I love you. Keep the faith.

Amor Fati means Loving Faith

Covid19 Lockdown D6
*The Moon

As with all tsunamis they will leave a trail of destruction. 

There will be casualties. Businesses may go bust. 

People will be hurt, lives will be displaced. 

Expect the best but prepare for the worst.

Start preparing now during the lock down. 

Just sit quiet by yourself and do nothing. Stop thinking. 

We need to dig deep into our core, our source to draw strength to weather this oncoming storm.

We need to prepare to form a network of support groups for the various trades of the people on the ground. Help each other find help for themselves. We need to come together to help each other rebuild or start a new livelihood. No nation has seen this kind of world reset before. 

This event is unprecedented and the aftermath is about to hit us. 

For better or for worse. There will be difficulties but in the middle of difficulty lies opportunity. 

The better rested, well centered and calm person will do well.

Whatever the outcome we want we can start creating now. 

We can start by doing nothing. All of us. 

Stop and reconnect to the source.

It's simply spending time with yourself. 

Do it for at least 20 minutes each day if possible longer.

We will need the connection and courage to thrive in the full aftermath.

Keep the faith. Stay safe. 

Stay tuned. Literally. 

I love you. My three Mothers.

Mama, Abu, Aunty.
Covid19 Lockdown- D5
*Modigliani

To all the women in my life;
I owe you a debt of gratitude for which I can never fully repay.

Thank You.

Life gave me extra care by gifting me three mothers and three major loves of my life who all went on to be mothers of their own to beautiful children (I gather).

God couldn't be everywhere so he made Mothers.

To my biological mother, for birthing me, naming me and spending considerable time nurturing and shaping me as a child before leaving me after only 11 years. Though much time was spent in strife with papa and your own restless self.

My baby sister inseparable from Mama

I remember elegance and mischief to be pleasant memories of my years with you Mama. The poise at which you carried yourself has a quality of dignified elegance. That's about the only thing you shared with papa. I inherited my own effortless grace from the both of you.

The tricks you played on me particularly the tricycle gambit for my birthday gift, also gifted me the trait of playfulness. Which was unforgettable and inevitably ingrained in me, the joy of receiving & giving pleasant surprises. Hence mischief is an ingrained trait. It became my middle name. This trait is to be blamed for all my troubles, missteps and misdemeanours.

You came and went into and out of our life rather unexpectedly but fulfilling your purpose and role leaving my 10 year-old baby sister and I to embark on our own journey so tender in our life. Then came along...

My Abu & Papa

My other mother who was my step -mother. Although she wears a sarong kebaya and a stern exterior she cared for us and raised us with love and compassion.

Although not my biological mother She was related to me in a technically biological way. Her mother and my paternal grandmother were sisters. She cooked and kept house like a model Nyonya from Malacca. Noble and dignified. Lacking in no skills in any department of housekeeping and f & b. Especially in the area of F&B.

She ignited in me my lust for all things spicy and curry. Fish Sambal and Beef Curry. Sambal Belacan & Sambal Petai Ikan Bilis as well.

She inspired me with her deep patience and endurance of all things physical.

More importantly she had a heart of gold in receiving people of all stripe, especially relatives & family. Giving comfort and advice unconditionally to people of all gripe.

Did I say she tended to farm animals and dogs too. A self-trained veterinarian she cured many birds and mammals. Our poultry and seven dogs mainly. One time a cow wandered in ostensibly looking for help from our resident Vet but our dogs got to her first. I think she survived or not...! Either way I think my Abu would have had a cure for the cow's ailment. Just like she'd have a cure for any of our woes. Not the particularly demonstrative type, she didn't know how to show outward love to us but she showed it in the depth and care she puts into her cooking and baking for us especially during festivals.

Unfortunately medical science had no cure for her cervical cancer. She suffered in silence for months if not years by not telling us. Perchance my sister-in-law spotted irregularities during one family outing to Melaka, her favourite place of visit. She would always light up with joy whenever we visited any one of her siblings be it her third brother in Bandar Hilir or last sister in Tanjung Keling.

Many months were spent in cancer therapy. Most of which were brutal.

