Family Holiday in Wuyishan

Wuyi Mountain in Fujian, China

Gorgeous scenery ya.. This is where I'll be going for a family holiday this weekend till early next week. Don't really know much about it and plan to read up a bit before flying off on Saturday!

It'll also be the first time since our studying days that the four of us - dad, mom, sis and me - go on a holiday together! Since she got hitched quite soon after and it's always with bro-in-law and then the kids too.. it'll be kinda dejavu hehe..

I have a few more holidays in plan after this.. Hong Kong end of next month to celebrate Miu Miu and Sean's birthdays; the Rainforest Music Fest, and hopefully Bali too.. before a one-month missions work stint in Kunming, China in September. More on that later..

Meanwhile, am looking forward to the fantasy-like scenery of Wuyi Mountain.. hopefully i'll be inspired enough to blog about it too!!

Jojo's approaching old age.. :(

Today I brought Jojo to the vet for his annual vaccination. The nice lady vet petted his head and said: `oh, Jojo's getting old.. can see white fur growing.."

Ohhhh... ! It suddenly hit me that Jojo ain't young anymore. :(

(errr.. can you spot any white fur on his brow?)

He'll turn six in June. For a large breed dog, that's half the lifespan..

The vet then asked me about his movements.. Well, to be honest, I was getting a bit concerned as I noticed he likes to sit down much more than standing up.. And sometimes when I play with him, he would take opportunity to rest and sit.. although he still could run pretty fast!!

The vet said I should start giving him supplements for the joints. I asked if it's necessary to start now as he's actually more in middle-age than old age. But she said it's better to prevent than cure and also because of his large size.. in fact, he's showing some signs of weak hips and thigh..

Of course I wanted the best for my dear Jojo.. so I heeded her advice and bought a bottle of supplements! But little did I expect that it is so expensive!! Even much more than human vitamins/supplements!

It was priced at RM305.90 and she rounded it off at RM300. Ouch! But it will last four months..

I know it's only natural that any living beings would grow old but I always have this fear of my dogs entering old age.. especially after watching Marley&Me. I dread to think of the day I'll have to face Jojo and Jelly in deteriorating conditions that eventually lead to their deaths... I don't know how I am going to take it.. :((

Sigh.. But in the mean time, I know I must be a good mommy and give them all my love and also take care of their welfare to the best..

Here are the two Js in pensive moods

And by the dining table while I was eating! :)

The Good Old Cross..

Today is Good Friday, it's the day when..

.. our Lord Jesus Christ suffered an agonising death on the Cross
.. He loved us so much that He took our sins and nailed it to the Cross
.. the history of mankind was rewritten, as we were reconciled to God again
...the sinless, holy Son of God died for all sinners - you and I
.. I shall forever cherish and cling on to the Cross, for what my Lord and Saviour has done..


THE OLD RUGGED CROSS

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He'll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I'll share.

So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

Words & Music: George Bennard, 1913

Amazing Awesome Adam

Presenting the next American Idol - Adam Lambert!



Yup, mark my word.

He is by far the most talented and a bomb of a performer.. Adam is in a league of his own. Not that others aint good but he is just far superior.

He has superb showmanship, and that's complemented by really amazing vocal as well..On top of it, this man simply exudes charisma and charm... a true artiste at heart, and a versatile one too!

One week, we would see him dressed up in punk-rock style belting and dancing to `I Can't Get No Satisfaction' or `Black & White'; and then he would suddenly turn into a demure gentleman crooning the most heart-felt and haunting tunes of `Tracks of My Tears' or `Mad World'. He even took the risk to present his own daring love-it-or-hate-it Middle-eastern sensual version of `Ring of Fire'.

Whatever songs, whatever genre or style he sang, he did them with such aplomb that the performance just stood out among the rest. So much so even the cynical Simon Cowell would give him a standing ovation!

Gosh, I can't help but admire such sheer talent! He is miles better than many established recording artistes out there! And it helps that he's pretty cute.

(ok, so certain `evidences' may point to his curious sexual preference.. but gay or straight, what really wow us is him the singer/artiste)

I can shower praises on and on. 'Coz ya, I have a confession to make.. I'm totally obsessed with Adam Lambert! For so many nights, I've been browsing YouTube, Googling and scanning Amercian Idol website just to listen to him, watch his video and read news about him..

Call me biased if you wish, but I also have met many others who aren't crazy about him yet could not deny that he's simply brilliant

So, thank you Adam Lambert, American Idol Season 8 is so much more a pleasure and excitement to watch just because of you.

