Simple Pleasures

Indulged in a healthy pleasure last weekend. Bought some fat, juicy and very sweet Australian strawberries from the neighbourhood NTUC supermarket. Quite an affordable pleasure at S$2.90 per punnet of 250g, which contained 12 of the succulent fruit. Felt quite happy when eating it, as I love all things made of strawberry (strawberry shortcake, strawberry milk, strawberry ice cream, strawberry jam, etc.). It really does not take much to make me happy and life's simple pleasures are sometimes the best.
On another note, I'll have to thank globalisation and the myriad Free Trade Agreements to allow me to indulge in all kinds of fruits (including exotic ones), without the hassle of travel. Saw that the mass-market NTUC store is selling not just strawberries from Australia, but also blueberries and sweet prunes from the United States, kiwis from New Zealand, and dates from Egypt, Iran and Jordan - all at quite affordable prices for the ordinary household and consumer.
However, at 10, 500 Yen (S$138), this honeydew sold at a supermarket in Osaka, Japan is definitely an extravagant luxury. Believe honeydew is the most expensive fruit in Japan.

幾米

一直超喜欢幾米的作品. 他的小品文的特性是一篇篇大幅的彩绘与几行简练,感性,细腻的短言. 轻轻地诉说现代城市人的点点滴滴, 喜怒哀乐, 梦想与憧憬. 书名又取得那么诗情画意, 美丽.

阅读幾米的著作犹如品尝一壶难得的好茶,是心灵粮食.带给我无限的感触及感动.

幾米之《地下铁》:
“我们何其幸运，无法确知自己生活在什么样的世界。”
“我在危机四伏的城市里，随时准备挥手告别。”
“但世界的惊奇与美丽，仍让我依恋不舍。”
“昨日的悲伤，我已遗忘。可以遗忘的，都不再重要了。”
“这一站是终点，还是另一个起点？”
“我在纷扰的城市里，寻寻觅觅。”
“其实，我哪里都不想去。然而，会有人在地下铁的出口等我吗？他会为我撑伞，紧握着我的手，告诉我星星的方向，陪我走一段路。”

幾米之《月亮忘记了》:
“看不见的，是不是就等于不存在？”
“记住的，是不是永远不会消失？ ”
“生命中，不断地有人离开或进入。”
“生命中，不断地有人得到和失落。”

幾米Spa Website: http://www.jimmyspa.com/

后记: 期待幾米最新的书<<躲进世界的角落>> 的简体版会尽快地面世!

Digital Shadow

Do you know that you're leaving a trail of clues when you're online? Everything we do online - shopping at E-bay & online stores, searching on Amazon, blogging, posting photos on Flikr, Picasa and Kodak Photo Gallery, logging on social networking sites such as Facebook, Ning, Second Life, Friendster and Myspace - leave behind our digital shadow. A composite of your digital DNA or online persona can be constructed from these online activities, revealing your photos, likes, dislikes, pet peeves. work, social activities & friends.

Does this mean we stop using the Internet? Absolutely NOT. It's a catch-22 situation. In a world where people travel for work and studies, the WWW allows us to connect without temporal, space and country constraints. Just be careful with whatever you post - what you post (photos, words) can be downloaded or saved by others (even strangers who happen to chance upon your webpage)for any purpose without your knowledge.

That's why I hardly post personal photographs on public domains. I respect and want to protect the privacy of my friends and acquaintances. And do set the appropriate privacy settings for things you post.

What we can do is to explore and exploit the interconnectedness of Web 2.0 to stay effective and efficient in our lives.

Farewell

In the last few months, I've bade farewell to many ex-colleagues who have moved on to another phase in their lives: one to be self-employed, another to be stay-at-home-mum & freelancer, another who've moved from working in Jakarta to a new job in Hong Kong this month, another will be pursuing his PhD studies in Canada next month, and yet another will be leaving at the end of this year to pursue a Masters degree in Canada. Will miss the times of mugging for Masters degree exams, working on assignments & tutorials, doing work projects, swopping "horror stories" at the counter, going for movies & checking out makan places with these folks. It is especially poignant as I've known some of them for most of my working life and we've seen each other grow through the years...

Wishing them all the best in the pursuit of their dreams. I find the song "Farewell" by Filipino singer Raymond Lauchengco to be very meaningful, so I'm dedicating it to them & other friends who've left a mark in my life:

"We used to be frightened and scared to try
Of things we don't really understand why
We laugh for a moment and start to cry
We were crazy

Now that the end is already here
We reminisce 'bout old yells and cheers
Even if our last hurrahs were never clear

Chorus:
Farewell to you, my friends
We'll see each other again
Don't cry 'cause it's not the end of ev'rything
I may be miles away
But here is where my heart will stay
With you
My friends, with you

Yesterday's a treasure, today is here
Tomorrow on its way, the sky is clear
Thank you for the mem'ries
Of all the laughter and tears

And not to mention our doubts and our fears
The hypertension we gave to our peers
It's really funny to look back
After all of these years

Farewell to you, my friends
We'll see each other again
Don't cry 'cause it's not the end of ev'rything
I may be miles away
But here is where my heart will stay
With you
My friends, with you

Chorus 2:
Farewell to you, my friends
We'll see each other again
Don't worry 'cause it's not the end of ev'rything
I may be oceans away
But here is where my heart will stay
With you
My friends, with you
With you, my friends
With only you"

Source of lyrics: http://www.tristancafe.com/music/midis/farewell.html

Googling Yourself

Have you tried googling yourself? Not to sound narcissistic but I tried googling my full name today & found the hits on the 1st result page to be extremely accurate. The hits include links to a website of replies I'm currently doing, some conference presentations I've done and some articles I've done for an electronic newspaper.

