Dinner.

I have dinner at 'Manhattan Fishmarket' at Plaze Singapura, the seafood platter for 2 tasted good, right, buddy?

Care

The following is a translation of the Chinese version written by SanWenJi.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To everyone that I will like to share,

It feels great that we can care for others. What I mean of 'care' is the ability to acknowledge and share other people's unhappiness. When we grow, the ability weakened. We will be glad to have dinner and drinks with others, but who is willing to listen to your life story?

If there is such a person around you, please kindly treasure him/her. You must understand the sacrifice that he/she made, because by listening, he/she is sharing your feeling or burden, no less than you.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This week, I miss talking (real talking, from the bottom of my heart) to a very good friend that really care for me, because I am not sure whether I have annoyed him/her, if I did, I am really sorry.

A Wise Donkey (Story)

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided that is was not worth retrieving the donkey as the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway.

He invited his neighbours to come over and help him. They each grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well. At first, the donkey realised what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement, it quietened. A few shovel loads later, the farmer looked down the well and was astonished at what he saw.
As every shovel of dirt hit his back, the donkey did something amazing. It would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer's neighbours continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, it would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off to everyone's amazement!

Life is going to shovel dirt on you...all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of a hole is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest holes just by never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up!

当你孤单你会想起谁

你就是这个笑脸吗?

愛自己

Borrowing some words from my fellow bloggers to remind myself.

被人愛前﹐先要愛自己。就是因為別人的愛沒有了自己﹐就是不愛自己的表現。

不愛自己的人是愛不起的....

我們都在我們的生命中學習，互相分享就是愛。

但愿长醉不愿醒

李白：《将进酒》

君不见黄河之水天上来,奔流到海不复回。
君不见高堂明镜悲白发,朝如青丝暮成雪。
人生得意须尽欢，莫使金樽空对月。
天生我材必有用，千金散尽还复来。

烹羊宰牛且为乐，会须一饮三百杯。
岑夫子，丹丘生，将进酒，杯莫停。
与君歌一曲，请君为我侧耳听。
钟鼓馔玉不足贵，但愿长醉不愿醒。
古来圣贤皆寂寞，惟有饮者留其名。

陈王昔时宴平乐，斗酒十千恣欢谑。
主人何为言少钱，径须沽取对君酌。
五花马，千金裘，呼儿将出换美酒， 与尔同销万古愁。

Sense of belonging?

Is sense of belonging so important to you?
why are you so upset for not being invited?
Do you need to prove your worth in such a way?
Do you need to prove anything at all?

What you did is wrong today! Although apology accepted, the guilt will not leave you tonight, you will not sleep in peace. The guardian angel will not be there tonight, if you can sleep at all.

Learn well your lesson, you spoil your day and you spoil others too.
Do not do that again although you are upset.

Remember, you are who you are. You do not rely on someone to prove your worth, in fact, You need not prove anything at all.

I thought you have make it, you have make me rethink about this. You better buck up.

EARTH from above - Yann Arthus-Bertrand

In the last century, the population of our planet has been multiplied by 3, the world fresh water consumption by 6.
20% of the world population lacks access to improved water supplies.
40% of the world population does not have access to electricity.
Every week, more than 1 million people are added to the urban population in the world.
826 million people are under-nourished in the world.
The amount of oil consumed in 6 weeks, half of which is used in transportation, would have lasted 1 year in 1950.
Total world military expendititure : US$839 billion
Official Development Assistance : US51.4 billion
11 of the 15 majot fishing zones in the world are in decline today.
Half of humanity lives on less than US$2 a day.

The above are just some of the messages that was delivered through the photo exhibition by French Photographer, Yann Arthus-Bertrand.

Our Planet Earth is beautiful, but it is endangered due to human oversight and folly.
Save the earth, before it is too late.

Ugly Scene on Earth : IRAQI TANK GRAVEYARD IN THE DESERT NEAR AL-JAHRAH, KUWAIT

















Beautiful Scene on Earth : ICEBERGS OFF THE ADELIE COAST, ANTARCTICA

















Lovely Scene on Earth : GREATER FLAMINGOS ON LAKE NAKURU, KENYA

I am indeed blessed !

Today, my dearest colleague presented me a powerpoint she make herself. She wanted me to know I am blessed and consider very fortunate. I have seen the verses before, and in fact I have been searching for this verses a few nights ago, trying to cheer up a fellow blogger who is also and still living in sadness. I am most touched by her act, also knowing that she have spent a lot of effort on it, evening selecting the right song for it. I am convinced, I am indeed blessed.

I hereby shared the verses with all of you :

You Are Blessed

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness,
you are more blessed than the million who won't survive the week.

If you have never experienced
the danger of battle,
the loneliness of imprisonment,
the agony of torture or
the pangs of starvation,
you are ahead of 20 million people around the world.

If you attend a church meeting without fear of harassment,
arrest, torture, or death,
You are more blessed than almost three billion people in the world.

If you have food in your refrigerator,
clothes on your back,
a roof over your head and
a place to sleep,
you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank,
in your wallet, and
spare change in a dish someplace,
You are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.

