Positive confident girls who spread love cheer goodwill and hope to all who may come in contact with them - this is my fervent hope. And more importantly, that they learn failures are not the end of the road but the possibility of other beginnings supplemented by the knowledge of what failure brings and the lessons to be learnt from such.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I keep reminding myself when things get tough, life's a learning curve, always a lesson to be found from each misadventure or success and with some eloquence I hope to share these lessons and insights in overcoming the many hurdles and curve balls I've gone through. 40 is quite the library of experience and in sharing perhaps we might make the experience less daunting for others.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Happy Trails my netizens ...</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839100548392296162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948435460047975925.post-25847484279362318392011-10-16T14:47:00.000+08:002011-10-16T14:47:06.557+08:00Maturity - Where Are You? ... Oct 16th, 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--NEoCzzdYu4/Tpp7EkMSRRI/AAAAAAAAGsM/lq0bzEHXKqA/s1600/maturity+climb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--NEoCzzdYu4/Tpp7EkMSRRI/AAAAAAAAGsM/lq0bzEHXKqA/s320/maturity+climb.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">I came across this image on the hierachy of maturity and felt it necessary to share it with all the web-crawlers out there that might not have chanced upon it yet.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Fundamentally I think these really are quite to the point. The various negatives and positives that one goes through in the journey .. just thought to share it for a laugh or for some thought provoking moments.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Happy Sunday everyone :)</span></div>
<div align="justify">
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839100548392296162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948435460047975925.post-53995569630862778962011-10-14T19:43:00.000+08:002011-10-14T19:43:10.322+08:00Procrastinate Not ... Oct 14th, 2011<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Procrastination is simply putting off or delaying action on matters that require immediate action/response.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Ask me, I have many instances in my life that I've procrastinated on only to in the weeks that pass wonder why why why didn't I do what I should have at that time and then fall into my life hates me mode and ask the eternal unanswerable question why me.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">So having spent 3 decades or rather my 30s in a constant state of flux and then I delay actioning the long list of to dos and then find every imaginable excuse to justify that act, I sometimes look at myself in utter contempt and disgust.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">It now comes to me had I been more risk taking and more action than contemplation, I might have charted a much different path for myself from aeons ago. Instead I have had to swallow the bitter pill of admitting that I was the cause of the life I ended up with. To some degree external parties and forces played their part. But the crux of it all is that had I been more in control I'd have chosen to captain my ship better now find myself aground in shallow waters waiting waiting waiting for a tide to come in and raise me afloat again.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">And with time, I seem to find this side of me extremely despicable. I still suffer bouts of procrastination from simple things. Even updating my resume and circulating it now that I'm here in the Middle East is an excruciating exercise. I find myself reactive to perhaps an inquiry rather than purposefully constantly updating it with my changing scope of work. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Thus it somewhat amuses me that when I see someone else procrastinating on something that if they actioned immediately would be so much more rewarding to their state of being, they choose to keep pushing it to tomorrow. When tomorrow becomes today it get pushed to the next tomorrow. Like damn it ... all the yesterdays are now the tomorrows you spoke about today.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">40 has made me less patient even with myself so what more when I see someone with potential to be some place better finding every excuse ever tried out on why they are not actioning it. One day it's health, the next day it's exhaustion, the next it's change of plans etc. etc. etc. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The list goes on. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">And that is why I as walked through the closets of time and revisited memories I had long tried to repress and forget I felt the only apt tribute to the my late uncle was the line "<em><span style="color: blue;">A life waiting to happen that ran out of tomorrows</span></em>." Anyone knowing this uncle of mine would immediately understand this. In some ways perhaps his sudden death is a blessing of sorts to many. He chose to exist within his own tormented mind seeing everyone as an enemy to the "works/sacrifices" he did - these remain 95% of the time figments of his imagination. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">This is not to say that he didn't sometimes come up shining - he did. But the overall person was a far cry from the image he saw himself in. He was a toxic being. He managed to invoke so much bile and anger and pain in so many people through the years. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">He always blamed the world for his lack of success - the fact that he had talents grossly under utilised or misused seems to have missed him completely. He was quick to find fault if suggestions were made to him, quick to take offence and quick to retaliate in inane ways. Hence much of his life was spent waiting for what he felt was rightfully his but never making any attempts for himself to go out there and take the proverbial bull by the horns.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The 10th of October 2011 his tomorrows ran out 2months and 4 days shy of his 58th birthday. He died from a massive cardiac arrest. His funeral arrangements were swiftly carried out back home. For someone who by choice chose to ruin family ties, it was his immediate family that came together to lay him to rest. We can only hope that in death, he finds his waiting life and the peace of mind.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">This turn of events set me thinking about life. The fragility of life is unquestionable. And yet we find ourselves sometimes unable to accept our chosen lives. Face up to the consequences of choices we make. Procrastinate or jump to action. The quiet voice of reason and subconscience speaks to us even when we try to block them out. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">It made me also realise that from those past lack of action on my part, my life took a shape and a course. Mostly to my dismay it led me to throught treacherous waters. The turbulence has yet to settle. However the fact that I am aware and conscious that I want my life start now and happen now and not wait for things and others to initiate it is a big step forward.