She endured the chemical punishment with dignity, courage and vigor. Although a calm person she has few fears but the treatments are scary. I've seen her endure the daily chores of home- everything from housekeeping that is required plus what's not required. Growing and weeding potted plants of orchids and bougainvilleas. Tending to the fruit trees and garden. But what I saw and witnessed was monumental resilience to pain from the drugs, the cancer and numerous therapies including radioactive radium. Her already frail body took the punishment with courage and dignity. A trait I later saw displayed by my eldest sister,  Abu's only child.

After long stays in hospitals in Malacca and KL, we brought Abu home. She further endured and suffered the disease in the confines of our home and loved ones until her last day. Our Abu went peacefully in her favourite rocking chair surrounded by family on August 15, 1986.

Hers was the second funeral my father oversaw as surviving husband. First being my mama in a virtually unmarked grave in Seremban.

My mama died in a motorcar accident involving my older brother from her earlier widowed marriage, three cousins fr. Singapore, my baby sister and I.

On August 15 1969 my mother and a cousin drowned when a small car driven by my half brother overturned into a pond during a heavy rainy Friday afternoon. We were on the way to mama's new house warming in Seremban. That was my first physical encounter with death and realised that it was a miracle I survived. So did my baby sister, my two cousins and my older half-brother.

I cradled her unconscious head on my lap on the hard metal floor of the military truck that rushed us to the nearest hospital. The doctor pronounced her and our second cousin dead upon arrival. 1969 was an eventful year for me, my country and the world. We lost mama, Woodstock started that day, we had our first race riots on May 13 and on July 20 Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon and the Beatles staged their last public performance.

Neil on the Moon

Woodstock 15-18 Aug. 1969

My father managed to survive his wives very well. He even managed a couple of relationships in over 20 years. He finally ensnared a good looking single Cantonese woman fr. Kampar, 28 years younger to spend 27 years married to him. And taking care of him. I am eternally grateful to her, papa's third wife for being a travel companion and caretaker to my father and to also endure him till the end. We are indeed blessed.

She now lives in Johol caretaker to our ancestral home and companion to herself. Sometimes me by cooking for me and cleaning after me whenever I'm spending time at the farm. I now get to spend time with my so called "mother " although we siblings never acknowledged her as that, we all agreed to address her as Aunty. I still find her self absorbed. But she's a quality act. Good strong values and principles. Talented cook, good housekeeper with a fastidiousness for cleanliness. But she tires easily. A survivor nonetheless.

She's getting along very well in her own way. And I'm getting to know her and myself better in my grateful acceptance of her in the process. *why do people view another of fathers woman with disdain? Shouldn't we happy for him?  For them?  For her?

I now know how my children feel about me leaving mum. I do it myself. Or is it totally unrelated?

Anyway I look forward to connecting more with her to get to know her better to make her happy. She's just about all I've got, close-by for now.

She suffers from weak legs and painful knees. I can only hope she be more positive at least half her battle is won. She's fine. Really.

She being my father's third wife has probably seen my entire family grow up. And in her own ways saw to the raising of my children. However aloof. She bore the brunt of her aloofness from my then wife. Who didn't mince her words when it came to our Aunty. They never got along. She never got to meet the first two. The vibes may be much different seeing how similarly strong they all are.

Stay safe. Stay tuned. Literally.

I love you. STFU and do nothing.

Tsunami on land

Covid19 Lockdown- D4
*SnowPiercer

For the first time since Noah's Ark the world is going on a reset. A reboot of sorts. 

This needs to happen especially when humankind is steering the planet out of control.  This is the hard left turn the country and the world need to take before it plunges into a ravine.  So as inhabitants of this world lets take heed, slow down, sit down, STFU and do nothing absolutely nothing and give yourself a break. And for once give the earth a break.

We have only less than two weeks. It is a much needed reset and rest for all of us.
But just like most resets when the system starts up again. Things may not run as smooth yet or things may not run again. That also depends on how well rested or recharged you are. So the less time you spend worrying and spreading rumours and fear the more time you can sit down,  STFU and do nothing. Relax and do nothing. No thinking. No talking. 
Do it for as long as you can. But be present.

Do this and you will be well prepared to meet the oncoming storm. There's serious work to do. 
We don't yet know the extent of the damage as this world event is unprecedented. 
So rest, recharge, reinvent yourself to steel ourselves and face the exciting uncertain future!