As my work projects currently revolve ensuring that online content is ranked higher by the most popular search engine, Google (search engine optimisation), this is happy news - as my work is being picked up & accessible to a wider audience.

感触

希望, 失望.

茫然, 盲目.

忙碌, 空虚.

繁忙, 孤独.

累了, 好想休息.

Watch

My one & only watch stopped twice in the last 2 weeks. When I brought into a Swatch shop (it's a Swatch) to change the battery, the salesperson checked & said the battery is good but the contact points are loose. However, he cannot push one side that is protruding further in as the casing may crack.

Upon meeting up with friend who gave me the watch as a birthday gift, realised that I had it for nearly 8 long years!! Wow! Testimony to the durability of this Swiss watch with funky designs.

I liked the watch instantly as it was chosen with utmost consideration for my personal lifestyle and dress preferences and which can only come from a close friend. The watch is both classic and feminine in design - it is also versatile for work and play, which really fits the practical & lazy side of me (can't be bothered to search for suitable watch to match/accessorise everyday).

Would be sad to see the dearth of the watch although it has been exhibiting symptoms of old age today (time is running slower even after repair)..maybe putting up a last valiant struggle? For it's more than a watch - it's a constant reminder of friendship, which is more precious the older it gets (like vintage cars & fine wine).

Let It Go

Letting Go - this is a phrase I've been hearing recently.

To a speaker at an Australian work conference I attended in Feb, letting go means:
- Not putting restrictions, but providing a variety of choices to cater for different and varied usage patterns of customers. In other words, giving customers the freedom to choose what match their needs best.

At a motivational talk I attended last night, letting go means:
- Giving, letting go of things (such as expectations and unhealthy emotions) and appreciating the transient nature of life. Unhappiness, anger and dissatisfaction stem from the arising of, clinging of or mis-match of expectations. Let go to feel free.

Instead of "I see, I like, I want, I must have", try "I see, I appreciate it, I let it go".

According to a bookmark that I just picked up, 执着是苦的因, 苦是执着的果.

The lyrics in Corrine May's song "Let It Go" (2003) sum it up aptly:

"But before we circle round once more
Can we lay down
Just lay down this pride

Let it go, let it be
Don't waste all your emotions on this
tit-for-tat machine
Let it go, let it be
Let it go"
(Source: http://www.corrinnemay.com/)

Tips to Stay Young & Happy Always

1. Throw out non-essential numbers.
This includes age, weight, and height.
Let the doctors worry about them.. That is why you pay them.

2. Keep only cheerful friends.
The grouches pull you down.
(Keep this in mind if you are one of those grouches!)

3. Keep learning:
Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever.
Never let the brain get idle.
'An idle mind is the devil's workshop.'
And the devil's name is Alzheimer's!

4. Enjoy the simple things

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
And if you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots and lots of time with him or her!

6. The tears happen:
Endure, grieve, and move on.
The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourself.
LIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love:
Whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever.
Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health:
If it is good, preserve it.
If it is unstable, improve it.
If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips.
Take a trip to the mall, even to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

2008新观念

一、一个中心:一切以健康为中心。

二、两个基本点: 遇事潇洒一点,看世糊涂一点。

三、三个忘记: 忘记年龄,忘记过去,忘记恩怨。

四、四个拥有: 无论你有多弱或多强,一定要拥有真正爱你的人,拥有知心朋友,拥有向上的事业,拥有温暖的住所。

五、五个要: 要唱,要跳,要俏,要笑,要苗条。

六、六个不能: 不能饿了才吃,不能渴了才喝,不能困了才睡,不能累了才歇,不能病了才检查,不能老了再后悔!

天气转冷,注意保暖,忙碌也要记得爱自己!

I just wanted to say

Forwarded email I received, to share:

"If tomorrow, I should never wake up, I wanted to say
I'm sorry.

I'm sorry for what I have done and what I haven't done.
& I could have done more, I should have done more.

If I harmed you, yelled at you, ignored you,
sorry.

If tomorrow, I should never wake up, I wanted to say
thank you.

If me and you were the best of friends,
thank you for always being there.

If me and you only talked once in a while and didn't
go to the same parties and were....not good friends:
thank you for not humbling me.

You are not perfect, and I am not either,
but thank you for having a part in my life.

If tomorrow, I should never wake up, I wanted to say
everything I never had time to."