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">My evolution is that I am very aware I want to live my life now on my terms, not keep waiting for something to happen. Everything that is to happen is within my own hands to guide. Like a good captain, I have to take control of my ship. Leaving it in the hands of others merely sets me up for more troubled waters. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">So while I relearn my ship sailing skills, I wish you happy trails ....</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839100548392296162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948435460047975925.post-23986766069363326122011-10-08T18:00:00.000+08:002011-10-08T18:00:40.105+08:00Big 4-0 ... Oct 08, 2011<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">August 16th came yet once again and this time it closed the chapter on the Turbulent Thirties and opened before me the next decade of my life - another milestone to chalk up experiences and adventures and hopefully with as minimal servings of turbulence and heartache and frustrations. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">At least that was the plan as is always with each birthday, I tell myself ".<em>ani it's going to get better from here on.</em>"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Sometimes it does, most times it takes itself on its own journey not quite subscribing to my GPS input and navigational skills. Most times it leaves me frothing at the mouth like some rabid creature when things fail to go according to plan and frustrations amount. Sometimes I just step back and let life just ravage my sanity the way it always does without resistance - I've learnt sometimes it's best to not fight back just let it take what it wants and move on.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Rare but yes it happens too, miracles, surprises, pockets and slivers of hope and joy gush and fill me and elevate me back into the land of living, refreshed, rehashed, revitalised until life comes along again and takes its best shot at knocking me down. I keep getting up and dusting off - it must frustrate life a lot that I just don't give up and shrivel and die.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">As the days approached to my big 40 birthday, I spent countless days and night drowning in self mortification - I was such a failure all the goals that I'd set for myself at this age - all was but handfuls of dust. I hated being alone here in Dubai. Not finding an excuse to over-indulge in some Secret Recipe cheesecake creation was even more disturbing. I wanted to just be home, with Ash and Kash and feel better about myself that things will get better from now on.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">There'd been talk about having a Leo birthday do, a spin off from the impromptu no reason gathering we had on July 15th - the first time I'd entertained colleagues in my humble home. The date picked was Aug 18th and the plan was to buy food and just provide my home as the spot.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The party was good fun, the aftermath took days of cleaning but still I missed spending this milestone in my life with my girls. I mean I don't have a complete family unit but everything is about the girls.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">In all of this mania of aging, I decided to challenge myself with the dreaded Dubai Driver's License ordeal. Getting your license in this country is like getting multiple PhDs or root canals - whichever you torture threshold can stand.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">First is the ridiculous number of of fees</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Second is the ridiculous number of tests and assessments</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Third is the ridiculous number of Re-tests and classes for each failed attempt.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Most of the men in my office have at least 4 minimum resits to pass. This even when it was for an Auto License. Ladies sometimes passed 2nd or 3rd attempt on Auto - no need to go into the double digit attempts for Manual License.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I opted for an Auto License which encompassed 20 lesson coz my Msian license was over 5yrs, some AED3500 thanks to a discount voucher from GoNabIt that gave me 10 free classes for 10 signed and paid up ones ... and I passed all tests and assessments on the first round.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">27th September on the Final Road Test with 2 other candidates both sitting for their 5th attempt off we went with me being the first up. Incessant yelling and scolding from the RTA Lady Officer and 2 more harrowing test driver experiences later we were parked in the bay and Test Score Sheets were given out with a lecture - mine was clean and said PASS in big bold.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Nearly died from joy - I did it! At 40 I took on something no one really thought I would pass on first attempt but I did. Why? Because as much as I am a battled scarred soldier, I am pretty damn good at some things. And especially when I do put my mind to it, I create small miracles.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">So at 40 I earned my Dubai Driver's License at one sitting - the only problem now is I ain't got no set of wheels. In time perhaps I will find myself one. I mean I was 31 when I got my Malaysian Manual Driver's License. I start late but I finish it ace ;-)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Perhaps in some essence, life does begin at 40. Perhaps it is because in many ways we have come of age. We have grown up, we have changed as the trials buffed us about and threw us in the deep ends. I look at a lot of people and realise their journeys are no less inspiring. I find lessons from each of their experiences. I find that I no longer wish to participate in the "<em>this is as good as it gets</em>" living. There's my life and it's waiting to take off. Waiting to make history of some small personal measure.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">As much as I do at times want to tell the morons that cloud my happy days with their bile and their self mortifying venom which they so freely spew and spit into my way just because they feel it is their justified right to try and put me in my rightful societal perceptions of what a woman like me should be placed, where to put their sorry asses - experience tells me to bide my time. Their glass ceilings and walls keep me from spreading my wings and reaching new heights but one thing keeps me sane - karma is bad ass, it kicks you when you are not expecting it and it kicks you hard. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">For a battle veteran like me, I've been paying karma dues a long time, my end perhaps is just around the next bend or two or more but its there for sure and good things are waiting to happen. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Hitting 40 and looking at what's ahead, it's nothing I've not been prepared for. But with a little bit of luck and blessings, it's going to keep getting better from now on. I have come to a point where if I don't like it, I say so. If for reasons of survival I have to hold my piece, I keep my distance. If I can change something I will, if I can't - sod it, look elsewhere.