Two of those moments

Two very enjoyable moments that were noteworthy happened last week.

1) It was Saturday morning, my dearie was awoken by the noise that was generated from my computer due to the soccer match that was going on… I told her I was heading to work, and was watching soccer… (which was like any regular conversation we have)

Then her responses thrilled me…. Not one.. but two…

Zing: “What are you doing?”
Me: “Watching soccer, but going to work.”
Zing: “Watching soccer? Did Liverpool win?”
Me: “Yes they did” (So sweet)
Zing: “Did Man Utd lose?”

That was literally a LOL moment… what a dearie I have…

And just for record sake… my reply was: “Not yet, but I hope they will”… and of coz, they did draw a winnable game… too bad chelski did not capitalize.. which is now all academic

2) It was champions’ league night in Europe and Singapore… but it took place too early in the afternoon. Liverpool was taking on Chelski at Stamford Bridge.

And when CKW and CKT kept willing me to go watch the game with the “HOW CAN YOU MISS THE GAME???!?!?!” kinda tone…. I thought about it seriously… and decided that responsibilities comes before my interests… so I decided to give the game a miss… so I thought..

On that fateful day (which happens to be a Wednesday), I went to work as usual. At about 10am, half of the building’s power went out, and as a result, the Internet too. I was thinking… “Darn… I should have stayed at home, now I can’t even check gamecast”… Little did I know… God’s plan is always miraculous… they lifts you up by bringing you down first, and if you trust him enough, he will finally bring you around…

And he did… when we got back from lunch at 1pm, the whole building went dark! And what was to follow was simply amazing… the client’s laptop went dead, and all powers are out… the CFO told everyone to GO HOME!!! How can that ever happen in my life?!?!?! I am getting out… if not going home

The first black out in a long time yielded something fruitful… thank God! My staff was saying, “we have to go back to the office”… then I told her.. “I actually plan to work from home” since there’s “no difference” between the two….

This incident is indeed God-send…. And I got to go back to watch my favorite game… of coz, when my manager heard that, he was none too please… but hell… since this opportunity is God send I should go with it… That only mean that I had to work a little late at home that night. Which suits me too…What a day…

Thank God for the year

One more year has passed... it's the time of the year to count one's blessings...

What has gone... what lies ahead... what has changed in the last 365 days?

While I should be mugging away for my auditing paper, scheduled to be taken in one month's time, I thought I should stop for a moment, and thank God for making that day 29 years ago.

If he had not created that day, this certain someone would not have existed to bring joy to so many people.... haha.

I made a wish... and the first thing that come to my mind is... my parents... and my special someone. It has been an amazing change of mindset as opposed to 365 days ago.

Back then, I would not dare entertain the thought of spending my life with one person. 12 months later... i know I would not entertain any thoughts of not living with this one person. On many of my trips back from work.... about 25 miles... 40km... usually 25 mins... I always think of my parents. I want to spend so much time with them when i get back, I want to bring them to so many places when I can, and I want to tell them I love them, shower my care, concern, and my love for them.... and let them know that my heart always think of them.

It's amazing that slightly more than a year ago, I would not have even comtemplated going on too many vacations with them. When they asked if they could join me for my backpacking trips, I always thought I need to visit these other places that they are not interested in. I never thought of bringing them to places where they want to go to.

Dont get me wrong, then, I was close to my parents.... but never the "let's go for vacations together" kind of close... It is simply an amazing ability of God to make us closer to someone when we are in actual fact further....

This year has been a fruitful year like many others... my relationship with my special someone has grown... we both agree that the growth is pretty substantial, and very positive... work wise... it has been fruitful too... many things learnt... bonds established.. friendship formed.. complains made... it's one of those years when you look back and see... and conclude... it was indeed a good year...

Visited some nice places... other not so enjoyable ones... it all adds up... Thank God things fell in place the way they did. I would not have changed any one thing that has happened even if i were to turn back the clock.. i speak that with a tiny bit of doubt... maybe i have not thought hard enough... but at the very least... i am happy with the bulk of things that happened.

One thing that I can certainly improve... will be to re-connect with God... it is He who gives me strength... it is He who helps me wake up each morning... loving the fact that the day is here... experiencing each minute of it... despite the ups and downs... know that God is there...

Happy Birthday

Just some random thoughts when I saw a posting about a dodo's birthday...

I have a somewhat unique view on the uniqueness of myself as an individual... while I lay secured in the fact that God created us different from others, and very much an unique person... I somehow have a less than usual way of viewing my own birthdays...

It led me to recall my growing up process, and how I grew up thinking that I am so unique, and the day that I was born is so special, surely the most special day of the year... this is of course not helped by the constant celebration of mediocrity by our parents and relatives around us... "Wah, Ah Jin is so good at XXXX" when now I realized... it's not as true as I wished it is... haha

Not to be mistaken, I do like my birthday... Deep down, I always feel special about myself that day... but I shun away from the happy birthday greetings... I do not enjoy being in the spotlight... especially when someone announces my birthday to a crowd... I like it to be privately special... It's hard to explain... while I feel special about myself... I feel awkward when people want to celebrate that with me... I never feel easy being the "focus" of people's attention.. except my dearest of course...

I dont like the thought of people needing to spend additional efforts thinking of a gift for me... or planning a celebration... while I very much appreciate the kind gestures... the thought of people "wasting" time doing something to make me feel special (not like I dont feel special about myself already) on that day... it's just a case of... sincerely appreciate the thoughts...Thanks... but no thanks.

The most ridiculous birthday that I had was my 18th birthday... I actually forgot that it was my birthday on that day and went about the day like all other day. Of course.. I kept it toned down by not telling anyone that it is my birthday any time before... And when people start to discuss that topic, i will carefully and, usually, skillfully skirt the topic.

On that fateful day... I remember it was on a Wednesday... I had ECA that afternoon.... It was only at about 4pm, when someone actually asked me about the date that day.... and I said... "I think it's 19 April"... then the person corrected me... and said.. "no lah, it's actually... ".

At that point, I felt kind of silly, and funny... that I spent the full day without realizing it's my birthday... Ironically... I think my Dad or Mum bought me a cake when I got home... It's really nice...

Sometimes birthday is like a check point...it's just time to take stock... time to count your blessings... time to think about the people you love... time to love the people you love even more... time to thank God for all that he has given to me the past year... time to feel good about yourself... and what you have done for the past year... time to thank God that there's always another year for you to improve... time to appreciate people...

One thing that I tend not to think about... despite tremendous societal pressure... is to think about the BIG 3...... To each his own... but I tend to think that... as I always tell my dearie... Birthdays is just a date... and Age is just a number... While the former is not consistent with my current post, the latter is certainly how I feel always... Like I always tell my staff... what is the bottom line? It's simply... Age is just a number, we can always feel the age you want to feel... after all, we know that a 29-year-old person may not be what we thought of a 29-year-old when we were 15....

Thank God for the day...