Thursday, May 31, 2007

Of Old Friends... Part II

The blokes at the pharmacy @ Western. Basically the entire crew of the 2003/2004 batch with our preceptors.

Hmmm... What can I say - a bunch of inane huns at a barbie in Melbourne. Please note that Joshua is not really retarded - he is just really bored.

Me at the YAA Exhibition - no - I did not have a beer gut then... now it is different. Besides, we swept the YAA awards that year *grin* all the way to the national level. Really wonder how is everyone doing...

OMG - it is Brochure Boy and GrowthChart Man - somebody get the broomstick!

Vernon overseeing the bread haul at Pita Bread Bunch - we were about to distribute bread door-to-door at the Flemington Council Flats. I really miss those days *grin*

Sue Lee, Drey and Kai Kai at breakfast - somewhere on Smith street (I think) or maybe Nicholson. Man, Melbourne breakfasts are still the best!

Of Old Friends... Part I

26 and singing the blues... *grin*

As promised, I am putting up pictures of old friends and old memories... however, today I am rather not expressive - it just seems that I am having writing constipation... so I will just hurry right into the pictures and their captions...


Fireworks on the Southgate Bridge in Melbourne - this would be from New Year's - I think for 2005...

Joshua, Sean & Myself at the Mrs Macquarie's Chair - overlooking Darling Harbour, the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge. Sean should be in Melbourne still - hope all is swell and Josh - hope you are enjoying your exile in Adelaide - *smile* Spend more time with patients - not in Coonawarra.

The Cempakan Crew somewhere in a dodgy side street in Melbourne (circa 2005) Khoo (who was visiting at this time), Myself (no I am not trying to slap myself), Mindy, Yen, Jan, Sui San & Shins! Hope to see you guys (Khoo, Mindy, Yen) the next time I am in Melb!

Me and my housemates attempting to make the world's ugliest totem pole. From Top to Bottom is Jeremy, Carol and myself - attempting to look like an owl and just ending up looking like an absolute nutcase... Hey - Jeremy - we definately need to meet up!

Friends and former friends from the student council - this one taken in Brisbane for the conference there - should be in 2004. Left to Right - Ms Sheau, Leanne, Su-Li, FF#1, The former MSD Director for Australia, myself, Chris & Bel.

Me - in the faculty courtyard with Ryan and Wei Leong and in a horrible fake glasses. Someone stole my nose and beard... this was on 'muck-up' day - last day of our uni life - EVER!!!

More on the way *grin*

Friday, May 25, 2007

Old Song, Old Friends & Old Memories

It was a moment of the inane... or rather a moment of inactivity that triggered off a morning song trivia in the conference room... and it was an old old song from the past - I think almost 10 years ago that I can't seem to get out of my head. I brought back old memories & old friends - while I was revelling in the company of my new friend and colleague :)

Here it is... 朋友 (Friends)
For the benefit of my banana friends (you know who you are... and there is a lot of you guys :P) I will put the English translation on the side...

这些年 一个人 (All these years... alone)
风也过 雨也走 (the wind has passed, the rain is gone - basically there were storms)
有过泪 有过错 (there were tears, there were wrongs)
还记得坚持甚麽? (Can you remember what I am fighting for?)

真爱过 才会懂 (With True Love, then you will know...)
会寂寞 会回首 (..the meaning of loneliness, and you will reflect that in the end...)
终有梦 终有你 (there is your dreams, there is you...)
在心中... (in the heart)

朋友一生一起走 (Friends will walk together for a lifetime)
那些日子不再有 (The days of old is no longer here)
一句话 一辈子 (One Word... One Lifetime)
一生情 一杯酒 (Eternal Love... and a cup of wine)

朋友不曾孤单过 (Friends will never be lonely)
一声朋友你会懂 (Once you call out to them you will know)
还有伤 还有痛 (There were injuries... there was pain)
还要走 还有我... (But we will still have to walk... and I am always here)

My translation is rather liberal - but I do think it is more in the spirit of the song... I wonder where have all my old friends gone... friends from ACCF, from Uni, from Student Council, from Taylors, from Cempaka... from Penang, from KL, from Melbourne, from London... where are all of you...

I remember all the good times, and the bad... I remember all the things we did and I will always remember all of you...

*runs off to search hard disk for old pictures - will post them up over the week - so prepare to be embarassed!!!*

Saturday, May 19, 2007

Upset?

Woke up this morning feeling upset... just don't know why?

Is it an after effect of the recent events? Today is after all Saturday - the 1st set of free time ever since the crazy events of the past two weeks...