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The next 20 years is my life waiting to happen and to make it happen the way I want it to is in my own sculpting hands. No free rides, no free passes, no handouts I know ... but with a good stash of soul fuel and some basic navigational skills, I am so going to find this waiting life and then make it reality and wallow like a water buffalo in a pool of mud till my number is called up and it's time for me to call it quits on this karma outing of mine. Hope this is the last of my rebirths and all past dues paid up.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">In the mean time here's to the 40s to blooming and flourishing and feeling top of the world. There's nothing this old auntie can't do ... come sock it to me life, you and me we're not just about done feuding are we ???</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">Happy Trails everyone and much love always ....</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839100548392296162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948435460047975925.post-82323065099536528962011-08-17T20:36:00.000+08:002011-10-08T18:02:41.994+08:00Life @ 40 ... Aug 17, 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">OKAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY .... I am officially 40 + a day old. Never imagined reaching this point in the way I have and the journey is taken me to this point.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">If you ask me honestly, when I was young and naive I thought by 40 I'd be raking in the moolah with a cosy little home (landed, spacious, garden and all), beautiful kids, a spouse I called my best friend and confidante, and living a life that at that point in my life I considered the perfect life.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">A cross of Growing Pains + The Wonder Years + Little House on the Prairie ... you get the idea of perfect, near perfect. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It's pretty obvious to all and sundry that THAT is completely not how I arrived at 40. I got here bumped and scrapped and bruised and battered and heartbroken a few times, red bank balances and a wealth of experience and analogies to carry me through those times.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I had my anxieties about turning 40. I still am NO where near my now obviously revamped for the n-th time plans. And I was a little down too that it was going to be away from the girls and here in the sandpit.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">However, the fantastic thing about friendships is that people care about you and they make that extra effort to share in your joys. And I was a little spoilt on my 40th birthday. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I got a cake in the office, and a cake later in the evening</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I got an outfit from a girlfriend and it actually fit perfectly</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I got a bottle of Chilean red wine from a colleague which I savoured over dinner </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I got a pair of gold earrings that cost the gifter too much with current prices</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I got so many wishes from so many people near and far it just warmed my heart</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I got a new challenge at work, which bodes well if I find viable solutions</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I was spoilt and toasted and cheered that I felt extra super special</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I turned 40 or as my mom would say touched the tape and started running on 41 pretty happy at how things worked itself out on my birthday.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">The one thing I also firmly believe in is people come into your life for a reason and the clip I attached sorta explains it in way I guess helps us come to terms with the up and downs of the relationships one goes through in ones lifetime.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">I have my own way of expressing the different people who come into your life, think I have written about it once before.. As a recap I kind of tend to look at the different people passing through my life as (a) commuters (b) tourists (c) migratories and (d) settlers. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">My favourites are the settlers but perhaps the clip below explains it better.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia;">In the mean time, I got a party tomorrow evening - sharing it with 3 other Leos using my home as the party venue. Some of my office colleagues will be over and we plan to have a rocking good time. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/bLltt5cPDOc?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Happy Trails everyone ....</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839100548392296162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948435460047975925.post-63103575258554464492011-07-17T21:24:00.000+08:002011-07-17T21:24:42.706+08:00A Georges Type Party ....July 15, 2011<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">After living in Dubai for a year, I finally got around to doing up my home in view of some transiting aunties. I had to ensure tak drop waterface la ... I mean Malaysian hospitality at it's best.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">So off I went, bought a bed for the 2nd room, moved the existing sparse furniture around, threw in a shelf fro IKEA that doubles up as a TV stand and collectibles, and bought rugs for the hall floors ... a bit of creative arrangments and I had a cozy hall going, and guestroom for the 3 aunties. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">They were not just fairly impressed but VERY impressed with my humble home away from home and my version of George hospitality here in the sandpit. I had a lovely weekend with them before sending them off on their next leg of the trip to Italy and onwards to Edinburgh. Even my little garden on the balcony got it's fair share of compliments. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I was proud as hell ... in fact I feel I've just the right mix and match that makes me feel like going home to my place and vegetating in my silence :) and am sure the girls when they come here for their initial visit which I plan year end will like this home too :))</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">So having passed with flying colours on the 3 aunties outing, I decided to try and be a little more bold and with a fellow suspect Siny, agreed to co-host a little do in my place of a few select colleagues whom I feel some affection towards. Naturally this being DXB there was just Siny and myself and the rest were all chaps.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">We had a small group of 16, I cooked 6 dishes, the guys had been warned this was a BYOB&B party - booze is a little too costly for my pockets. Which I have to say, everyone came with a little something and the little do that was meant to kick off from 7pm started warming up by 8:30pm - by Dubai standards - I guess I arm twisted everyone on being timely with threats to give away all the food to the guards if people didn't show up on time.