God & household appliance

Source: Google

Life is strange in the funny connections that one makes, joining totally unrelated everyday things with the extraordinary.

After all the hooha over Christmas gifts, car park bullies and short-circuits, I am once-again reminded that the most valuable possession that one can have is relationships, not money. It took a deep-fryer and one tough holiday weekend to drive home this point.

Now when I look at that particular kitchen appliance, I will remember relationships. They are treasured possessions indeed.

Deep-fried tofu, anyone?

Christmas 2006

Source: Google

Hope everyone's safe tonight. Please remember the Christians in Indonesia and Muslims in western countries. Whatever your belief, being persecuted for it by your fellow man is not what God would accept.

God bless.

Anger...

My anger issue surfaced over the past 2 days.

Wife had a less-than-happy conversation about religion with friends during dinner.

Wife's Christmas gift short-circuited the whole apartment.

Short-circuit busted the modem.

Brother caught in Johor's flood while coming to 1984-ville.

Verbal bust-up with rude nouveau riche CHRISTIAN family in mall car park over scratched car (theirs).

Broke down.

Winter solstice

Source: Google

Popularly known as 冬至 among the Chinese community. Legend has it that the birth date of Jesus was moved to 25th December to coincide with winter solstice - the shortest day, after which the sun was "reborn" and daylight hours become longer.

The marking of 冬至 as a holiday was recorded as far back as the Spring-Autumn (春秋) Period (722-481 BC). The Book of Later Han (后汉书) records, "冬至前后，君子安身静体，百官绝事，不听政，择吉辰而后省事." Roughly translated as, "the time around 冬至, the emperor rested and calmed his body, the imperial palace refused to work, the imperial sessions ceased, auspicious dates were selected."

So the concept of "clear leave" is not that modern after all. However, unlike modern workaholics, the annual leave was mandated and presumably enforced. Imagine being forced to go on leave on the pain of death or torture, or bosses being put under the guillotine for not letting staff go on leave!

The Bergeron process

Source: Google

It's been raining for the past 36 hours. I don't recall a time when it rained for that long since February 1987 (a whole week non-stop, if I remember correctly). The thermometer shows 25 degrees Celsius. Just like air-conditioning. This is a wonderful time not just weather-wise. Everyone's in a better mood, especially Faith's. She's been bubbly since Monday when the first drops came down from the sky. Faith's such a "cool" baby. It runs in the family. I am known for being a sulk when it gets warm and humid.

Rain drops keep falling on my head...

Can't get rid of that tune inside my head, not that I'm complaining. I wish it would rain right through Christmas. I love wet and cool weather. Should've been born in some temperate place instead of right smack along the equator. Does anyone live in Vancouver or Toronto? Wish I could live there. Freezing winters, nice summers and maple-leaved autumn.

Mobile blogging

Source: Google

Just got a new phone from Nokia. Supposed to be able to blog from it. Supposed to be able to upload photos to Flickr. Can someone please tell me how?

It's a special feeling, being part of the technologically-challenged minority...

Cheap eats

Photo from Google

11pm.

Just arrived, dazed, at the hotel in the middle of Tsim Sha Tsui.

Stomach growling.

2 x "wanton" noodles
1 x blanched vege with oyster sauce

HK$24/-

Go figure out how much that is in SGD.

Yum...

Hong Kong revisited

Photo from Google

Off for a 4-day runaround Hong Kong SAR with Wifey & Faith. The last (and only) time I visited HK was sometime in the 1970s before "SAR" was suffixed to its name. The only memory I have of it is the crowd. People everywhere. Wonder how things are now, under PRC governance...

Sunny days are here again

It's less stressful taking the family around the island now.

No more:

1. Second-hand smoke from people at bus-stops who're trying to get lung cancer.
2. Bus drivers whose main aim in life is to get everyone puking from motion sickness.
3. Train commuters who use the lifts meant for handicaps or parents with prams.
4. Sleepy cab drivers veering from lane 1 to 4 at 100km/h along the PIE.
5. Cab drivers who sit on their a**es while Wifey desperately tries to load the pram into the boot, holding on to Faith with the other arm.

2006 in review

So Faith has turned one. It's been a wonderful journey. Much of my outlook in life has changed although I don't think the word "mellow" wouldn't apply.

Half-marathon done.

Bought an overprice $12k piece of non-existent paper for private car ownership in 1984-ville.

Survived one year in the education system, standing in front of class.

Found the goodwill of friends and strangers.

Blogged less often.

Dead dad's 35-year-old property went under the hammer and I got zero cents.

Found my long-lost brother.

Made migration plans (adios 1984-ville!).

sigh...