....its December

wow...its that time of year again. Tis' the holiday season....school is out...older kids having exams...shopping malls filled with lovely X'massy decorations...and the odd feeling that the year is coming to a close and the new year's just round the corner.

Then..its time to reflect on what important events took place this year, wow..what a year it has been...too early to reflect..no not really..I will just list here..else it might take me some time to get back here to write . For me, it has been a whirlwind kind of year...the biggest event would be my dad's passing, followed by my mum's second major operation...my PTK exam, my two kids' major exams and then going to China.

Its' been a year of emotional upheavals, sometimes tension -tied and sometimes pleasant memories. 2009 is a year that I will remember always. Personally...it has enlightened me once again to the fact that we are all facing death as a certainty, that life doesn't owe us anything, we have to make the bets of it, someone once said: when you fight life, life always wins. So we just have to go with the flow.

I would like to say for myself that 2009 was an interesting year. We learn from events that happen, (by the way, we are supposed to do that by studying history not repeating it), we grow richer emotionally and spiritually, internally as a person, we change ourselves to adapt to what is happening around us. yes we all want to change for the better. I hope I have ...

All the best for 2010...
Cheers.

Thank God for modern medicine

Hi all,
Great news for us all...and definitely for mum.
Thanks to my brother who managed to get the pain-killer medicine for her..yes. she went in for the procedure a week ago today and walla...the pain she had all these months have been greatly reduced. Now she can stand up and sit down with little or no pain...her knees still hurt and she still has problems walking but most important the pain is incredibly less. Thank God for modern medicine. Now mum is happy and cheerful and that helps us all. She is still lonely...why not dad is not around but at least her days are now almost pain free and that makes us all happy as well.
We hope it lasts but my brother says it will only last for three months and she has to get another injection. Well, until then...we hope mum will be comfortable and less stressed.
Cheers all.

Updates

Hi all,

Just updating all... been busy like anything...

For the last few months...moving to a new department, sorting out the sector's workload, the getting the Kem Membaca 1Malaysia ready for the launch. Then it was the Hari Raya celebrations, so things slowed down some what...and before I knew it, the PTK exam came up...just ended last Friday..what a relief! Basically, it was more a mental kind of exercise...getting the tugasan ready, then undergoing the weeklong oral and written evaluation. Phew..what an experience...guess I wont be hitting any more books anytime soon.

Now am busy, getting ready for my presentation at the APEID-UNESCO conference in Hangzhou, China. This is in the middle of the month so busy, busy, busy.

Work at the office continues..I was just making a checklist..and yes..you guys at the office..we have almost 30 items on our list to finish before end of the year. Let's get cracking...

To the family...thanks for getting it all together while I have been busy.

Oh yes, i must congratulate my better half for completing his hike up Mt Kinabalu over the weekend. You did it! So for all of you at the 50yr range..get going.

Oh yes, October 25 came and went..that was my late dad's 80th birthday..if he had been alive today. Anyway, we all hold our own special thoughts for him. And yesterday being All Souls day, we were at the cemetery for a visit. This is our yearly visit and a chance for family to get togther and clean the family graves, light some candles and decorate with flowers. Guess this period of time brings out the feeling of mortality in all of us.

As for mum, well, she will be going in for a checkup this week...we hope the doctors can help alleviate the pain she is going through . We pray for the best.

Cheers.

Of achievements and awards...

Yes, it's great to be recognised at last for your sacrifices and hard work. Two weekends ago, about 159 officers from BTP and its branches all over the country were treated to a dinner and given certificates of appreciation in recognition of the excemplary perfomance last year. Yes, yours truly was one of the recipients.

It was a happy occasion and all receipients dressed in their best, to walk on stage and receive their certs from our deputy Director General of Education and our own Director. Yes, 18 August 2009 will be a date to remember. That nite also saw the launch of the Patriotic Month...if you didn't know, that would be from 16 August to 16 September. We sang the famous Sudriman song, Tanggal 31 and waved our Jalur Gemilang. Yes, it was a nite we would all remember.