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">We ended the evening somewhat closer to 2:30am the next morning with some really spirited souls and all round good laughter, jokes and friendship.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">There was no special reason for the dinner gathering other than we'd been talking about something like this for so long that it seemed timely to finally get down to actually doing it and with the right mix of folks. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">At the end of the night it felt like one of the typical Georges Christmas parties, food abound, spirits, someone or other giving the laughs and some unforgetable gems like unicorns have 2 horns after looking at a really suspect tripod someone was using that evening - it alludes to some more kinky looking toy than a tripod - if you follow the meaning here.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">I have to say even though my feet were killing me from standing from 8:30am cutting dicing chopping marinating cleaning and cooking - the whole afterglow of a successful evening of throwing people together was such a satisfaction. The 2 office boys that came were so touched to have been part of the group, we had managers,we had execs and we had the admin support as well ... in typical Georges parties, it is not what you are that matters but who you are as a person that does. And I think I had a really great group over. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">And I think everyone else as we sit here laughing over and over again about all the nonsense from that evening, I gather they all also had a really good time. I might do some more sporadically over the coming months. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">In Dubai going out is such an expensive affair and this small gathering was a welcome respite from the monotony of working life. A chance to kick-back and relax with friends.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia;">It almost made me feel like home ... let's see if there's another round of this gathering.</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839100548392296162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948435460047975925.post-65224750266687492432011-07-11T15:26:00.002+08:002011-07-11T16:44:37.949+08:00Sandpit Musings ... 11 Jul, 2011<div align="justify">Well Well Well ... (almost sounds like the start of a Duffy song don't it?) ... been a while since I put fingers to a keyboard and tried to capture the myriad of thoughts that continuously plague my mind.</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">Sometimes I have felt the gush of words but no motivation to actually type it all out to the universe at large. At times I've felt all words have dried up and am wordless thought devoid numb from the endless bombardment of negatives and trials that keep coming up my alley even as I try to side step and stay out of trouble.</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">I have longed for a new beginning, but I keep getting rehashes from the past, like unwelcome relatives past experience clings on making anything new easily tarnished by their lack of optimism for the future.</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">The metamorphosis from cocoon to butterfly that I had hoped would have taken place seems to have become a shrivelled shell with nothing colourful bursting forth. I find despite the increasing sense of needing like-minded company to save me from sure insanity if I continue in this hermit like existence, it is the hermit solitude in which I feel least stressed, least demanded upon.</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">It seems like my life has ebbed away and all opportunities with it. I feel that the trials and battles of the last decade now legally over refuses to let me get back into the saddle and ride with the wind in my hair and sun on my face. Instead it seems to hover invisible but ever present in limiting myself because precedence is how people view you - your past it seems inevitably catches up and a 1+1=2 mathematic deduction is made as to your capabilities. </div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">In my case single mom+divorcee = incapable of being asset to work environment - something I've tried to battle since the start of this misadventure. But it keeps persistently rearing its ugly unwanted head. And I've come to a point, I am tired of trying to convince anyone that I am much better than their "spotlight seeking stars" just because I prefer to make it happen with as minimal fanfare. I keep telling myself .ani you have to be mercenary, grab any chance at propelling yourself into the spotlight, your youth is gone, all you have are handful of chances before you stand holding but a handful of dust.</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">But I lack that "kill agenda" in my nature. I work my ass off and watch the accolades go elsewhere, the promotions and recognition to someone else and remain the unknown in the shadows. </div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">And I am constantly panic attacked looking that I hit 40 in just under 5 weeks. I still have nothing I can be deemed successful by. I had that time, but I made choices which shifted the whole balance and put me at the losing end when I had thought I had made decisions for the betterment of my future. No amazing bank balance, no gold, no property, nothing! ... material measures nonetheless - but these are what the society at large uses as yardsticks to measure a persons success.</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">Still struggling, still trying to figure out if I take anymore blind leaps of faith where will it land me and how will I pull through. People tell me my success is in that I have 2 beautiful and special daughters, that my rewards for the sacrifices I make now is in watching them become good human-beings and they will understand in time that what I cannot give them now as easily as their friends and peers get is because I am working for a better tomorrow for them.</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">It would be fact to say I want my kids to be proud of me and the decisions I've had to make to give them a future. It would be a lie to say that I am not often wracked with guilt for not being their ideal deep pockets parent. But this is the life and the truth of our existence.</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">Blaming anyone else is no longer a viable excuse. They've moved on with their lives, we are but non-existent. I wish for more strength from within as I take on the challenges of present day and those I am much aware await me in the future. Is wanting the past to stay exactly where it is should such a bad thing? I mean yes there are lessons learnt - which is not a bad reference point, but why does the fear of all things past continue to grip my heart as I try to make better todays and tomorrows.</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">Am I so lacking in self determination and confidence that I cannot shake off the foreboding the past places upon my present as it clouds the future?</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">Why am I still questioning and not finding answers when by now at 40 life should make some sense even as the world around remains in chaos.