We live in exciting times indeed. It's up to you to ride it or be crushed by this tsunami on land. 
More devastating than the sea tsunami as it has gone across mountains, land and sea. 
We must brace ourselves and ride this wave with unity and courage. 
First within ourself then with our fellow human beings. The world is changing. Healing.

For now just sit at home quietly. 


Or go to my earlier post on meditation >. HERE

I love you. My Four Grandmothers

Jia Por, Gua Mah, Sar Mah, Ah Mah.
Covid19 Lockdown (D3)
*WonderWoman

Dress styles of Jia Por, mama's mother & Sar Mah, my third grandma.

Life has been so fine to me. Fineness comes in threes and fours. In addition to the three fine mothers and three major loves of my life, I very probably had four very fine old grandmothers.

I remember my first encounter with my first grandmother, I was 7 or 8, she was very old, wrinkled, a pallid square face, short and squat in stature, always dressed in dark traditional Hakka Chinese attire and bound feet.  Hair in a traditional bun, in her hand she clutches a big-sized palm fan constantly fanning herself daily. Jia Por was my mama's adopted "mother" therefore my grandmother. I could tell and feel she wasn't my own flesh and blood. All I can remember is that she stayed with us for a long while, months not years and she incessantly lectures and scolds us, mama included. I got so irritated by her scoldings that I planned and executed a devious trick on her!

She hates lizards of all sorts and I had a green scaly toy lizard.
One day after dinner, she was relaxing, fanning herself in the living room sitting on a low chair. I had planned to casually toss my toy lizard high up the ceiling into an arch that made the lizard land on my grandmother as though it fell from the ceiling.
I tell you I have never seen an old lady move that fast. She had the reflexes of a Chinese kung fu star.
I was laughing so hard she saw me and threatened to kill me! I was lucky she didn't have a heart attack. She did have one years later when she died in one of their sisters place in KL.
But she was sweet, my grandmother loved us in her own special way. She was the only grandma who I engaged with and had fond memories of. However painful or funny.

Typical Peranakan/Malay dress style.

I never got to engage or remember meeting my grandmother, my Papa's mother but I have embarked on a journey to find out more in the coming weeks and months.
I have recently come to realise and to terms that my grandmother was a Malay woman from a kampung in Simpang Ampat, Melaka. My grandfather a Chinaman from Fujian China made his fortune in Johol, Negeri Sembilan found and married this young Malay lady from Malacca.

Which makes my father, half Malay, half Chinese.

I don't recall ever calling for a family meeting to announce to my children; 
"Hey Guys, err I don't know if it matters to you but I think I may have something to tell you that you may not really know about? You know I probably told you or you probably figured out by now that we are Chinese. Right? We are Chinese? Actually not quite. So therefore I have to tell you that you're not a 100% Chinese. You're part Malay". I can't assume to imagine their reaction. And I can't wait to tell them in person.

So I don't remember my grandmother on my father's side. Except for the fact that she bore my grandfather many children as his first wife and took care of my father, her first son very well.
I had the privilege of meeting my third grandmother- my grandfather's third wife. A traditional Chinese lady with bound feet. She being the latest addition to the wives pool was also the youngest therefore outlived the others. She was smallish in stature, fair skinned with a quiet demeanour hobbled as she walked on her small bound feet.

But I do remember a few encounters with my step-mother's 'mak' who also happens to be my grandmother's younger sister. I remember hearing her only speak Malay whenever we visit with my Abu while she was still living in Simpang Ampat. Her health was deteriorating during my time so we didn't engage much. At least I got to see and speak to her and to be in her presence.
So I can only deduce that my paternal grandmother, our Matriarch only spoke Malay or maybe even Hokkien. Who know? I'm on the road to find out.

Stay tuned. Literally.

I love you. Better still Meditate.

Covid19 Lockdown- D2

Photo by Masaaki Komori on Unsplash

Hi I'm back. I'm also Peter.

Here's how you meditate. Some will tell you start with a guided meditation guru.

I say just sit quietly close your eyes and notice your breathing for just 3 minutes. The key is to pay attention to your breath.

Know that without your breath you will not be alive.

Ready? Sit with spine comfortably erect in a cross-legged posture. Rest your hands, palms up, on your thighs. Drop your shoulders and relax your whole body. And breathe...

