A few more days and we are entering into a brand new year…perhaps this will be my last blog for year 2008.
2008 passes-by tremendously fast and at times I felt worried because it seems like I am running after time…beginning of the year we have a restructuring in our division and I am posted to HQ. I thought I was ready to face any challenges and I also prepared myself for those things I thought I would have a handful! Well, it did not turn out the way I thought it was suppose to…and all the effort of ‘preparation’ never been put to use whereas many situations happened unpredictably. As the Chinese saying, “Let heaven predicts your next step rather than your own selves”…how true!
In this new position, I have a lot of exposure especially in people management. Certain times I wished I can return to be a junior officer to ‘escape’ from responsibility rather than where I am. My ex-boss used to say “A popular manager won’t make him/her a good manager”…I somewhat disagree with the statement. I think it should be…”A ‘yes’ manager won’t make him/her a good manager”…Well, the word “NO” is absolutely a very heavy word to utter though it’s just 2 alphabets compare to 3 in a ‘yes’…but most of the time there are not many options for us and we always hope that our teams would understand someday – somehow…to go through these challenging episodes I kept reminding myself, it’s all about work – nothing personal. I wonder if the other party would have the same thought…
Then a rude shock came right after my birthday. All these while I thought I am just trying my best to do whatever I can for everyone. Unfortunately, people have otherwise opinion on my action and now I am put to blame for their loss. It is disheartening and depressing. Sometimes I wondered whether I really had made an error and why not just accept the blame to stop the whole episode. However in one of the Sunday sermon, a verse in the bible helps. It says “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visit us” (1Peter 2:12).
2008 was not just about challenges and hard times. I had my best travel so far which I have been planning for a long time. I had great time with my friends and my family. I met up with some of my old friends and I also made new friends…I had the opportunity to taste fantastic food!
This Christmas brings a lot of good times…on the eve; my family had dinner at Euro Deli. On Christmas Day, we had great lunch with my best pals and their family…so many babies at one time in my house - brought a lot of joy! By night, we headed to Jaycy’s home where I looked forward to every year. Those days, Janet would be the host before she migrated to Perth and if I remember correctly, we never missed any of her invitations neither Jaycy’s. I particularly loved during the dinner is the chatting…although my job requires me to talk a lot but when I am at home with my family, I am more a listener…and I simply enjoy it! Not to forget boozing with my cousins is another fun part…hahahaha…I don’t know how to describe their expression but they definitely make me laugh…like when I was small how they made funny faces to tickle me! If I am given a choice, I preferred those gatherings we had when I was younger - when every family members are still around…ie Marcos, 4th sis-in-law, my father (all who are with the Lord now) and also my cousins Janet & her family in Perth and Allan…I miss them…
The next day, we had BBQ session with my team from JT together with 2 “special” guests. We were blessed with good and rich food. I believe everyone had a good time and Kiwi too…On Saturday, I made a journey to Seremban with boss and Ling to attend Karen’s wedding…and Sunday after church, we headed to an elderly aunty’s house. I am amazed with this aunty. She is going to be 79 next year and she invited 13 of us for Christmas lunch! She made fried mee, sui kao, vegetable, fried fish balls, chicken, pot pies, cheese cake, jello and drinks with the help of a maid…the best part was when she has prepared all the food for us, she entertained us and herself by singing karaoke!!! She operates the vcd and the hi-fi herself…she chose the cds and her favourite songs herself without any help or even a pair of spectacles…I think she enjoyed herself very much…I thanked God for her exemplary life…she lost her husband and her son…her daughters are in overseas and she stays alone with a maid. Yet she maintains a joyful life and less bother of how people may see her…Hallelujah! What a joy to know her…
2008 passes-by tremendously fast and at times I felt worried because it seems like I am running after time…beginning of the year we have a restructuring in our division and I am posted to HQ. I thought I was ready to face any challenges and I also prepared myself for those things I thought I would have a handful! Well, it did not turn out the way I thought it was suppose to…and all the effort of ‘preparation’ never been put to use whereas many situations happened unpredictably. As the Chinese saying, “Let heaven predicts your next step rather than your own selves”…how true!