</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">I guess the education of .ani is far from over. I continue on my learning curve and I am still learning me and how far I can go for love, acceptance and peace of mind. I'm in battle with myself - probably the hardest battle one has to face up in ones life. All other battles have clear definition of win or lose or draw but when you battle your self, how do you claim victory? </div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">Let me scurry away into the recesses of my mind and heart and perhaps I will eventually find my answers by observing the world as it revolves around me completely oblivious of my presence. </div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">Till then peace out and happy trails everyone, .... .ani is going through another round of self dissection - hopefully there are answers as I too evolve with the ticking of time and shifting of the sands.</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839100548392296162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948435460047975925.post-45729708767423481232011-04-24T22:45:00.002+08:002011-04-24T23:36:55.210+08:00Blessed Easter .... April 24, 2011<div style="text-align: justify;">Firstly Blessed Easter greetings from me and my girls to all of you and yours. I am hoping if you had participated in the Great Lent, you have come away with some lessons, some new self realizations and a better understanding of the universality of God.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For me away from home and loved ones and so far away from the daily lenten season offerings at dinner time that mom or the maid lays out for me when I used to drag my sorry tired ass home after a day of maneuvering traffic and all types of people, I found that I either was going to subsist on milk and oats or bread or really expensive tiny portions of Indian takeaway for meals.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So being me, I sent some urgent sms-es to mom back home and got a crash course in cooking stuff like dhal and south Indian sambar. I even found tinned tofu (soya bean curd) and managed a dish I'd pulled from memory and maybe this spice and that condiment. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">All in all I survived lent by being innovative with the stuff I found and rigged up. From mushrooms stir fried, in a creamy spicy gravy, to curry with button mushrooms - go figure. But I was pretty excited at the fact that I was not afraid to try something and I kept improvising. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Cooking in Dubai to me is quite like the way I've been taking to life - mad adventures, since finding plans go awry no matter how much planning you put into it. The problem with plans is all parties have to subscribe to it otherwise it's going to go belly-up kaboom.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So I lived lent and creative cooking to keep me fed ... although I learnt that even though am a partial vegetarian by choice, I do still need the occasional meat dish. After 50 days, I found myself so terribly exhausted at the end of each day and so drained. I guess this is part of growing old. From times when I used to fast till sundown, to fasting till noon prayers, to going completely vegetarian for the duration, I am wondering how with the onset of years will I keep up. I guess one just have to make up one's mind and keep to the trail.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But I also came past the 1st quarter of 2011 finally feeling things were looking up career wise. Small steps but I will get where I want to be ... move it a decade or so back from original plan but it's working slowly but surely. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I found that also I although I have in the past taken a long sabbatical from community worship due to my little delusion with God, and with people I had grown up with, when I started going again thanks to some cajoling from some really old friends, I found my spirit strengthened and recharged.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">To be frank, since I returned to Dubai in January, I have not attended any Qurbanas here. The impersonal indifference of the parish and parishioners unlike the familiar people and mango trees in the small little place I've always called my place of worship in Brickfields, makes me stay away. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The priests and it's no fault of theirs I am supposing, just that people do everything in fast forward here, run through the Sunday evening services (Sunday being the start of the working week) leave me breathless and completely disconnected from the entire service that I love so much back home. Orthodox services are never short, but I love the services and the beauty of the whole process and the whole attending community in sometimes out of tune singing but there was a common link to hold us together.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here I am anonymous. No one knows or cares to know me. If they did, I'd be excellent fodder for gossip and disapproving looks because I dress different, I talk different, I am not fluent in the lingua franca of the Indian Orthodox church i.e. Malayalam. Although I can fluently follow the services in transliterated Malayalam, I don't read the text in original, I cannot carry an Spanish Inquisition type conversation.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Anonymity works wonderfully if you want to hide from the world. But at church? Why would you hide? Lacking that sense of camaraderie I have back home with childhood friends, church elders, youths and young children, I feel like an alien in my own place of worship. And almost certainly Sting's Legal Alien comes to mind.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So I stayed miles away (literally too) from the compound of the St. Thomas Cathedral in Dubai. Having my own prayers in the evenings, conversations and contemplations. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But I learnt something. There was a purpose in the idea of community coming together in worship. If I've reached a spiritual thirst, I'd have to say it is now. I want to feel my soul resonate with the presence of God. I see my mother and my sister - to 2 really prayerful members of my family. My father and brother do pray too but the conviction in their prayers I see in my mom and sister. I on the other hand have this strange relationship with God.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I find peace sometimes in sitting through the ritual like Orthodox prescribed daily 7x prayers. Sometimes I find calm and serenity in speaking out aloud to God like he was sitting next to me. In these sessions, I find myself angry, remorseful, contrite, forgiving, soul searching. And in most instances it ends with me sobbing my heart out to God to help me make the right choices for my life as I try to make them for my girls and family's future.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The strangest of sensations often follows such an emotional outburst, I find that I feel like my head gently caressed and soothe as I lay it on the lap of the Lord. He knows my heart best, better than myself. He knows my wrongs and rights. He carries me through all life has thrown me.