Talking about awards...some deserve it and some, they say dont't deserve it at all. The APC has a history behind it too. The award is given to deserving candidates who have shown their good work during the year. Too often then not, the award is give to those closest to the top heads of depts, seniority and those who haven't got it before. So sometimes even when you deserve it, you won't get it, cos' you need to be recommended by the bosses. And there are often cases of cronyism and favouritism. I have learnt to be patient and just do my work...somehow...I feel you will be recognised for what you have done all these years, besides..how many cronies can they give to, with passage of time, everyone will get it at least once or twice in their civil service career. By the way, according to rule, candidates are eligible every three years and when they change grades, but then again rules are meant to be broken and challenged. I have got it twice so far, once in 1994 and then 2008...imagine, a total of almost fourteen years in between. Even working in different places and giving your best at all times doesn't guarantee one anything. Guess it doesn't help that some bosses think that one should only get it once and give the APC to others who haven't got before even if that officer has just started work for a year! But I shall let all that talk about fairness and justice slide...Thank God my previous boss thought I deserved it, after all these years.

Let's not even think about the awards that are given out yearly by the states and federal governments. Again, each year, we get hundreds of JPs, AMNs, AMPs, JMNs, Datuks, Datos', Tan Sris etc. Some are suggested candidates who deserve the awards, some are chronies, some are armchair supporters, some are new politicians, and some buy the awards...that's what we hear, but I'd like to think that everyone who gets an award at state or federal level really deserves it. It bugs me though why some people get almost the same awards every year, I mean, some of these Datuks/Datos' get a few Datukships! Why? It beats me. Suffice to say, giving of such awards must be based on merit and for those who truly deserve it, nothing else.

As for me, the APC means a lot. At last, after 14 long years, and serving different bosses and different departments, finally, someone felt I deserved it again. I will continue to do my best, without expecting any reward...cos' when you don't expect it, it's sweeter when you do. And when you don't get it, you won't be so disappointed. So here's to all those deserving candidates, congratulations and continue to do your best. Life is making the most of what it has to offer.

Cheers.

51 and living it....

A little over a year ago..I started my blog. At that time, I wanted to write about being 50 and living it, living my life as I wanted it to be. Well, i just turned 51...and as I ponder and reflect on the past year...I wonder if I have achieved what I set out to do and be.

I think I didn't allow disappointments to hit me or bring me down. I didn't let racial bigotry or bitter rivalry get the better of me...for I still believed in the positive side of things...that one day, things will be better and one day...I will get what I should get. True enough patience served the day. I recently received an Excellence Service Award for Civil Servants in my category, of course with support from my immediate previous superiors. Thanks to all involved. I also received my promotion which I had waited with abated breathh since Sept last year and which I finally got in May. Somehow, that put my faith back in the system or maybe I was one of the luckier ones...Whatever, I will continue to look at the positive side of things...finally I would say..God is Great!

Today..being where I am, in a new post and trying my best to set things right and handle matters as best as I could...I find myself still doing what is best, what is right, still striving to make things right, still working hard to ensure that others do what is right and bringing out the best in themselves. My fellow colleagues all work just as hard, being a civil servant these days is no joke..no ordinary life, man, whoever said being a civil servant was easy..must be a real deadwood! We all try our best and hope that things will work out. With a new director and a new deputy Director who expect that we work our best at all times have helped set our directions clear and loud. I hope everyone will lend their support and help to bring quality education to our children in all our different capacities.

As for me...being 51 means a year older. It also means I can still look forward to another year of love and friendships with family and loved ones.My health has been generally good, I had a couple of bouts with a weak tummy this year thus far, my weight has gone up a bit..up 2 kilos from the 7 that I lost...shucks.. this weight yo-yo thingy has got to be another one of my resolutions this year...I feel great and I look ok...so they say for someone my age! What do you think it means :)

I still my maintain old friendships, I have started with Facebook and got connected to friends and relatives I lost contact with, I have been able to receive news from long lost friends and view photos of people I have not seen or met in ages. Facebook has its positives...wish I had more time to spend there...anyway, an occasional poke at it has been worthwhile.

As I age ...he he...I think I look at my life from a different prospect. I have had my share of problems and arguements but I am not as judgemental as I was years ago, I accept that some things cannot be changed, I refuse to challenge some things that really are negative cos' somehow I believe that the record will straighten itself out, especially when it involves friendships or relationships at the workplace. I simply deplore office politics but somehow one can never escape it...I wish people would spend more time working then gossiping about others and plotting how to get at other people. I have hopes for humanity..one day..things will be better...i sincerely hope the new PM and his Cabinet will make 1 Malaysia work!