Getting There.. :)

It's been quite a long hiatus - two weeks and two days to be exact! It is a record for me in my 3-year-11-months of blogging, and I really thought I have lost it totally and couldn't blog again..

And then, I suddenly had the inspiration to blog while I was in gym this evening. Regrettably, it had even been a longer hiatus as far as gym is concerned. The last time I went was before Chinese New Year!

I was really not motivated and wanted to skip again but then I couldn't go home since I had a class this evening at church.. I made myself go and I ended up wishing I had longer time!!

Due to time constraint, what I did was 20 minutes of cardio, 5 minute of sit-up and 5 minutes of stretching. That's all.

And it was while I was doing stretching in front of the mirror that I felt I have achieved something pretty significant.. I no longer cringe when I look into the mirror!!

In the past, I just hated to look at the layers of fat around my midriff.. Every time I looked into the mirror sitting down stretching, I was reminded how I really need to lose weight. Well, I have been on this `program' for almost two months now.. and I must say the results are showing!

Okay, I'm definitely not trim and slim but my top had even became so lose that I could hardly see those bulges on my tummy!

For the record, I have lost 7.5kg (around 17 pounds) so far... my waistline alone has drop about 7cm (2 3/4 inch.) :))

So how did I do it? Well, there's no secret. I had admitted that losing weight is a real battle for me for I really lack will-power and discipline and simply love to eat! Although i knew the theoretical side of dieting and all, I found it so hard to do it.

The last straw was when I tried to put on my jeans one night and found out that ALL of them were too tight to even buckle up! I really had ballooned up over the festive season, and I knew I had to do something about it.

So the next day, I signed up for a slimming course at a new centre - not a well known one but I went because the person in charge there knows a lot about the slimming industry and they have very advanced machines as well as great variety of treatments.

Of course, you only need to sacrifice time for the treatments BUT you need a lot of discipline and will power to follow the diet.. and to my amazement, I did.

First I was put on a detox diet where my food consumption were limited to fish, eggs, oats, salad vegetables and fruits. That went on for more than a week and then I was allowed to have seafood, tofu and other types of vegetables.. and it's not really rigid, when I was away at camp, i could have lean meat too.

I guess how I could survive with the diet was that I'm encouraged to be creative with the meals.. and they even gave suggestions. I can have vegetable soup, fish in oat porridge and cawan mushi (steamed egg) for instance. Only thing I have spent quite a lot extra to buy vegetables, fruits and fish.

Anyway.. all this paid off as I noticed my weight and inches gradually dropping.. I could wear those jeans again, and some of my clothes became lose even! And people also noticed.

Just now in fact, a group of ladies from church `cornered' me and were so amazed how I managed to lose weight. So I told them honestly..

I'm glad that by now I feel I am comfortably in handling my diets these days. I can actually eat most food, but in smaller quantity of course. Of course I still have to avoid the real fattening ones like deep fried stuff and fats..

I'm only about half-way through the treatments.. and I still plan to lose more.. at least another 5kg! Trust me, I was really quite overweight so I would still not be averagely-slim after that!!

Let me lose a little more and then I shall pose some (narcissitic) pix.. hehe.. :p

Jelly in a T-shirt! :)

Bought Jelly a new t-shirt today!!

I always thought she's too big for those cutie dog clothes but i actually found her size in Jusco supermarket. It was a tad bit expensive (RM31.90) but i think she looks good in this colour - and the style is simple too!! At the beginning after I put it on, she was twitching and rolling on the floor.. After all, she was not used to it as she only had two pieces of clothings - a santa suit when she was a pup, and a apron dress which she hardly wears and outgrows it already..
But after 5-10 mins or so, she got used to it.. After all, its such comfortable cotton fabric and it's a cool night.. So ya, she is now sound asleep wearing her new t-shirt. hehe..
Now I need to send her for grooming soon.. her fur is getting too long!

Thank You For the Memories.. and Laughter!

I just returned from a wonderful long weekend at Port Dickson - from an occasion that can be considered `historic'

It's the first alumni retreat of the College and Career Fellowship (fondly known as CCF) of my church - the peer group I've joined for close to 15 years!

In the mid to late 90s, a group of swinging youngsters - then in their 20s and early 30s - not only came together on Friday night for Bible Studies but had built up deep friendship and fellowship between them. At those `hay years' of CCF, there were so many activities going on - from putting up evangelistic events like camps and variety shows to outstation trips, casual outings and gatherings.

Fast forward one-and-a-half decade on or so..

