An additional candle on her cake

Another year, another step closer to adulthood my dear girl......but for now, enjoy being a child living in a 'fantasy'world of your own.

We've come a long way .... 8 long years... thanks for giving us the smiles and happy moments all these years. Happy Birthday girl!!!

A Bygone Era

KCRC, or Kowloon-Canton Railway Corporation, the company which connects Hong Kong to China, and for many locals, providing many fond memories but also memories of agony of years gone by.

Took my girl to visit the railway museum, conveniently located at the former location of Tai Po Market railway station. Trying to immerse her into the history of this railway company dating back almost a century.......but in a sense it was also for me tracing my steps back to the early 70's, the first time I visited Hong Kong with my mum and bro.........

Vivid memories coming back upon seeing this old station, the narrow streets, the steep pathway, but above all, the train engine and the coaches themselves.....1st class, 2nd class, 3rd class, cargo area.....each and everyone of these coaches I had the privilige to travel in......from the winding tracks, the quirky onboard toilets (when you pulled the flushing lever, the contents of your bowel would be deposited on the tracks.....just a gaping hole), the tunnel pass connecting Kowloon and the New Territories (we had to close all the windows as we entered the tunnel, otherwise we would be inhaling the diesel fumes of the train engine)........

Pictures don't do history justice, memories are far stronger than pictures, ...... but teaching today's kids about history, having pics around is helpful, and foremost, having something on display for them to see and touch for themselves. So I was bombarded with all imaginable questions that a Primary 1 kid can pose regarding trains, engines, tracks, ticketing office, signals.......but she didn't ask any questions about the black and white pictures, depicting the history of KCRC, showing the exodus of Mainland Chinese from Communist rule and the subsequent famine era into Hong Kong using the train back in the late 40's and 50's(I explained to her that "yeye" came to Hong Kong this way). Will my daughter ever realize that it was this sudden, huge influx of immigrants, bringing along their famed work ethos and funds, traveling on these KCRC trains who eventually made Hong Kong into what it is today?

I doubt it......but at least she knows that those steam engined trains are actually for real and not something she only sees on TV (documentaries or the animated movie 'Polar Express').

Priceless commodity

A Rolex watch....for many around the world, a status symbol, an overt display of having made it,.....and this especially more so in Asia.

I've always been confounded by this peculiar obsession of people with obtaining a Rolex watch. 'Cause after all, it is not a brand that is known for its innovation, 'cos admit it.....its designs have been around for decades with slight variations only every now and then. But what puzzles me is that these watches maintain their value and in many cases even increase their intrinsic value over time. A large percentage of 'owners' keep their watches at home, or in safety deposit boxes.....for fear of being robbed, or just to exchange it back again for hard cash when 'hard times' knock on the door.

I wouldn't have started this topic if there wasn't a personal side to this story. My dearest tried for years to convince me to purchase a Rolex, because of its appreciating capacity. But to no avail, I've remained stubbornly with my ol' trusted Tag........but okay, have to face the reality.

My Tag won't appreciate at all, on the contrary........and if a Rolex really does give me a healthy return (as opposed to the bleeping money market).....should start considering to get one

Bad times ahead

Well, it's official now, coinciding with our stay in this ultra-capitalist city, the local government has officially declared that HK has gone into recession, i.e. that is 2 quarters of negative GDP growth or contraction.

What do ordinary people think of it? Having talked with several, all of them are gloomy, HK factories in China closing down (to date, more than 7000 and counting this year alone, retrenchment of Hong Kong peeps who used to work in China, Hong Kong dudes who were working in Macau (constructing the casinos and operating them), local businesses who lay off massive amount of staff (today HSBC, undoubtedly HK's largest bank and a household name worldwide, laid off 450 staff.......and certainly more to go in the near future).

During weekdays, shopping malls are eerily 'quite' and almost as desolate during the SARS crisis a few years back, and Xmas season has barely started.

How does it affect us personally? Any offers or discounts are way to go, having our meals at 'discount' hours, shopping around for the best bargain.....

But in the end, it is our holiday and we do as we please.......rest, rest and rest and yeah, the additional grams have already added up....grmmmbbllll.

Vision

Finally arrived in HK, and as I've mentioned before, posting will be quite erratic.