Step 1. As you breathe in slowly, visualise the air flowing through your nostrils into your lungs then down into your belly and into the back of your lungs.

Step 2. At the top of your inhale just before you start to exhale, pause gently and visualise your breath touch the base of your skull at the end of your spine. That is the spot connecting to the source. Feel the exuberance of the life throbbing inside you.The one life. One Exuberant Life.

Step 3. Breathe out, gently release the air through your nostrils from your lungs and your whole body. As you exhale feel the energy move from the top of your head down to your forehead, face, throat, shoulders, arms, hands, chest, belly, hips, thighs, knees, calf, ankle, feet and toes. And relax into it.

Feel the life force contained in your entire physical body radiate within you.

Do this for three minutes. If you did it paying full attention to your breath, nice and slow then you'd want to keep going for more than three minutes. You've just learnt how to be with yourself.
Being with yourself. Doing nothing. Absolutely nothing but just simply breathing. Living life. Your life.

Keep practicing this for longer periods. Ten minutes then twenty. Do it as often as you can when you're alone. Just sit and notice your breathing.

Feel the peace and the stillness within. Feel pure blissfulness. 

Try this first then in my later posts I'll take you on more meditation journeys. It's virtually mind blasting.

Stay tuned. Literally.

I love you and I wonder

Covid19 Lockdown (D1)

It is no wonder...

I was so restless the past two nights at the farm. Couldn't sleep.
Even thought on the first night I came home drunk as a skunk after a fabulous night of merry-making with long lost childhood friends.Tears flowed freely from my eyes as we sat at the restaurant table under giant Angsana trees listening to how proud of his girls (including wife) and his grandchildren he is.

I also met a few of my future comrades by the names of Balan, Saravanen, Praba & Ganapathy- the earthworks man. We drank to our hearts content and to our stomach's discontent. Ate deliciously prepared, best of the kitchen food. Made friends with the chef and owner. Left round midnite while we still could. Bcos there's no telling when this particular friend of mine becomes unpredictable after many drinks, he has been known to forbid people leaving before.
My farm supervisor also my childhood friend swiftly but safely delivered me home.

On the second night I was also tossing and turning feeling very compulsive instead of conscious. Couldn't sleep. Then I remembered my guru's words;  you are going through tremendous change. It will be painful. But things are coming together. The transformation is happening. It will be uncomfortable. I eventually found sleep as I managed to silence the mind.

I woke early, well rested, to another day of work no matter what day it is. Started with Aunty bright and cheerful right into the farm including the dogs and chickens along the paths past the Ficus grove then the bamboo grove, past the flowering durians trees, then the abandoned wooden house before coming right up to the chief gardener. He was busy filling polybags with earth under the shade of the giant mango trees.

Chief's Station

I squat beside him to help while he recounted stories of his many trips into the estates tapping rubber; he once saw a black panther, gleaming shiny and sleek in the dark, another time a very huge cobra standing, hissing in his path. He quickly lit a leafy fire to create smoke that drove the creature away. 

Which prompted me to tell my first encounter with a snake on the farm. 

I sat in a broken plastic recliner looking out at a bunch of almost ripe petai hanging on the tree, when all of a sudden I saw a silver line of a snake slither into frame on the ground fronting the tall petai tree. It was about a six footer brownish silvery sleek creature crawling across the 40-foot earthen platform escaping the searing heat of the sun on the ground. It was a feeling of wonder and danger although I know I was in no danger at all. The cobra not withstanding.

See the brown silver line in the middle.

Then I went into town, for dragonfruits, supplies and petrol after an awesome lunch of Assam fish curry prepared just the way I like. Sourish and soupy with chillies and a host of spices. Deliciously executed by aunty.

Assam Fish Curry

On the way back from town enjoying the idyllic village scenes float by, ideas came flooding into my mind while negotiating the gentle curving countryside roads.

I saw my entrepreneurial school programme and the neighbouring schools co-curriculum take shape while driving. So overwhelmed, I almost forgot to stop to have delightful local kuehs washed down with good Hainanese hand made milk tea on the way back.

Steamed ubi kayu (wooden yam) or Tapioca with gula melaka.