Many of the CCFers of those days had got married and started their family. So naturally, they had left our peer group and either set up or joined cell groups that are home-based. But most of them had never lost touch with their old friends, in fact, most of them are still in the same cell groups. And then there are also a fraction of us - the singles - who are still with CCF among the younger generation..

I know it's unfair to compare but the peer group today is unalike that of yesteryears'.. not only the numbers have depleted, but somehow it's not as close knit nor united, and besides the clock-work Friday meeting for Bible study, the social events of any kind are few and far in between.. In fact, we all who are still there have to face the fact that it's underdoing a crisis.. and we just have to pray for wisdom and ask God for wisdom..

But back to the retreat..

The idea of a reunion/alumni retreat had been suggested since early last year but no one cam out to organise it, until our dear former `first lady' and welfare coordinator Koots decided to spearhead this to reality. A few more people came on board to take various tasks and in two months or so, this alumni retreat was happening!

It was held at the Golden Sand Baptist Assembly - the familiar camp site of most of our church camps. Most of us went without any expectation.. but I dare to say each and everyone was truly blessed and happy to have gone!

We were honoured to have our former pastor Soo Inn, who also played apart in the formation of CCF in the early 1990s, as the speaker. And indeed what a great and charismatic speaker he is. He just recently turned 54.

It was a really fun, wonderful and unforgettable weekend. In just 48-hours or so, we did so much! The theme of the retreat was Abiding in the Vine and there were three sermon sessions, followed by group sharing. They were all very relevant and practical topics - trusting God in tough times, mariage and singleness and about work. Although many of us had heard these topics before but it was a fresh and timely reminder and there were new things I took home.

Yesterday afternoon was dedicated to personal sharing. So many came forward to attest of how CCF had became an intergral part of their spiritual life and many talked about the precious friendship formed here and how their life had been changed.

All of the sharing was interesting, encouraging and yes, nostalgic. Some of them were so funny (yes, we have a number of really humorous characters around) while a few were truly moving and caused me to have tears welded in my eyes.

The schedule was rather relaxing, understandably so as most of us are no longer young.. and also many parents brought their young kids. There were 25 kids in our midst! Our smart organiser even `imported' an experienced Sunday school teacher couple to help give the kids their own program during the talks.

The highlight of the retreat must be the fun variety show last night. True to the spirit of CCF where we had put up so many skits and shows in the past in our evangelism programs, last night's `show' was a blast!!

You know what, I bet I laughed more and harder last night than I did in a year!!

First we had the return of the Pantai Boys - and I was even `planted' to go for the audition but of course, I'm not a guy thus `lost'. But gosh, my `competitor' was really a riot with his dance that combined break-dancing and strip tease! I laughed till I could not even dance anymore.. Today, remaining members of the Pantai Boys, who are now much older men, were still in their elements and gave us a string of songs.

And then we re-staged a skit that CCF did in 1996 - which was totally unrehearsed. Somehow I also got roped in to play a small role. Basically it was acting out the creation story in Genesis 1&2. It was quite amazing that the main cast of were all there to re-enact their roles! We got to see the original version too on video but I think last night's version was even better - and funnier too!!

Finally, there was the award-presenation - of course it was just for a laugh. Imagine award titles like the `Best Nip and Tuck' , `The Drama Queen Award', `The Rojak Mixed Up' and many other long and hilarious titles!

But the night did not end there. A camper, also a keen party host, created his version of a game - ACTS - combining Articulate with Charades, Trivial and Serenade. Well, it became the battle of the sexes and finally the fairer sex won by two points! It was really a fun and quite challenging game indeed.

It was really great to see the former CCFers who are now dads and moms still so full of vigour and energy.. and after so many years, the bond between all of us are still strong. I didn't manage to talk to everyone but at least I caught up with a few especially my roommate Jenny who has immigrated to Australia for many years.

But like what Koots said, we did not come to this retreat for a feel-good time and to reminisce about the good old days.. rather, it is meant to encourage and spur us on to continue to walk with the Lord and serve Him and others which ever phase of life we're in.

Indeed, personally I have benefitted from the talks and encouraged tremendously by the sharings. Ithank God that I'm part of a family whereby I've grown in the Word, as a person, and also having good friends whom I can count on.

So, thanks Koots and all those who have put in much effort to make this retreat a reality. And thanks CCF for the fond memories!

Amazing (Gruesome) Magic Up Close!!

Barry Jones & Stuart McLeod look like your regular British blokes.. they're two magicians-comedians that could pull the most wicked, dark and gory tricks! And most of the time, funny and hilarious too!