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">During the final weeks of lent, the one we call Passion Week, I chose to read Mitch Albom's book Have a Little Faith. And what a resonating voice of God I heard. It may not be everyone's piece of cheesecake and coffee, but I found the ideas of both the rabbi and the pastor - both central figures of this book give structure to my own personal view of religion and faith and God.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I know I am a child of God in my imperfections. But I do not use my imperfections as an excuse to hurt anyone, if anything I try very hard to think of myself in the other person's shoes. I am a long way from my stairway to heaven, but I have to pull myself together and go pray in a community environment once in a while too. I should start going to church in Dubai even though it makes me pine for home more and more.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">God is ever patient, and ever loving. He waits for me to find his plans for me, of that I know. Always He is there in my life, in all the people that I meet and interact with, in family and friends, in the simple gestures of strangers. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Blessed Easter everyone. You me everyone God Blesses us regardless of what religious faith you subscribe to. If only we could openly embrace each other without bias, suspicion or fear - this world would truly be a nation of believers that one should do unto others as one wishes others to be unto them. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">My love to all ..... God Bless!</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839100548392296162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948435460047975925.post-49351069286803697912011-04-05T20:44:00.003+08:002011-04-06T12:35:21.545+08:00Learning Ani .... 04 Apr 2011<div align="justify">I am constantly on a learning curve. And the one thing that facinates me more than information is ironically me. I am a completely uncomprehensible person even to myself. But I have come to learn some things about myself living in this sandpit the last 11 months.</div><br /><ol><br /><li><br /><div align="justify">I REALLY suffer fools poorly</div></li><br /><li><br /><div align="justify">It upsets me when I have nothing tangible to reflect upon at the close of each day</div></li><br /><li><br /><div align="justify">I am VERY afraid of love or anything to do with it</div></li><br /><li><br /><div align="justify">I might make a little more money than I did but it doesn't solve much of problems in fact it creates more and more and more</div></li><br /><li><br /><div align="justify">I cannot attend church here without coming away feeling repulsed and agitated that I'd rather not go to church but wait to be home and visit my own childhood parish where I feel most at home</div></li><br /><li><br /><div align="justify">Am not a bra burner but men (and women) who think a woman's place is 3 steps behind brainless mutton heads should be hung by their toenails and flogged </div></li><br /><li><br /><div align="justify">Has grown tired of being Super Woman, and would like to just be me a messed up vulnerable scared female looking for a little understanding and a break from trying to solve the problems of the world, and have someone take care of me instead</div></li><br /><li><br /><div align="justify">Finds it extremely nerve-wrecking that the one male specimen who seems to completely understand and stand by me in all of my worst and lowest points since coming to this sandpit and in complete blind fate accepts and loves me as is would unsuspectingly elevate me to the category of Cougar of the not-hootchie-mama kind</div></li><br /><li><br /><div align="justify">That even as the clock ticks closer to 40 I still feel on somedays no older than 17 in soul even whilst looking at the completely out of shape reflection in the mirror and the countless strands of grey and on other days closer to the grave with every step and breath</div></li><br /><li><br /><div align="justify">I have an amazing threshold for pain and disappointment - that even as it keeps piling skywards, I still manage to carry on with a toothy grin a kind word a joke to make someone else laugh</div></li><br /><li><br /><div align="justify">That even though I accept separation from people I love fairly easily, I CANNOT come to terms with being away from my girls and at times I find myself all choked and teary just thinking of them - being mommy long distance sucks! </div></li></ol><br /><p align="justify">In usual technology fashion the rest that I typed out here was eaten in the internet world of Etisalat ... and so here's my incomplete list of learning ani - an ever on-going subject of study by the Terrible Threesome of Me Myself and I :)</p><br /><p align="justify">Be well my friends ... </p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839100548392296162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948435460047975925.post-18552524664970498962011-03-20T12:00:00.002+08:002011-03-22T13:17:34.797+08:00Tragic Comedy of Being Ani ... 20 March 2011<div align="justify">There are many times in my life, I wish I could sit back and watch myself going through the motions of living. As a habit, I usually speak of myself in the 3rd person either much to the amusement or irritation of the language purists. </div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">But then again there's always a deafening din when me myself and I jostle to be heard - hence refering to either one of these horribly opinionated avatars in the 3rd person is probably the best justice I can do for myself.</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">Having said that though, it seems that no matter what I do or how I try to approach something, someone, inevitable someone out there will find a reason to dislike me. I have long given up on the perception of being liked by anyone. And everytime someone verbalises that I am such a popular character, I take it with a pinch of salt, my popularity is almost always then accompanied by disaster.</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">My efferversence is read as apple polishing, brown nosing and brownie pointer. My enthusiams to introduce changes in existing processes is always met with "what the **** does she know about what I do" and apparently in Punjabi there's a saying "trying to teach me how to **** when I've a 1000 children" ... I guess you can follow the bawdy colour these take on. It is interesting to note, I've always stayed far away from being any of those 3 because I cannot live with myself if I was such. There is no pride or self satisfaction in being such a low pond scum. But recently I had the honour of being called one of the 3 ... it took great resolve and good friends to stop me from knocking a few teeth out. But I am not amused, and the specimen has crossed the line. And when I am not amused, I have no sympathy either.</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">Why are people so afraid to admit that sometimes the person looking in from the outside see more than the person right smack in the middle - coz mostly you don't come with Fly Eyes to see 360 round you. Why are people so afraid of suggestion, feedback, criticism? Why is it I have to take all these in the positive light even when it's downright insulting but should I flip side the coin then I am this mega wannabe with no substance apparently.