Few days ago, took Laetitia to pay respects to my dad.

Less than a decade ago, mum bought some spots at a temple/columbarium at Sha Tin, and have to admit that her decision to move my dad's remains turned out for the better (regarding environment, accessibility, management and etcetera that is).

Laetitia and me performed our praying ritual together and afterwards the little gal confided to me that she saw 'yeye' smiling towards her whilst she was praying to him. And also she prayed to the 'guardian', an omnipotent being in charge of keeping the peace at the temple and warding off any bad spirits that roam around, and this 'guardian' nodded his head towards her whilst she was calling out silently to him to protect 'yeye' and all the other spiritis that reside there.

Is it just imagination on her part or is there something else that I have missed? Maybe I've had those encounters too before, but neglected them......one says that kids are 'pure' and are more susceptible to these strange apparitions.

All in all, we retreated at peace from the temple, and the little girl asked me when we were going back again to visit 'yeye', 'cos she likes to pray to him and visit the temple in question......

Holiday 2008 Part 3

Less than 2 days and we're off for our annual pilgrimage to Hong Kong.

Amazingly our preparation for this trip has been minimal....our bags are barely packed, travel documents are don't know where yet (doh, have to locate them in earnest tomorrow).

We sense no real excitement as with our previous trips, maybe because we know the place practically inside out (Tai Po) and there are no real surprises in store anymore.

But foremost because this trip is for our mental well-being more than ever after a year of hard work.

What's in store for us? Rest, rest, rest, eat, eat, and eat ...combined with the obligatory shopping, but this year shopping spree will be a bit curtailed as real economics is affecting each and everyone. Knowing Hong Kong I sure bet that there will be lots of 'Sales' signs displayed, 'cos the oversupply of stock has to be dumped on the market asap in time for winter season.

My dear wife, Jessica, is still feeling a bit blue and Laetitia has contracted some germs too.....that promises for our pending trip.

Itinerary : depart at 6pm from KLIA, arrival at HKG at around 10pm, arrive at Tai Po flat at around 11:30.....and then have to clean up the whole flat, 'cos there will be a carpet of dust and accompanying dustmites waiting for us. So by the time we hit the sack, will be early Wednesday morning.

Phew, ... luckily we have 3 weeks to recover :p

Btw, since that we do not have readily available internet access in our flat in Hong Kong, the posting next few weeks will be rather erratic. We are on holiday after all :p

A rare get-together

A wedding is one of those rare occassions where all the family from near and distant places come together at the same time and venue.

And since it is a joyous occassion, the mood is inevitably positive, everyone dressed in their best outfit..or supposedly their best. Yesterday's wedding dinner was held by a Hong Kong couple with Malaysian ancestral roots from the bride's side, hence the function here in KL. Jessica's siblings and parents attended, save for my wife who was struck by a bout of flu, poor her...so Laetitia and me took the honours in representing our 'family'.

So off I trotted with Laetitia to this venue, luckily there was a drawn plan on the invitation card as the wedding took place on the other side of town. I called to my dad-in-law to check whether they had arrived already but no such luck, we were the first to arrive and had to make do with finding our own way. Sure no problems, should be a piece of cake.

When I arrived there was a huge crowd in front of the 'restaurant'......so ofcourse this dude thinks this is the place to be, name of venue : check......bridal car : check, 'beautiful people" : check. So I approached the 'reception' table and ofcourse it is all in Chinese, and those peeps started talking to me in Mandarin. As I assumed this was the right place, I dutifully signed in the guestbook.....but ohooh, then came some questions as these peeps didn't recognize me and I for sure didn't know them either. Then it suddenly dawned upon one of the ushers that I'm not a guest at this wedding but should go to the upper floor where there was another wedding going on. Aaaargghhh, we scurried away as fast as possible conveying our apologies and made our way to the 3rd floor....where yes, there was another wedding. So same routine, lining up for the reception desk and bewildered looks from both sides. LOL......this time I was smart enough not to sign in immediately and asked some questions first, showing them the invitation card. And they pointed out that the wedding I needed to attend should be one floor down, 2nd floor. Hahahahahaaa.....what a laugh.

Finally found the correct venue, sign in, pass on the angpow and take a seat.....what a hilarious situation.