If your parents are still
married and alive,
you are very rare,
especially in the United States.

If you hold up your head
with a smile on your face
and are truly thankful,
You are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

If you can hold someone's hand,
hug them or even
touch them on the shoulder,
you are blessed because you
can offer God's healing touch.

If you can read this message,
you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read anything at all.

火炬星

1. 命格优势:充满活力、乐观进取。
2. 命格缺点:欠缺耐性、情绪起伏大。
3. 爱情模式:爱就是要让对方知道！
4. 财　　运:85分，勇於冒险，理财很灵活。
5. 上班　运:85分，很有冲劲，颇受注目。
6. 您的信念：我就是相信人生就是要有理想、有抱负。

姓名星座属於 火炬星
命宫代表数字： 3、13、23、33、43、53、63、73

五行属性 火
姓名星座属性 开 朗 、 有 活 力 、 热 心 、 但 定 性 不 佳
代表人物 梁朝伟、翁大铭
星座优点 活 泼 、 开 朗 、 热 心 助 人 、 非 常 有 雄 心 、 拼 命 七 次 郎。
星座缺点 没 耐 性 、 情 绪 起 伏 大 、 决 策 不 精 细 。
人生信念 人 生 苦 短 ， 及 时 行 乐 。
爱情 IQ 90 分
爱情模式 有 花 堪 折 直 需 折 、 莫 待 无 花 空 折 枝 ！
爱情速配对象 地 牛 星 、 孤 木 星 、 己 土 星 女 性
爱情欢喜冤家 巨 浪 星 、 火 炬 星 女 性

Happiness is ...

"Happiness is a daily decision. Everyone suffers pain and disappointment and no one will be happy 24 hours a day. The question is, how quickly do we bounce back from disappointment?" ~ Andrew Mattews

Five Strategies for happiness :
1. Be flexible. If things don't go your way, tell yourself, "I wouldn't have chosen this situation but I will try to make the most of it."
2. Look for good things in people - and you will find them.
3, Break your goals into small steps. Achieve one step at a time and you will reach your big goals.
4. Understand that worry doesn't help. Worrying about tomorrow doesn't help. Do your best today and let tomorrow take care of itself.
5. Each day when you get up, tell yourself,"Just today I choose to be happy."

Watch 'Sky High'

I watched another movie alone last night (now is after midnight, so it is last night). It is 'Sky High', a very relaxing show about a high school training super heroes. It is definately not a serious movie, but I have enough of 'heavy' firms recently. So, why not? It is funny and quite unique in its story and setting, although predictable. I have a enjoyable evening, although it is again nobody seating beside me. Looking at the bright side, the better, no one challenge me for the arm rest. Haha, 'Ah Q's spirit'? may be. It lighten my mood and ease my stress, that is more important, isn't it? Yeah, I told myself.

I am reverting back to myself

6 and half months have passed since that painful day.

The pain is beginning to subside and numbed now. I started to reliase that I am slowly reverting to my old self.

Letting her have her ways, I have make numerous changes before, now I discovered that I am reverting back to my own personal habits, those I am used to.
Some of the habits :
1) HairStyle : She have always wanted me to keep my hair rather short, now I am back to side parting hairstyle (have not done that in last 5 years), occasionally, I will gel a spiky hairstyle too. I have had my length of hair back now.
2) I used to wear pyjamas when going to sleep, she have wanted me to wear shorts.
3) Now I am folding socks into rolls, she used to ask me folding them 'Squarely'.
and a few others...

Am I beginning to get use to it? I believe so, although she still appear in my mind occassionally, the image is getting less clear now. I have not seen her for months, other than photos, do I really wanted to forget her? I don't know.

Sudoku

I saw this Sudoku this morning, remembering the one I did recently from the blog, I am excited. Unfortunately, this one is far too simple, solved it in less than half an hours.

A 3 working day week

This is a 3 working day week, with the Malay and Indian Festival/Holiday on this week, falling on Tuesday and Thursday respectively. A lot of my colleagues took leaves taking advantage to create a super long week of holiday. I did not. When everyone is away (I meant users/clients not colleagues), that is the best time to work without disruption. But my cough has not really recovered yet, I hope I can have good rest this week on the holidays, I have not have a good sleep for days, coughing throughout the night. Sigh... I am tired... I have been delaying my house chores and there is still a lightbulb to be replace. I will do them tomorrow.

Weekend... Watched a Movie... Empty Seat beside...

Today is Saturday, I am very bored and went to catch a Movie 'The Legend of Zorro' in the evening. Watching Movie alone is fast becoming my habit soon. Zorro sounded very much like sorrow, why would anyone wanted such a name? I may be just too negative. There is a crowd watching the show, I am seated right beside the stairs in the center, but to my surprise, there is a empty seat on the other side of me. Even stranger seems to be avoid me, I thought.