</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">To me, I've come to loathe my inner self so much. Why do I care if someone else is fucking up big time, so long as it ain't going to fall on my lap. Why do I think no no the other unsuspecting clown has no clue where all this is going, and having gone through so many baptisms of fire, it should interject - save them from the same painful lessons.</div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify"></div><br /><div align="justify">Am beginning to think, I am a tragedy to myself. I should learn to ignore. Ignorance is bliss they say. If only it were that easy to ignore someone ramming a cannon up my arse and telling me it's not going to hurt - all I can say is effing asshole! You kinda displayed your extreme insecurity and level of pond scum mentality. You have an issue, have the testicles to take it up where you want it to go, not hammer the female just coz I am not cullable like most women you might know. Submission is not an option for me. I am a battle hardened combat survivor, you don't mean feck to me anyhows, but you underestimate like most people, having me fight your battle gets you farther in the field. Also I never leave or abandon a soldier.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">This is the game of life and we are all players on a stage. Let us see where it leads to ... till then happy trails ....</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839100548392296162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948435460047975925.post-4788015936635251252011-03-08T17:14:00.002+08:002011-03-08T17:43:23.531+08:00Times They Are A Changing ... 08 Mar 2011<div align="justify">If 2011 had kicked off somewhat downcast and devoid of hope, it seems that the old adage it is darkest before dawn is true.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">When everything looked it's worst possible and I was near the end of my sanity thread, things suddenly seemed to have a light at the end of this tunnel.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">And it is all quite accidently evolved. I was as they would say 'membawa diri' from the department I used to sit in and decided to take up a non-threatening position in IT and assist with the administration of new machines and asset tagging in the new office.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">What was a quiet unassuming task seemed to manifest itself into something else on its own accord the moment I started sending out routine updates on the progress of the move.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">One unplanned trip out to a new site has given me new opportunities within this organisation and I am excited. For the first since I got to Dubai do I feel alive. That my day end is tangible. I can go to sleep feeling accomplished.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Naturally all things come with a price. From complete mind blowing boredom, I never have a moment these days. But this is great. This is what I came out here for. To work honestly and earn my moolah honestly. I am hurting no one, using no one, just chugging along in my life with as few complications as possible. My end goal - give my girls a good shot a life with a good education.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">I am constantly reminded that it is darkest before daylight, but there is always daylight as surely as there will be sunset each day. We are learning to fly, learning to live.</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Living da vida loca I am not, but to the month of March, let it be the start of new and good things. Perhaps it takes a little longer but good things happen to good people I am told :))</div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">Take Care ... </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify"> </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839100548392296162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948435460047975925.post-5084037441960954672011-02-26T20:37:00.005+08:002011-02-26T21:34:48.773+08:00Contemplations ... Feb 26, 2010<div style="text-align: justify;">The tragedy of being me is I think too much. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">All the time my mind is thinking thinking thinking till I want to explode from all the thoughts like driving down some of these 5 laned highways here in Dubai I have concurrent lines of different thoughts. All evaluating, all contemplating all trying to understand the greater meaning of my existence on this earth.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The other tragedy of being me is I am too bloody straight for my own good. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I cannot lie to save my ass nor can I lie if asked something directly. Instinctively I speak only the truth of my thoughts. On hindsight later, I'd end up kicking myself black and blue thinking why did I say that and go screw up a possibility of endearing myself to someone in a position to help me. Instead I call a spade a spade and an asshole an asshole .... there's just no two ways about that. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Someone one told me I am too good a person too pure. The tragedy in that is I am often viewed as gullible and taken for a fool. And the irony in this is, I actually let the other person take advantage of me knowingly in some circumstances.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The worst of all these tragedies is to see what the end of something is before it actually happens. Some people call it foresight, some people call it vision, some people might even call me a witch but the tragedy in this is the choice. I can either listen to that little voice inside my head and turn around and walk right away or I can hear it and still take a leap of faith. In extremely rare circumstances has my little voice been wrong. And usually my leap of faith ends up with me splat on on asphalt completely pissed off with myself.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And in all of this I think and I think and I think. Sometimes I almost hear the cogwheels inside my head roll in all the different lanes of thoughts that are crossing each other turning left right maybe a U-turn or two ... some collisions take place and momentarily I am silenced, in a daze trying to reconcile what just went on inside my head.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And over the years, I seem to have two characteristic which almost makes me as bad as an old lady talking to her cat ... senile in some instances. I am either bubbly and effervescent or completely silent and irreproachable. And people who do not understand my circumstance in life cannot fathom why I am like this. I have stopped trying to tell people that I am only human I have my low periods too and I need my space.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">These days when I find people trying so hard to suck the very life of me, Happy's words comes to mind "you give too much of yourself, till you have no value" ... nothing less succinct and arrow to the heart than this. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I used to yearn for some solitude in my life to get my own self in order instead of being pulled in so many directions at the same time. And the only time I might find solitude was the few hours of sleep at night. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now I find myself trying to find as much work to keep myself occupied because the solitude is deafening heavy and un-amusing. I even shock myself at how long I can sit at my dining table starring out of at the sky above and sometimes feel completely blank inside my head and my heart - and I have to check to see if I am still breathing or have I died in this position.