What still puzzles me actually here in Malaysia, that for functions a substantial percentage of the guests just show up in their everyday's clothes as opposed to the Western world and other 'developed' societies in Asia people (gents wear ties, ladies wear night dress). Is it an affront? I assume it is still ingrained in their 'small hometown' mind that one does not engage into these frivolous sideshows like dressing up and just be practical and show up in their normal clothes and partake in the festivities at hand.

Other than that, a wedding here is like a wedding everywhere on this planet. It starts slowly, with people getting (re)acquainted with eachother, preferring a seating on a table with familiar faces and stuffing themselves full with the offered banquet. And ofcourse, as the evening progresses, the alcohol induced minds loosen up the tongues and the party really starts rolling.....

Alas the night was still young when we left, we were going back to look after poor Jessica and we left the wedding event with our stomachs full and a big smile on our faces. Laetitia and me were still in party mood during the ride back home and we sang our hearts out to the tune of some Chinese pop songs :)

Oh yeah, another thing......back in the olden days, there were always one or more appointed, hired photographers who would record the obligatory pictures for memories sake, but nowadays with the advent of cheap digital cameras, there is practically no more need for those professionals. Tons of guests scurrying around to take pictures from all possible angles.....now I do wonder whether anyone is going to collect all these pics and make them available to the newly wed (I've saved mine on a thumbdrive and will pass it to them).

'Cos after all, it is their special night.

Year-end school analysis

End of the school year 2008......

Which means many anxious parents awaiting news about their respective kid's performance.

Kids are just kids.....but under their parent's influence, they do understand that this is their yearly Day of Reckoning.

Nowadays society is performance/target driven and this also applies to the education system, be it locally or overseas. Hence I saw many parents in obvious joy that their child(ren) made the 'cut' or even witnessed moody parents with weeping kids in tow who obviously didn't make the cut.

Jessica and me have always shared the view that our kid should be brought up as a person with a sense of responsibility, morality, discipline and decency towards others.....but most importantly towards herself.

Whether Laetitia scores well at school or not, as long as she tries her utmost best and within her capabilities, it would suffice for us as 'Einsteins' are not ready made. And to be frank, we wouldn't have mind that she dropped a level for next year as the pressure of performing in 1st class, where she currently is, is quite extraordinary (mind you, she is barely 8 years old).

But as it turned out today, she has improved her grades a bit and is firmly anchored in the middle peloton of 1st class. Are we glad? Sure we are, but overall what made us happy is that she has shown a streak of independence , displaying decent manners towards the staff of teachers (according to the staff, she is the only one of her class who will step forward and apologize for things of which she was deemed the culprit).

1st year at school, my dear girl, our choice of placing you in this school has proven more than worthwhile, and overall we have received more than we asked for. Is it because of the school ethos or is it just you? I guess it must be a mix of both....

Headmaster Leong, thanks for proving me wrong. I finally understand your 'vision'. Please accept my sincere apologies for ever doubting your methods and vision.

And finally.........Well done my dear babygirl, go enjoy your deserved holiday break

In Memoriam

Amidst our excitement of an upcoming well-deserved holiday, my mum called us up and informed us that someone who is very dear to me has passed away at a blissfull age of 80+.....

This brought me immediately back to 'terra firma'..........cos this person in question, a great-aunt who was closely related to my grandparents on my father's side, provided me with my many fond memories.......memories of warmth, happiness, her extraordinary ability to manage a household of 7 children all under one roof,.....

Alas, the 'clock' never stops and I just have to accept the fact that 'life' will someday end....life in the physical sense that is, but not 'life' in general....the seeds of our future are already there and future generations are bound to come, that is the desire of 'nature'.

So instead of being melancholic now, I'd like to bring a positive hommage to this dear aunty of mine ...........

"You've lived a wonderful life, blessed with many children, a good companion whilst he was with you........you started with nothing, but still you gave so much......let Him judge upon you at the gates and embrace you into His arms.....Enjoy your afterlife, aunty"

Mobile bill

Ohooh,.....my wife informed me how in God's name did I manage to skyrocket my mobile bill by more than 150% during the last 2 months.  I was dumbstruck by it as I do not recall that I made more calls than usual and certainly none overseas either.

