INTIMATE FRIENDSHIPS

I look for intimacy in friendships. Who doesn't?
We are attracted to friends for various reasons. With casual acquaintance, we like to share common interests and values. Talk about sports, the weather, food, holiday plans and blockbusters!

With others---and the field narrows sharply---we express our emotions and vulnerability. We talk of marriages, struggles, children, addictions and other temptations.

I can count intimate friends on one hand. (Congrats if you have more!)
A couple are prone to eccentricity and I relish their companionship. They encourage me to be unconventional and celebrate my gawkiness.
Buddies who would reward me for my honesty rather than punish me for it.
A comrade I can count on and if that fails, someone able to handle it when I express hurt and betrayal.

We don't meet very often, my best buddies and I but when we do we skip the chitchat and go right to the heart of what concerns us most.

I don't worry about being judged, misunderstood or gossiped about.

We are candid about our worries, failures, triumphs, joys and hopes.  This plane of intimacy is the result of many long hours together and considerable risks.

If a doctor tells me tomorrow I have a terminal disease, these will be my first calls. 

With true friends, I feel safe even in the face of death...

 

 

IN THE MARKETPLACE

MY  WORK;   MY  PRIDE  AND  ACHIEVEMENT..
(1984 - 2012)

1980s - When I first joined the company. Sweet and innocent

and already rubbing shoulders with Top Brass.

Learning the ropes and growing in the job.

Mixing business with pleasure. Visiting partners in Sydney, Australia.

Good partner and dear friend.

Another good partner for over 20 years.

And another...

And another ...

An honour and privilege to work with some of the finest people in the industry.

This was home and they were family.

Once upon a time ...

Golf?  I'm familiar with that as well!  I was there.  :-)

Work was my life ...and passion.

It was all consuming.

Continued to make waves and reachd the height of my career.

 In 2007 promoted to MD.

I live, eat, breathe, think and dream work. 

Networking, connecting and employing every possible mean

 to grow the business and generate more revenue for the company.

Ours was the best friendship and partnership; I work and you play

but you always had my back covered. 

Together we survived every 'assault' on our company and came out good. 

Nothing was ever too difficult for us. 

No regrets, no 'if onlys', no 'what ifs'.  Just glad that our paths crossed. 

Thank you for the many, many, many years of good co-operation

between our companies. 

Couldn't have done it without you.

Support and appreciate the change from 'Agent' to 'Partner'

Gone but not forgotten.

2012, the year I left.

What a remarkable journey this has been for me; a career that spanned 28 years. 

I declare with great confidence and satisfaction:

I have fought the good fight and

finished the race well with honour and dignity ...

COME HELP CHANGE THE WORLD

Do not despise the youths; the future movers and shakers of the world.

This group may be from humble beginnings but someday these same energetic, enthusiastic and eager young people will make a great difference and impact in the lives of people within their sphere of influence.

From left to right: Meet Solomon who wants to be a doctor; David, a pastor; Mark, a lawyer and Joseph, a footballer.
These are the children under the UNHCR/UNICEF program with whom I work on a voluntary basis.  Boys with BIG dreams who have captured my heart and enlarged my vision for World Mission.

The Great Commission; Come Help Change The World...

RETIREMENT VILLAGE

The more I think and talk about my vision of the Retirement Village, the more possible the idea becomes!

It's not a Nursing Home, Old Folks' Home, Shelter, or anything like MM2Home program but this set-up is more of a community which serves to enhance the lives of our senior citizens who live alone.

Folks who need support for companionship and group recreation.

We believe there is a grave and urgent need for such facilities to meet the requirements of an ag(e)ing population whose children or relatives are unable to look after them.

Many of our senior citizens are given to the care of nursing homes which is well and good.

Our aim is not to compete with these fine establishments  but to offer additional options and more choices.

We'll organise a lot of fun activities, events and outings, even trips abroad for interested parties. 

There'll be dancing, singing, birthday parties, mahjong session, bridge night, Tai Chi, baking, gardening etc.
All within the vicinity; accessible on foot!

 

Imagine gentlemen in tailcoats and ladies in long gowns, celebrating over candle-light dinners, dancing the night away to the familiar tunes of old Shanghai.  A live band playing catchy numbers re-enacting scenes of night clubs in the olden days.  Resurrection of the old world  charm.
A place where people will come alive!

This is a huge challenge and will have many, many obstacles, no doubt.   But nothing worthwhile ever comes easy!

Am sharing this dream with a group of like-minded people who have caught the vision. We want to see how far we can take this project. 
Already there's a lot of interest and excitement generated.  Still in the drawing board stage.  Need to fine tune the blue-print, organise the right people and and then get on to execute all the plans in a timely fashion.

 

NEW CHAPTER

I celebrate the new Me but not everyone would approve!
It doesn't bother me much though cos' everyone who doesn't approve ain't got a place in my new life!  (smile)

About time I edit the clutter in my emotional closet; throw away the hypocritical rubbish I've tolerated over the years, erase the memories that bring only pain, envy, resentment and anger; understand/accept the hardness of the human heart and release the frustration.
Let go and let God...