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Why I am still searching for what fulfills me? I have 2 beautiful children - that should be sufficient right? Only I am striken with guilt that I am earning barely enough to give them all I had hoped too during my pregnancies ... all those dreams of a little cozy home, occasional trips abroad, fun family time, education, activities ... the list is endless. When I fight this guilt saying I am doing my best and my girls are troopers, this world is a hard place and we've got to be stronger than average to rise above it, I am challenged by the money others have and the lifestyles they accord their children, and I know sometimes I fall awfully short even in my children's eyes. Nothing worse I think then for a mother to feel she is failing her children. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Which is why I have made some decisions of late. Things have to change. All the shit ass luck has to stop here right now with me. All that is written in my stars and the sins of forefathers and curses of generations must end now. Even if I have to give my life so this is where it all stops and the girls are given fresh lease of life, clean slates no past histories that cloud their futures, I will give my life willingly.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As a mother, the successes of my children is more important to me than my own needs. Speak to most mothers they will concur. To what lengths and ends of the earth we will go to save our children only a mother knows. No doubts there are women who will go to great lengths to make another suffer through life for their own gains, but life is a wheel and what goes around comes around. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Whilst I watch the sun begin its journey into the night, I am reminded of the phoenix yet again. Burnt in its own fires it emerges magnificent on the morrow's dawn. That dawn is still arriving for me I believe, but when it arrives I shall be magnificent, brilliant hues of the sun streaking across the skies because then my time has come and all my tribulations shall bear fruit of justice served on a silver platter.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I end this rambling with this line which explains my whole approach to life then now and forever: <span class="Apple-style-span">"</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0); font-family: Cambria, serif; ">I have gained this by philosophy: that I do without being commanded what others do only from fear of the law. -Aristotle " </span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Cambria","serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-theme-font:major-latin;color:#C00000;mso-no-proof:yes"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839100548392296162noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5948435460047975925.post-19037925839784833282011-02-16T20:31:00.003+08:002011-02-16T22:52:38.961+08:00Spring Time Hopes .... Feb 16, 2011<div style="text-align: justify;">February brought in the little Bunny Wabbit and shoo-ed out the Tiger. Being in Dubai at this time of the year is a bummer. None of that yee-sang that I am so fond of. No Mandarin oranges to over indulge in and then suffer for a few weeks from an irritating cough. None of that angpow little red packets or loong yoke (sp) that slices of roast pork.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">**SIGH** being a Malaysian foodie in Dubai is quite the misery! Especially festive times like this when food and friendship are inseparable partners.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I also learnt that Ash and Kash now have yet another step-sibling. Congratulations Jacob .... still fully loaded I see. May your paternal instincts and inclinations be better than how you are to your 2 daughters. There is nothing left to say on that subject ... except you FAIL exceptionally with honours when it comes to Ash and Kash. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">After months of trying to define my role and presence, I finally found something I could do without I hoped stepping on the imaginary diva toes. We were moving physically from one building to another.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So I volunteered to help with the paperwork of the new machines, and the moving of people and that kept me back in the office for days way past midnight working within the limitations of being in Dubai. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is funny how the vendor when we asked for 68 units of 22" LCD monitors baulked at us - we thought he was making fun at us for such a small number and insisting urgency. What he was REALLY doing was trying not to have a cardiac arrest - no one apparently stocks large numbers (????) of items after the economic crash. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">So here we are week 2 into the move and getting equipment in trickles from our vendors. It works so differently back home, we Malaysians working on this move kept falling over laughing in incredulity.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And people can be amazingly entertaining. The Divas naturally made every minute of this move as pain in the arse. It was like if they wanted to fart, we had to find the exhaust fan, attach it and diffuse the irksome stink with the scent of jasmines. GAWD! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But one thing - working with Malaysians and the lone Goan, you know no matter how bad things can get, we will pull through somehow. We stuck together, covered the work, I undertook to send out updates in my usual cheeky manner - some got what I was saying, others you know it kinda just went whoosh .... heheehhe.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Midway through February, post Valentine, am feeling the age creep up on me and I feel like a panic is beginning to envelope me. I wish at times we didn't need money for anything. Since my ex-spouse believes with just fresh air and sunshine his daughters are going to grow up. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But the reality is everything costs money and being stuck in the middle income rut means you have too much to qualify for financial aid and too little to get anywhere you want to be. And with Ash and Kash growing up, the panic is increasing knowing that this continued salary in salary out gone not a sen in savings is not going to bode well. I wonder if I might win one of these exorbitant AED1Million DSF or Summer Sales draws ahahah - yeah right! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Oh well it's just February and the Bunny Wabbit has just hopped on in. Am hoping it will find it in itself to give this aging Oinkster a small leave from fighting the overwhelming waves and give me some calm waters to paddle about. But the fact remains, aging Oinkster still has much to do, and time is so not on my side. What I'd do to have some youth and energy like before.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hope to catch up on some rest and feel less aged and in pain by the end of this weekend. May you have happy trails ... :) </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10839100548392296162noreply@blogger.com0