But then it dawned upon me that it might have something to do with me being a 'football manager/director'  nowadays.  'Cos you see,  I've been sms'ing like a Maglev train attempting the land speed record to our members to inform them of practice/friendly games and if you realize that we have 2 teams who are active in this football thingy,  then yes,  I admit that I am the culprit by sending tons and tons of sms's in order to get everybody's butts moving onto the field.  I expected an increase in my phone bills but not to such an extent though.

Which leaves me with the question : should I continue with this voluntarial, money-eating post or should I leave it to somebody else who is crazy enough to take over the honours?

I guess 99% of them are 'smart' enough to keep their mouth 'stumpf' and act as if their nose are bleeding when I propose they take over........so that leaves only one viable option,  raise fees and try to convince the senior staff to reimburse me for the sms charges incurred or why not, find some 'sponsors'..........yeah right, in my dreams.

Anyway,  yours truly will be gone for a good period of time from next week onwards and I'll see whether someone has the responsibility of mind to take over my acting duties as football manager.  (I should have stuck with playing football manager on the PC, costs far much less)

signing off,

your soon to be replaced Football Manager/Director

Brown or black ?

 Sunday....and what does one do on a free day? Shopping and pampering one self ofcourse.

And so the ladies of the house (Jessica and aunty Lily) took off to Mutiara Kompleks to undergo some pedicure and buy some stuff.    Jess wanted to colour her hair a bit and after a bit of haggling she settled for the cheapest available dark brown DIY colour lotion (read my lips, I said DARK BROWN).  And yups,  first thing my wife did after she got back home was immediately applying the product in question.  Well,  she was a bit apprehensive at first, 'cos according to the instructions she had to apply the whole content of the bottle onto her hair,  but she used only half a bottle (question of re-using it again in the future and save some bucks).

Lo and behold.....the finish turned out totally different from what was claimed on the box......dark brown my foot....pure ash black if you ask us....or have we become colorblind?  I immediately thought it was some defect product made in China, but after checking it's gosh,  made in Korea...South or North? Not mentioned and we are none the wiser.

So my dear wife is scrambling to find solutions to get rid of this supposedly black color on her hair,  comments from all the peeps are negative (from students making 'faces' and asking Jess whether she had put on a wig),  and dear me,  her mood has sunken in accordance with those comments too, aiaiai.....

Never ever trust the package,  it might have been cheap,  but one gets what one pays for....lesson learned

TLC

Finally found the time to go and check Laetitia's vision and once again upon's Jessie Ng's recommendation/referral we brought the little 'lady' to a supposedly renowned eye specialist in Damansara Utama, just a mere 15mins from our place.

Well, well, well.......apart from the @#)!+ trouble to find a decent parking spot (I've picked up a #!@%$" ticket), the place itself was amazingly cool.........cool as in professional outfit with well-mannered staff tending to our needs and friendly guiding Laetitia through the process of her check-up.

After tinkering for about 20 minutes, we had a preliminary result, 'cos then they had to put 5, yes, correct....5 different eyedrops into her eyes to make her pupils more bigger (doh, forgot the correct word, sorry).....waiting, waiting, waiting for 45 mins then last checkup....same routine, blablabla....and finally final verdict. IT IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR YOUR DAUGHTER TO WEAR SPECTACLES BECAUSE SHE HAS PERFECT VISION

Woopieeyayee.....little girl dont need glasses, little girl dont need glasses, little girl dont need glasses.....:p

Ofcourse had a serious talk with the present staff and with Mr.Doctor himself. Lol, found out that he actually lived in Dublin, Ireland for 20 years and still has the Irish accent whenever he talks in a casual manner.......lol, chinese dude talking English with Irish accent together with a chinese dude with a Belgian accent...........I asked him, Dr. Yeoh, why our little girl keeps complaining that she can't see properly whenever she is seated at the back of the class and therefore is unable to note down her homework and stuff.

Dr. Yeoh told me in his most earnest voice (like only lecturing doctors can do)....that actually all Laetitia needs is a bit of TLC.........TLC? okay, okay...my light bulb flashed......TLC = Tender Loving Care.

Yeah, sure ............ I will give her a whallop of 'TLC' next time she complains that she can't see properly!!! :p