I'm loving it...every moment, every second... the abundant life that is promised me.  (John 10:10)

woo hooooooo

NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP...

She raked her mind for reasons to hate him but found herself making excuses for him instead.

After more than three (3) decades, there is the hint of a budding friendship.
It's been a long time but well worth the wait.
Moral of the story: Never, never, never give up!

WISH LIST

Short & Long Term Goals
(revised on 11th October 2012)

1.   To know God more intimately and to make
      Him known.

2.   Visit (revisit) places and people that I love
      even in the furtherest corners of the earth.

3.   Complete my second book.
 

4.   Help my children to realise their dreams.

5.   To give more time and financial support to my

      favorite charities; working with young adults and

      single parent.

6.   Set up a Retirement Village to enhance the quality

      of life for senior citizens living alone.

 

7.  Improve on my Mandarin

8.  Train in Psychology

9.   Restore and reconcile damaged relationships

10. Never stop falling in love (this is the best!)

A person, regardless of age, must have dreams ... big dreams! 

Dreams are the vehicles on which we ride our fantasies and fantasies keep us alive.  Dreams are free fuelled by our imaginaion and at will we soar reaching for the sky.  In dreams there are no limits.

Working with children under the UNHCR program as a volunteer.

There are about 20 young boys and girls in each of my class and subjects covered are English, Social Etiquette/Behaviour and Biology

FEEL AND LOOK GOOD

Girls like Barbie dolls!
I look for occasions to dress up and do so mostly to please myself. Feels good too and all it takes is a little effort to achieve the desired effects!

A little mascara to add volume to the lashes, a quick brush of rouge here, some lipstick to enhance already luscious lips and a dash of perfume to complete the allure!

And you're ready for the world.  Hello people!

Yes, double bonus and added joy when people are drawn to our attractiveness, paving the way for business and personal relationships!

The old cliche', "Clothes maketh the man" still rings true today.

Sometimes it's just not enough to make do with an old shirt and worn out pair of pants!

Dress as befitting the occasion and the company that might be present.

Hey, even an old house looks mighty pretty and desirous after a new coat of paint is applied, right?

In fact the value of the property quickly increases after the make-over!
The same applies to human, I think.  :-)

Folks generally recognise when we take extra pains in the investment of time, energy and money to make ourselves presentable for them. It's like saying, "you're worth the extra attention I'm giving you!"

Quite fun and flattering really to have people stop, turn and take a second look in our direction, watch them suck in their breath, smile and nod appreciatively ... and we are further encouraged and inspired.

STRAIGHT TALKING

It's unrealistic to think that one person can meet all your needs - physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.
He'll have to be God ...

GOOD ADVICE

Don't mistake kindness for weakness ...

LOVE IS TOUGH

Why would I want to forget?
Carefree days and long drives in the countryside
Stopping to smell the flowers
Grabbing an ice-cream, relaxing by a side-walk cafe
Sipping my latte and watching the people passing by

Enjoying the sunset, closing my eyes and feeling the breeze Whispering a prayer and knowing you are there

The joy of looking into your eyes and seeing my reflection
Stroking your hair and brushing your nose lightly
Catching you blush and turning crimson over a shared joke.

Holding hands and snuggling close under the shelter of a parasol in the pouring rain
Drinking wine, smoking cigar, making fun, telling stories, soothing pain ... sharing dreams.

Why would I want to forget? Why should I?
If loving you is wrong, I don't want to be right...

 

CHEERS!

Feeling blue and out-of-sorts?
Tempted to crawl under the bed covers and shut the madding crowd out?  Hang the whole lot?

Yea, I feel the same sometimes. And in a moment of weakness and great frustration I give in; wallow in self pity, get depressed for no reason, blame the whole world for my troubles; starve the dog and eat worms!

Thankfully sanity and good sense eventually returns after a few drinks ... hiccupps ...  :-)

Hey, how many worms can I eat anyway!  Poor fellas. It's not their fault!

God loves me and has a wonderful Plan for my life ... plan to prosper me and not to harm me. 

Now that's some miracle!   How can I not but be happy and thankful.

Whatever situation we are in right now, good or bad; it'll soon pass.

 

 

SEASONS IN LIFE

There is a season to sow and a season to reap. There is a time to live and a time to die; a time to laugh and a time to cry.

 

Nothing really matters in the end, certainly not the amount of wealth you have amassed or the popularity you have striven for.

What you've taken a lifetime to build can be torn down and destroyed in a moment. Accolades heaped on you are memories of past glory. Worthless.

What counts is a life lived for the Purpose for which you were created. When that purpose unfolds and your calling becomes clear to you, it would be the most fulfilling, exciting, invigorating and rewarding journey you'll ever embark on.

Keep searching, smiling, learning and loving.

Be all that you are destined to be...uniquely you.