At 51, I want to be living a healthy and fun life with friends and family. this year, I want to write, to present papers, to finish my proposal and contribute to society in some way or other.
I want to remain healthy, to play my roles right...wife, mother, daughter, sister, best friend, superior, subordinate, teacher... and in all make the years in my life complete. I shall live my life as I see fit. I shall give my best and I shall expect the best. I shall be a better person then I was last year. I shall be a stronger person then I was...I shall be happy with my life! Nothing will stop me from living the life I want it to be...be a friend and support me in my endeavours!
God Bless you all!

...and weddings.

Yes, 5 July saw our family's first nephew tying the knot with his long time girlfriend.

It was a reunion of sorts albeit my late father wasnt there. We missed you, dad.

The tea-ceremony at noon started the wedding celebration for us.

Then it was dinner at Hotel Mutiara, Century Gardens, Johor Bahru.

The theme was Nyonya Kebaya, seeing that our late great-grandmother was a Grand Nyonya herself. We took some lovely pics, you can view them in Facebook.

It was a fun and different wedding of sorts. There was karaoke, song and dance by members of the family, kids and grown-ups..then believe it or not, yes, a PS competition between bride and groom, then best man and bridesmaid, then free for all. It was as usual a gathering of old friends and relatives from far and near. yes it would have been complete if my dad was there, but some things we can't change... anyway, ...

To Adrian and Serene here's wishing you some verses by Joanna Fuchus..

On your joyful wedding day,
You begin a brand new life.

Friends and family give their gifts

To joyful husband, blissful wife.
But the greatest gift you'll ever get,

A gift from heaven above,

Is love forever, ending never, Everlasting love.
You'll share life's joy and pleasure;

You'll have plenty of that, it's true.

But love is the real treasure.

For your new spouse and you.
And if life hands you challenges,

As it does to one and all,

Your love will hold you steady

And never let you fall.
Your wedding day is full of joy;
Among the finest things in life,

a good marriage is the most satisfying and rewarding,

the deepest and best of pleasures.

That blessed relationship uplifts, enriches, encourages and strengthens both husband and wife.

A loving marriage overcomes any obstacles the world may put in its way,

strengthening the special marital bond with every challenge conquered.

Your wedding is the start of something better than you can imagine.

May your marriage be all that you dream of and more.
A wedding is a door to happiness,

When two decide to share their lives as one.

Your marriage is an adventure bright and new;

The pleasures and delights have just begun.
I/We wish for you a lifetime full of love;

May you always keep that magical attraction.

Let your bond and your commitment grow with time,

So that all your days are filled with satisfaction.
Congratulations and God Bless you both.

Of birthdays......

It's only been a month since I last wrote... wish I could find time to write daily..I should actually..well, June saw some birthday babies...including my first born, Jennifer who celebrated her 21st birthday on the 30 June. It was a wonderful occasion ..to see Jenny all grown up..

So here's some birthday verses for you..

How very fast the time has flown
The years seem such a whirl
The years were such a joy
Since you were just a tiny child
A precious baby girl.
How quickly you have blossomed
Through those tender childhood years
When every single day had moments
Full of joy and tears.

But those nostalgic schooldays
Which have sped so swiftly by
Have seen you reach twenty one
All in the blinking of an eye.So think about your future
Special things to see and do
New faces and new challenges
Just waiting there for you.
How could it be so long ago
You were just a babe in arms
Melting everybody's heart
With all those baby charms.

How could the years have gone so quick
It seems like yesterday
When you were just a little girl
Running out to play.
Did somebody put forward
The precious hands of time
And turn our little daughter
Into a woman so sublime.

For here you are today
All grown up and lovely too
A warm and gentle person
So special through and through.
And all those childhood charms you had
Have grown with you each day
And made you much more special
Than words could ever say.

So Jenny, may all the dreams
You hold within your heart
Come true and bring you happiness
From which you'll never part.
May the days that lie ahead
Be filled with gladness, success, good health too
For there just couldn't be anyone
Who deserves it more than you.
Happy Birthday and Congratulations!