Or is it my lack of enthusiasm at work? or my lack of ability to sleep well in the past couple of days? or that I just seem to make people upset - from family to friends to colleagues @ work?

I have a feeling that this may be the onset of depression... *sigh* nevertheless I know that He will comfort me in my time of need...

The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Yea,
though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil;
my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Psalm 23 (KJV)

Sunday, May 13, 2007

One night in a lift...


It was late last night when we came back to our hotel (@ Gurney) from grandma's house. It was booming with music from the Chillout club next door and a wedding being conducted at the hotel ballroom...

We went to the lift, my brother and I, and after a significant wait - we boarded with a few others... but it was an interesting crew that got in - on the corner was a couple, dressed immaculately, the lady was dressed in white with lace and makeup while the guy was in a tuxedo with a red bow. Quite obviously from the wedding.

On the other corner was these two rather young beautiful girls - dressed to party - must be returning to the hotel from the club next door.

Then there was this old white couple, seriously tanned but dressed in a relaxing beachwear - looks like retirees on a holiday.

And us, my brother and I, dressed in white with black slacks - coming back from honouring our grandma at her funeral.

Two distinct occasions... a wedding and a funeral. Distinct age groups... different stories... all in one lift...

My RSD trained movie sense lit up!

Friday, May 11, 2007

...When it leaks, it pours...

Enough of ranting about the going ons back in Penang... however sad I may be or however angry I am - this mad cow still comments on politics - in particular when it shows that my fellow Malaysians are both racist and sexist!

You have gotta be kidding - that during VISIT MALAYSIA YEAR 2007 our HEADLINES say... Bank Withdraws 50% Bumiputera requirement for accounts & Let off despite ‘sexist’ remarks. I am a Malaysian Patriot to the boot and have always supported the government but sometimes - I just wonder... I really do...

To our beloved YBs from Jasin & Kinabatangan, just apologise for making such a sexist comment. How would you feel if Batu Gajah has replied glibly - like I would - watch my words "Maybe you are used to the leaks coz your mothers, wives and daughters leak every month as well!"

Such comments are not becoming of the people's representatives - whether in jest... and should never be uttered in the hallowed halls of this nation's centre of governance. Would any BN MP stand quiet if an opposition said that Dtk Rafidah or Dtk Ng Yen Yen? In this day and age - it is unbecoming...

"orang liar"????

Quite...

Madness? Craziness???

THIS IS MALAYSSIIIIAAAAAAAA!!!

Princes of Darkness... BEGONE!

Never was I this angry in a long while already... After all the years my family has contributed to temples - temple politics come to play @ grandma's funeral...

No idea what to make of it... it started like this - an 'abbot' of a temple in Penang of which my mum is a major contributor was supposed to come to 'pray' @ grandma's funeral but he is not totally free - he can't make it on Sat & Sunday... so another 'abbot' - this time from another temple of which my family is closely associated with offered to come on both days...

I can see that the family would be overjoyed - but when the 1st 'abbot' heard that the 2nd 'abbot' is coming - he said that now he is busy and is not coming. It appears that both temples have a vendetta or some crap like that... then the 2nd 'abbot' said that he better not come as it may cause another rift or some crap like that... So in the end - no 'abbot's are coming and the 2nd temple sent some others here to 'pray'... so in essence, both temples have left my grieving family to hang out dry over 'prayers'.

I am very angry - that these idiots dare use my grandma's funeral as a chip in their political game... these monks are truly 'princes of darkness'. Although I have came to the lord - I have nontheless maintained a healthy respect for temples and I have honoured my family's beliefs. From this day onwards - any temple are merely a tourist attraction in my book and I shall no longer abide by my family's donations to them...

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

In mourning...


Why is it seems like just yesterday that you held me on ur lap?
Why is it seems like just this morning you woke me up to watch you do taichi?

How is it that the years passed so fast - and that I grew out into the world and saw you less and less with each passing year...

What happened to watching 'Justice Bao' rented from an old video store down the road that has long been demolished?
What happened to walking with you to buy hawker food from the corner shop... that has also been cleared to build a new series of shop houses?
Or the times I waited with 2nd Aunt for you to finish your MCA meetings, usually eating Ice Cream Potong...

Why does it seem so empty this morning after I heard that you have passed on... Grandma, it was raining today - and it rained since yesterday night. I don't know if it was raining back in Penang or if you would have realised that it was raining even if it did... but it was raining... it was as if the sky was doing my crying for me...

I am so glad that I took the morning to visit you and talked to you this time when I went back to Penang - it has been so long since the last time I talked to you... and I will always feel sad that you were struck down with stroke 20 years ago... I only wish you could be with me when I travelled around the world, the places I have seen and the places I know you would have loved to see - for without you all this would not have been possible and I would not be the person I am today...
Grandma - farewell and goodbye... I love you...