Feeling well satiated I went back to work watering the polybags as well as the rest of the new seeds on the new land. And the new Durian trees. I felt such joy lingering over excessive showers of water on the parched land that is full with seeds we sowed weeks ago. 

I finally manage to wrestle the bunch of petai I was eyeing for a long time from the un-yielding tree having failed on my first attempt. Only to learn that it was still too young. I ate them up with relish their tiny beans sprinkled onto the delectable Assam fish curry for dinner.

Having eaten my fill, I promptly left the farm. Driving home to KL into the night was like gliding across the land on my magic carpet- Smooth, swift & effortlessly landing on my balcony coming out of my hiatus. As my country and the rest of the world go into hiatus. So I wonder…

Stay tuned. Literally. 

I Love you and I'm Back.

Covid19 Lockdown D-0

What A Hiatus. Now it's A Lockdown. A semi-lockdown. It took a lockdown to get me back. I came out of hiatus when my country and most parts of the world went into it. 


It's been over five years! That's a long time. What a time I've been through. More of that later, now I just have to share my homecoming gift with anyone who cares to "pay attention."


For the first time in over 50 years my country is going into semi-lockdown again tomorrow.
For the first time in a long while Malaysians get to stay home, shut the f-up. And do nothing.
Do absolutely nothing. No TV, no reading , especially no thinking. Nothing.

Just be present with everyone and everything around you.
If possible say nothing or say very little. All you have to do is pay attention. 
When you really pay attention, your mind shuts down. 
The more you pay attention to the present the more your mind shuts down.
If you can do that then you'll really get to do a hard reset for your mind.

The Being in you can finally emerge.
Feel it. Feel you. The true you.
Can you imagine how alive you will feel? How your life will change?

Try it. After all there is nothing else to do.

#live #love #life #consciousness #joyful #exuberance


P/s Trust me, I've been in total-lockdown for good parts of 2018-2020. Now I am free. Alone and alive.

New York, New York. Boxing Day.

I have been back from my vacation in New York & Boston for 2 weeks now and I can’t get the proverbial 'white' noise of New York out of my system. That is because I’ve come to my conclusion that one doesn’t just visit New York, New York gets into you and stays there. How long? I can’t tell.

New York was everything I imagined it to be, only larger than life. Big. Huge. Great proportions. It's like tackling a gargantuan task; daunting at first but when you are faced with it, you stare at it, embrace it and just like most things worth doing in life, it’s totally real & doable!

I arrived at JFK on the same day I left. Boxing day. We went to Lombardi’s in Lower Manhattan to sample what I believe to be NY’s staple, Pizza. NY’s first pizza parlour for my first meal. A stroll around Nolita, little Italy, Chinatown and Canal Street gave me a sense of perspective of lower Manhattan. 

Times Square was an assault on the senses made bearable only by the beautiful billboards of the box offices on Broadway just a street away. Promising to return, we then took a short stroll back to The Vogue, the building that houses our little apartment on 6th Avenue, Herald Sq. 

As I lay down to sleep that night, I wondered what happened to the 22 hours I spent travelling on Boxing Day? 

Zane & Julian wait outside for a table.

Zane salivates over acres of pizza on our tables.

A sign on a taxi top going into Broadway from Times Square.

Christmas at Home with Family 2014

Last year we sat around in a somewhat similar configuration except it was a villa in Seminyak, Bali.

This year we celebrated Christmas with the Levers at the Taman Tun house with turkey roasted to perfection by Agnes and carved with old school expertise and military precision by Nigel Lever.

Dinner was very traditional and authentic English fare prepared lovingly and meticulously by Ann assisted by domestic helper Angel.

The presents followed after the irresistible dessert of ice cream or cream caramel on deliciously aged fruit cake that can only be flawlessly executed by Peggy. Needless to say, the person with the highest haul of X'mas presents  was Ann being the darling of the ball and belle of the holidays. Music to set the Christmas mood was courtesy of Summer's playlist played through Hanim's snazzy new red bluetooth speakers. I was the most blessed, just needing only to fully appreciate the good food and fine beverage all night long.

Merry Xmas one and all.

World Ballet Superstars Gala 2014 at Istana Budaya

From spectator in 2012 to performer in 2013 and 2104, Summer danced the opening act of the World Ballet Superstars Gala this year.
We are so very proud of her. And we get to capture yet another family photo at Istana Budaya again.