When I am young, Zorro is a lone ranger, he works alone, did he feel good alone? I never knew. In this movie, which is a sequel, he have a family for 10 years, with a wife and a son. Catherine Zeta Jones played as Elena, Zorro's wife and love. She looks great, always graceful. The movie is fairly good and entertaining.

There are some parts in the movie that I feel like writing.
The happy part :
1) Tornado, Zorro's horse, is a very funny horse, he drink wine, he smoke and he can stare with eye opened wide when danger come. What a horse.
2) The good always win. The usual happy ending. No surprise.
3) Zorro's good friend, Father Felipe, was shot at the heart. His holy cross stopped the bullet. I guess he keep his faith strongly, and thus he is blessed.

The sad part :
1) Zorro's son, Joachim, not knowing his father is Zorro(a hero), thinking he is coward, tell his father, 'You do not deserve Mum';
2) Elena told Zorro, 'If you do not understand me, you have never know me.'

The most predictable ending, they lived happily ever after. Isn't it nice? if everyone have such a ending.

No lunch together?

I coughed badly today.

I did not join my beloved colleagues for lunch. 3 of them asked me for reason after that, which I am glad. Thank you, my dear friends.

I have reasons, although I only gave them the 1st one only.
This is called white lies (lies that is truth but not the complete answer)~ quote from a book a dear friend lent me.

Reasons
1) I coughed, I do not want to spread.
2) I began my second sliming program (after the 1st one did so well), target is 4Kg this round.
3) I am going into the 'man in the cave' mode (see the book 'Man are from Mars, Woman are from Venus') due to the 4th reason.
4) This is the main reason, I am going to meet a 9 years old friends, twice ex-colleague, and my best man during my wedding tomorrow for lunch. I have been avoiding him for sometime already. Meeting him trigger a lot of memories, sweet during then, pain now. We knew each other nine years ago as colleagues, both graduated overseas. I am from UK, and he is from Australia. We are good friends and we knew both our wifes through our work, courting them. We helped in each other's wedding. We parted and join different company 2 years later. Fate made us became colleagues again in my current company for nearly another 5 years. He is going to be the father 3rd times soon. Congrats. Of course, I know he is a good friend, but meeting him came with many many memories of my now separated wife which pain me everytime I think of it.
Of course, it is not his fault, it is my self-pityness. I will conquer the feeling tomorrow. I have been avoiding this feeling long enough. But that does not mean I am not sad. And thanks to him for his undying friendship all this 9 years.

I will be isolating myself this week. What time I am 'leaving the cave' will depends on my effort to overcome the pain again. The more I face it, the more I can take it. At the very least, this is what I hope and what I believe.

Friends who worried for me. Have no fear, I will be okay. If you read this, I knew you will be there for me when I am ready.

I spoke something wrong today.

Today, I spoke something wrong. Although it is meant to be a joke, people may not like it. I will learn from the lesson and not to do that again. I appreciate the frankness from a friend who reminded me. Thank you and sorry. I like her frankness, it helps me to improve and be more sensitive. Also, by telling the truth and accepting the comment, there are no hard feeling between us. Thanks once again.

A story on 'Letting Go'

With reference to Corinne Rochefort's blog on 'Letting Go', I have heard such a story before, May I share with you?

There is once a teacher who wanted to teach his students to let go and relax, especially it is during their examination period. He gather the class, he asked them to hold a glass full of water at the full stretch of their arm in front of them.

30 seconds passed, he asked, 'Are you okay?', the students say 'Yes!'

3 minutes passed, he asked again, 'Are you okay?', some students say 'Okay...'

6 minutes passed, he asked again, 'Are you okay?', most students say 'I can't hold it any longer.'

Then, this teacher asked them to take a break of 5 minutes and try again, he asked again, 'Are you okay?', everyone agreed that it is much better.

This teacher said 'If you keep holding on to your negative feeling and do not let go, it will be like holding a glass of water at arms length, it will be getting heavier and heavier, although it's weight is actually always the same. It is because you are giving yourself pressure by holding on to these bad memories. By letting go, just like taking a break, you can tackle this bad feeling and memories much easier and better.'

'It is time to enjoy yourself now. You can always pick up from where you are when you are ready again. You will know when you are ready.'

Take my heed, take a break and let go. You will be rewarded and you will get tougher if you know how to relax when it is most needed. The journey is still long, stay healthy and walk with me.

After Disaster Recovery Drill

Yesterday (Sat), we began our DR Drill at 9am. Alex and myself have managed to complete all data restoration at 3.30pm. A new record! The bosses are so happy that they planned for dinner + pub in the evening. Unforunately, some testing encountered problem and the dinner was delayed to 8.30pm, a lot of them decided to go home or just attend dinner. We have only 8 of us (includeing 2 bosses) going for the drink. Actually, I found that, after a drink or two, the bosses are still human. In the day, when they are in control, they did things we don;t like. But they actually also needed company, they are sometime lonely too. At least that is what I felt a few hours ago with them. After some drink, they do talk normally (unlike the usual way of boss and subordinate) which I do appreciate. If they can continue doing that, I believe they will earn themselve more friends and support from the staff. Keep it up, bosses.