Monday, May 07, 2007

New Life Memory Verse I...

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!"
- 2 Corinthians 5:17, New International Version -

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things has passed away; behold, all things has become new"
- 2 Corinthians 5:17, New King James Version -

"若 有 人 在 基 督 里 , 他 就 是 新 造 的 人 , 旧 事 已 过 , 都 变 成 新 的 了 "
- 2 Corinthians 5:17, Chinese Union Version (Simplified) -

Lord, I come to You in the name of Christ Jesus - our Lord and Saviour whom I adore... Lord, I thank You for this verse that reminds us of our new life - for it sets the tone for our life today. Lord, I thank You that in You, I am a new creation - an empty slate for You to work on, a canvas for You to paint in your image. I thank You for telling me the old me is gone - that You have taken my sins away at the cross. I thank You for giving me a new life...

Lord, I confess that I have been less than pristine in my new life - and that I have fallen well short of the mark You set before me. I confess that I have put good works before the understanding that Your grace is all I need - that my salvation is assured. I confess that I have put ministry above foundation and servanthood before sonship...

Lord, I thank you for this day - of all the wonderful things I have in life. I thank you for last wednesday - that I may once again sit beneath Your feet. I thank you for SIB, and for cell... for Fergus, for Hoong Fai - my fellow brothers walking with me in this path...

Lord, I pray that You will continue to shower Your blessings upon us - and that You will give me the strength and wisdom to continue to walk along this narrow path. I pray that you will constantly remind me that the life I have today is NEW and it belongs to YOU! That I am a new creation - that the OLD has GONE and the NEW has COME...

I am yours in Christ Jesus. Amen!

In the memory of Bacon...

And I am not referring to Francis Bacon... but rather - real bacon, succulent when fried, covered by a wonderful sheen of bacon oil... golden brown edges curled softly in the caressing heat of a not so non-stick pan.

Hmmm, I think food is featuring a bit too much in my life rite now - even under the close monitoring of various parties. *grin* The bacon I am referring to is the one so rapidly consumed @ vern's a few weeks back - ah, sweet sweet memories!

Anyway - for those with gastronomic inclinations (bordering on the oil soaked carnivorous nature) - the bacon was dearly bought from Uncle Ho's @ BSC having first being air flowned in across the Arafura Sea (from Australia!). So it was no mere pork - but rather a well travelled Aussie Pork! The cost of these 14 pieces? A mere RM74 *chokes*

Nevertheless it was well worth the price. Also as promised here are some pictures from the day...

A dramatic assembly of pork, eggs, more pork, mushrooms, pork again and veal...

(Clockwise) Vernon, Gordon, Fergus & Carol hard at work in the kitchen. This author/photographer slaved earlier over the bacon... and sausages (I have a nice little red mark on my throat that day to prove it - due to a flying vesicle of oil!)

One last longing look at the bacon - just prior to its initiation in the raging inferno... Fergus claims that this is one artistic piece of pork :)

Thursday, May 03, 2007

Hitting the Dailies...

Today, the 1st (of a whole series of articles we hope) interview of RSD has been published on the New Straits Times (NST) *grin*

Read all about it HERE!!!
http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Thursday/MoviesTheatre/20070502154244/Article/indexpull_html

Or alternatively - *grin* also get to know more about the movie at
http://redstreetdiner.blogspot.com

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

THIS IS ANFIIEEEEEELLLDDDDD!!!!



Liverpool 1 (4) - 0 (1) Chelsea (1-1 on aggregate)

Need I say more? Of course!

It was a messy and gritty game - as expected for a Chelsea - Liverpool encounter. We just lost 1-0 at Stamford Bridge last week but there is a difference...

Today we play in Anfield - with the Kop behind us. In the 22nd Minute, Agger scored a set piece by Gerrard from about 32 meters from the Chelsea goal (from the left hand corner). The rest of the game is a serious of high flying kicks and flailing arms... but in the end - Liverpool held to the very end.

So it went down the wire... 1-1 on aggregate at the end of extra time, Right to the Penalties and like in Istanbul, Liverpool pulled through...

Once again... we erupted in cheers as Liverpool now flies to Athens for Champions League GLORY. We have knocked Chelsea out of the competition THREE TIMES!!! So I write this entry at 6am... Madness?

NOOOOOO!

THIS IS ANNNNNNFIIIIIIEEEELLLLLLLLDDDDDD!!!

Hmmm - I think I need counselling :P