Cakes & Children

Apart from making great kids, mum makes great cakes too. 

         
           Featured here is a fantastic mouthful of Sugee cupcake I had for breakfast this morning.

Excellent because it's one of my favourite cakes. Favourite because it's a cake with bite. Because of the main ingredient sugee or semolina from durum wheat, I can bite into and chew and masticate for a little while instead of normal cakes that simply melt into your mouth and disappear down the hatch without even a linger.

Take a closer look at the ravished shot and you will see the rich texture of the golden grains.

 

Cute polka dotted paper clad cupcake

Undressed

Ravished

The Family Photo

Taken in July 2012 at Istana Budaya, I only realised yesterday how everyone in the family was beautifully captured in this picture.

Coffee

Saw this T-Shirt hanging in Joma in Vientiane most times I scuttle in to buy my morning cup of Americano to bring to work. I can't get started without my cup of brewed coffee. And the message says it all.
I got my Starbucks Card activated back home in KL all because of a planner I covert. 15 Drinks to get one free planner. I got a plan in place. Buy a tumbler and get major discounts. I'm going full steam with a talle Americano each time now.
But I also brew a great pot every morning at home. I guess I'll have to OD on caffein for a little while.

One Day in One Second.

Today I'm inspired to write once again.

From an article on FastCompany about Cesar Kuriyama who advocates documenting one second to represent each day and then stringing those seconds together to play the movie of your life to represent one month (30 secs) or one year (365 secs). This is really what living in the moment means.

For me it's a reminder to continue to blog one sentence or one picture a day.

I'm just happy to be in the presence of the women in my home. Mum doing jottings on her baking trials, Summer watching nothings on Youtube and Rati scurrying around the house performing her duties. While I nurse a hangover from the night celebration following ganforhire's DCA Camp 2013.

Racking up Balls

A comely lass at work; captured under the light of the pool table

Drinking beer, playing pool and framing shots.

Gangnam Style Unites the world.

Walking down Rue Faghoum in Vientiane where they have their annual Boat Race Festival, rows and rows of makeshift shops, stalls and corporate booths plying their wares amidst blaring music and loud announcements. The bigger brands have platform stages for performances.
As I walked down the short stretch to attend a party at the invitation of my new found friends at Asia Pacific Brewery, I have witnessed no less than 3 Gangnam style dances performed by models on stage. I must say that the song coupled with the dance is very uplifting. It makes me happy just taking in the sights of people mimicking the quirky moves of Psy.
Asian music has indeed taken the world by storm.
As I arrived at the very elaborate and stylish booth of NamKhong, the sponsors of the event, another Gangnam style dance was in progress.
Many NamKhong beers later, I was back in my hotel lobby and I recounted my experience of the night to a Canadian Chinese having his foot massage. He told me that in clubs in Canada, the white guys are all playing Gangnam style.
Music is indeed the universal language that unites regardless of origin.

MotoGP Weekend & World Ducati Week Asia 2012

The Moto GP at Sepang this year was a wet affair. With the race having been stopped several times due to heavy rain. Somehow I got to experience the wet when I got caught riding to the gym from home. I thought I could make a quick dash to the Club before the rain; it was pelting down so heavy I had to seek refuge in the ample driveway of Wisma Semantan, which now seems deserted.

Health & Family

Mum went to Seremban with Bernie, Zane was in inter-church badminton competition. Summer was under the weather. Baby sat her till evening when it was time, I went to the gym and ran 2.5K again and worked on my legs and core.
Worked up an appetite and treated ourselves to a healthy, yummylicious meal at Village Roast Duck.
Caught up with mum, Bernie & Jamie at Wondermama. Good thing they were out of ABC. Went home and we all watched the new Spiderman on DVD.

Men Only or Just Boys

A realisation came upon me as I strode into the studio into Darren's dungeon for a review with the team; a bunch of men gathered in a small plot of space about to engage in discussion standing up.

Darren, Mustakim, Khairi, Hugo, Kelvin, Vincent, Hafiz and I. 
All good men. All extremely talented. All is good.