They brilliantly combined amazing illusions with side-splitting comedy that make their show really entertaining. True, some may say they aint David Copperfield.. but the duo had crafted their uniqueness in every sense.

I have not watched magic show for a long long time. I had the privilege to catch David Copperfield when he came to KL many years ago.. and also watched him on TV before. I never thought I was a fan of magic.


However I was quite bowed over by what I saw in `Wicked Wizards: Barry & Stuart's Part-Time Warlocks'. Twice actually.. and I will get to watch it again, since I'm helping out Gardner & Wife Theatre on a part-time basis.

A word of warning to those who are squeamish.. you'll witness live lots of gross and gory acts to with the body parts - like cutting throat with a string, swallowing and spitting out razor blades, tube inserted into the nose, needle in the eye etc.. ya, you get the picture. Oh, not to mention (fake) blood oozing out everywhere!


I was sitting right on top of the opening night. But since tonight there were quite a lot of empty seats, I decided to have a closer view, and sat at seventh row from the front. I had to use my bag to half cover my eyes when Barry tried to cut his tongue with a razor blade!!

And then the unexpected happened.. Stuart skipped the first few rows and walked up to pick me to join them on stage. I knew what trick that was.. it's supposed to be teaching the audience some `after-dinner tricks' to impress their dates - but it was a gross one!!

Of course, it was mean to be funny.. and gruesome. After some silly pick-up lines like `Oh, do you like sharp objects like knife, needles.. etc. etc..' to which I said `yes', he took out a huge pin (looked more like a nail) and then proceeded to drill it through his tongue!! And he dragged me very close to him, forcing me to see it! Knowing that it's not real is one thing, but I was still squeamish. He then used a string to loop around the needle and made me pull it.. and then the tongue fell out!! yes, it's a fake tongue..

The next trick was not better. Stuart took a needle and poke it into the edge of his right eye and then pushed the needle underneath his skin and then squeezed it out from the left eye! He even took my hand to feel the hard needle beneath the skin... and as it (pretend to) push and squeeze, (fake) blood oozed out of his nostril.. Eeek! I didn't want to look!! It was pretty disgusting - though thank goodness I knew what to expect since I've watched it.

There were many more interesting tricks and almost all of them involved audience participation. Which made their magic more `real'. There was a real funny one where a `victim' became the curse of the voodoo doll.. pain was inflicted on him when the magician tried to do something to a doll! I spoke to that `victim' later and he just didn't know what happened but felt like he was `zap' at his butt!

Their illusions were so seamless, the props were minimal and many times, they had audience just right next to them as they did magic. It really got me wondreing how on earth did they do it?? But again, if I could figure out, then they won't be putting up the show!

Some of their tricks include: throwing a bottle of water in the air and when you catch it, it turns into wine - tasted by audience as well; a `miracle rope' which can be broken and then joined back at different places; a hand that goes through the body. But they also throw in some silly jokes and antics that had the audience in stitches. Even second time watching, I still laughed.

But I'm going to sit right at the back if I were watching it again...

Ya, off stage, they're just like any regular blokes.. very friendly and unassuming too! Oh, and Stuart said he picked me because he saw me hiding behind my bag! Wicked indeed!! :p

Click here for more info on the show, or check out Barry & Stuart's official website

Just an update of loose thoughts..

It's weird how you always feel time has stretched when you're going through out-of-ordinary eventful happenings.. The week when Ah Nei fell critically ill leading up to her demise and funeral seemed so long..

It's been a week since her funeral. And time just zooms by again.. it feels quite scary.

At least things are getting back to normal, or routine one shall say.

But even though the last couple of years Ah Nei's movement was restricted mostly to her room, I still could feel the odd emptiness especially when I passed her room. Her hospital bed had been cleared, her wardrobe emptied and now given to one of the maids.. Her left over pampers, food and medical stuff have also been given away, though not all. A photo of her (the one we used for obituary and funeral rites) is now placed on the desk..

Sometimes, it feels weird to think that she is no longer around.. she's gone. For good...

As for myself, writing work has not really picked up well since end of last year.. I sometimes fear that I'm gradually losing it.. that if I can't even write a post in my blog, how bad a writer I am.. I hope to be more proactive and have some luck in this area.. but in the meantime, I'm also thankful that I have a retainer job helping out a theatre company as publicist/ press officer of sort. And now the first show of this year is opening this week.. so things are getting more busy.