In this new position, I have a lot of exposure especially in people management. Certain times I wished I can return to be a junior officer to ‘escape’ from responsibility rather than where I am. My ex-boss used to say “A popular manager won’t make him/her a good manager”…I somewhat disagree with the statement. I think it should be…”A ‘yes’ manager won’t make him/her a good manager”…Well, the word “NO” is absolutely a very heavy word to utter though it’s just 2 alphabets compare to 3 in a ‘yes’…but most of the time there are not many options for us and we always hope that our teams would understand someday – somehow…to go through these challenging episodes I kept reminding myself, it’s all about work – nothing personal. I wonder if the other party would have the same thought…
Then a rude shock came right after my birthday. All these while I thought I am just trying my best to do whatever I can for everyone. Unfortunately, people have otherwise opinion on my action and now I am put to blame for their loss. It is disheartening and depressing. Sometimes I wondered whether I really had made an error and why not just accept the blame to stop the whole episode. However in one of the Sunday sermon, a verse in the bible helps. It says “Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visit us” (1Peter 2:12).
2008 was not just about challenges and hard times. I had my best travel so far which I have been planning for a long time. I had great time with my friends and my family. I met up with some of my old friends and I also made new friends…I had the opportunity to taste fantastic food!
This Christmas brings a lot of good times…on the eve; my family had dinner at Euro Deli. On Christmas Day, we had great lunch with my best pals and their family…so many babies at one time in my house - brought a lot of joy! By night, we headed to Jaycy’s home where I looked forward to every year. Those days, Janet would be the host before she migrated to Perth and if I remember correctly, we never missed any of her invitations neither Jaycy’s. I particularly loved during the dinner is the chatting…although my job requires me to talk a lot but when I am at home with my family, I am more a listener…and I simply enjoy it! Not to forget boozing with my cousins is another fun part…hahahaha…I don’t know how to describe their expression but they definitely make me laugh…like when I was small how they made funny faces to tickle me! If I am given a choice, I preferred those gatherings we had when I was younger - when every family members are still around…ie Marcos, 4th sis-in-law, my father (all who are with the Lord now) and also my cousins Janet & her family in Perth and Allan…I miss them…
The next day, we had BBQ session with my team from JT together with 2 “special” guests. We were blessed with good and rich food. I believe everyone had a good time and Kiwi too…On Saturday, I made a journey to Seremban with boss and Ling to attend Karen’s wedding…and Sunday after church, we headed to an elderly aunty’s house. I am amazed with this aunty. She is going to be 79 next year and she invited 13 of us for Christmas lunch! She made fried mee, sui kao, vegetable, fried fish balls, chicken, pot pies, cheese cake, jello and drinks with the help of a maid…the best part was when she has prepared all the food for us, she entertained us and herself by singing karaoke!!! She operates the vcd and the hi-fi herself…she chose the cds and her favourite songs herself without any help or even a pair of spectacles…I think she enjoyed herself very much…I thanked God for her exemplary life…she lost her husband and her son…her daughters are in overseas and she stays alone with a maid. Yet she maintains a joyful life and less bother of how people may see her…Hallelujah! What a joy to know her…
No matter where or how the situations will turn out to be, I have to convince myself that I should not be looking backwards and only have to focus in moving forward. I trust that God will lead me through every hurdle and even if I fall I have Him to hold me and put my feet back on solid ground…and if someday I could be like my church aunty who is care-free and joyful despite so many adversities, it would be a blessing! I am going to work towards that…Have a Great and Blessed 2009!
Great dishes on Christmas Day
Highlight of the Day - Turkey
At Jaycy's house
Guess who's the real chef?
"yummm, I smell bone in here..."
Ribs and Wings..yummy
BBQ session