The Boys' Day out

Zane picked me up from the office so we could go grab some yummy lunch then shopping for some khaki pants for me. And if time permits go see the Mini at Glenmarie.
We did all that and he was unusually patient with me trying on pants after pants in Paradigm Mall. So I decided to take him to AB.
We saw more than our Mini. 

Gawking at the new F10 M5 V8

Dashboard of the M5

My personal favourite 6Series 4-door

2.5K

I did 2.5km in 16mins on the treadmill today. Well on course for my target of 5k this month.
And I was feeling slightly under the weather. Felt so good went on to do some new technique weights on biceps with Zane. I love working out with my son.

The Samurai

A lone samurai walked into our office today.
We both conducted ourselves in the most honourable manner.
I hope we get to meet this samurai again.
G.R.A.C.E.

Fast Track in Putrajaya

Golf course view from a penthouse unit

"We will take all your brand values at face value and apply those values to the task of branding your current project"  My reply to a Client who asks for a fast track to the brand communication process.

Then we took a tour of the place and I wondered had I bought a unit 15 years ago when I first started playing golf there, would the value have appreciated or would I have been staying there?

We took the ERL, fast track train from Sentral Putrajaya to Sentral KL aka The KLIA Express.
A smooth fast ride it was as everybody wants fast tracking these days.

Gala Night - Short and Sweet Malaysia 2012

We only found out late last night that Summer's dance group performing 'Forbidden' made it to the Gala night. Although we had expected that they breeze through from their sterling performance the week before, still it was a small celebration of sorts- hugs & kisses, when we got official word.
Tonight we're all excited once again to see the beautiful opening dance movement the five swans will make on stage before paving the way for the white and black swans to tell their story on stage. 

Meanwhile after dropping Summer earlier this afternoon, Zane and I took in the sights at the park at KLPAC and saw how well maintained the former Sentul Golf club was.
A good case of sacrificing the enjoyment of a few for the enjoyment of a larger few. The Arts& Dance fraternity and owners of the Condos of Sentul East & West.



Have fun you all. I know I will be bursting with pride once again.

The Seventh Day

Happy Chinese New Year! Gong Xi. Gong Xi.

This year of the water dragon has been pleasant so far. Just before the new year, I managed to convince my family to spend CNY eve at our ancestral home in Johol. So there we were Summer, Zane, Agnes, Peter Gan and Aunty, (my father's surviving third wife) had reunion dinner in our ancestral home once more. The food was painstakingly but lovingly prepared by Aunty, who managed to fill the table to the brim the way my father had always wanted it.  Fireworks and crackers erupted noisily outside our first floor dining room window as we settled down to our sumptious meal celebrating the auspicious moment. As much as we were startled by the incessant loud noise, we heartily agreed that this was necessary to properly scare away the monster Nien, who terrorized the villages in ancient China, so all could stay alive and safely guo Nien.
After dinner we had no TV, no internet, no distractions to busy ourselves with and so we just spent time talking and playing games with each other. It was nice spending time with loved ones in the memory of those who have gone before us.

Today, that memory belongs to my father who passed away 6 years ago on this seventh day of the lunar new year. The seventh day is also known as everybody's birthday as this is the day on the Chinese lunar calendar when everybody gets a year older.
As I grow older each seventh day of the CNY, I also grow wiser thinking of the lessons my father taught me not by lecturing me or beating me up. No never. The old man never laid a hand on me. He loved me and he showed me through living his life with honour, respect and integrity that things could be resolved and life is to be enjoyed. Always the one to look for the humor in life, my father was fun to be with.
So as we shared the reunion dinner in my ancestral home this new year, I know my father is pleased. The fireworks and firecrackers that erupted outside our window to scare away the monster Nien, I look back from the seventh day and I realize my father gave us valuable life lessons to scare away own own demons. For me it's just to look inward and dig deep into the values my father taught me and in it's powerful silent revelation know that demons only exist in our own minds.
Back in ancient times, people believed that their land was in constant threat from outside forces. When the rains didn't fall the crops would not grow and the land was barren, people would not have food. So they blamed the monster when what was actually happening was that the seasons change just as spring will surely follow winter. Which is precisely when the new year celebrates, the start of spring.
So as we go forth this Chinese New Year, have a beautiful springtime and know that the only demons we need to scare away are the ones in our minds.
I love you Papa.

Xin Nian Quai Le Everyone.