Met up with my accompanist this afternoon - a pretty brilliant pianist who could sight-read brilliantly. Yes, I'll be sitting for my first vocal exam in June and I really need to work quite hard on the pieces! At the same time, after four Italian lessons, I still think I've remembered very little.. :( I have bought some dictionaries and notebooks for vocabs and grammars - similarly to how I learned French years back.. So you can't say I'm idle after all..

Oh, to think of it, I have not posted on my slimming endeavour this time! Without divulging too much, just say that it's a serious one. As in I paid quite a bit and so far.. in just two-and-a-half week, I have managed to lose about 3.8kg already - and inches off the body of course..

(But at the moment, I won't disclose much details.. perhaps later!)

Will be going for the CCF alumni camp this weekend! It should be fun and nostalgic, and hopefully fodder for more interesting posting!

R.I.P. Ah Nei (1918-2009)

My grandma or Ah Nei in our Hakka dialect finally left us at 3:30pm this afternoon. She was 91.

Ah Nei has been hanging on by a life's thread since she was admitted to I.C.U. early Sunday morning. She was having much difficulties to breathe.. Doctor said nothing much can be done - she was having pneumonia - her lungs were filled with fluid; she has very high diabetic level, her kidney has failed and her heart is weak.

But she was a fighter and did not let go easily..

Her condition remained critical - in fact, her feet and hands were cold and swollen and at one time, her big toe nails had turned black.. But then she sorta surprised us by hanging on and even appeared to have improved slightly over the next few days..

She managed to open her eyes although she could not see.. but the killer that made her suffer was the phlegm in her lungs and throat. It was really pitiful to see how she struggled to breath while drowning in phlegm.. and the physiotherapist had to use tube to suck out the phlegm which is a painful procedure..

The family members had been hovering in her hospital bedroom (we requested her to be transferred to normal room since nothing much can be done). Aunts and uncles and cousins from Singapore came. Even my sis and brother-in-law came back for two days from Hong Kong. Wind let out and about a dozen of our relatives came to see her too.. She has so many visitors in the course of the four days.. Indeed she's well loved.

Ah Nei is your typical strong and determined Hakka woman. She has had a hard life in her younger days but her health had been good. She was still fit in her late 70s. She went traveling with us and climbed stairs and got wet in the rain in Hong Kong.

The turning point came in 1998, when she had blockage in her heart vessels and the doctor suggested she went for angioplasty. She was 80. We had doubts, but the doctor was so confident.. However, it wasn't successful. During the procedure, she suffered a mild stroke, which affected the left side of her body.

Ah Nei's physical condition took a big set-back, and since then, gradually deteriorated over the years.. First she was walking with a walking stick, next she was on wheelchair.. and then in the last two years, after she suffered a fall and another stroke, she became bedridden..

One year ago, on the third of CNY, Ah Nei was warded due to pneumonia.. which is currently her killing weapon. She pulled through but since then, she was put on tube feeding, and her body became even weaker by day. She hardly talked anymore, the most was in isolated words and very short sentences.

And just a week before CNY this year, Ah Nei had breathing difficulty again and was warded for three days. It was serious at first but she became stable.. only that we didn't realise she had suffered another stroke. When she came back, her body began to give way totally... she never uttered another word and her eye-sight also failed completely.

This time, she was hospitalised again and it was a trip of no return..

I regretted of not being around her when she breathed her last. I was planning to go to hospital later in the afternoon as I wanted to meet a deadline. According to uncle who was by her bedside, Ah Nei went very peacefully. She just drew a long breath and gave up her spirit..

I was still fighting back tears when I drove to the hospital but when I saw her cold still body lying on the bed, I could not hold back anymore. Afterall, this is the only grandma that I ever knew, who had been living with us since I was born (except for the few years when she moved out with grandpa).

In the last few years I have witnessed her condition deteriorated and till such an extend that we know it's better for her to be relief. She is finally not suffering anymore.. But now that she's finally gone, there is this emptiness around.

I have just chosen an outfit for Ah Nei. Her body will be placed at the Xiao En Centre where relatives and friends would come and pay their respects.. on Sunday morning, she will be cremated and laid to rest.

Rest in peace, Ah Nei. We will always love you and miss you...

Here are some photos from her better days..

a photo of Ah Nei at her bed taken about three years ago

Ah Nei with children and grandchildren on her birthday in 2005

Ah Nei's birthday celebration in 2006

Ah Nei's 90th birthday celebration outside in Septemer 2007. Last year, her last birthday was not celebrated due to her ailing condition

Ever faithful Wati who has been taking care of Ah Nei for the last 4 years..