Ethan'z Log

Liverpool's FA Cup 4th Round Triumph Over Man U

2012-01-29T03:20:00.001+08:00

The 2 Scots squaring off against each other

Daniel Agger's towering effort for the 1st Liverpool goal

I did the same when the final whistle blew

Dirk Kuyt smashing in Liverpool's 2nd goal

Encounter with Gundam

2012-01-26T02:52:00.000+08:00

On the 2nd day of Chinese New Year, we ended up in IOI Mall Puchong. It was not crowded and I found parking space quite easily. Whilst Petra was playing in a dedicated indoor playground for children at Jusco, I wandered to a section that was selling Gundam plastic models. It reminded me so much of my teenage days when i used to assemble Tamiya military scale models. Oh I love them to its - the detailing work that goes into completing a kit or putting the finishing touches to a World War II diorama fills me with satisfaction.

And I struggled whether to start this hobby again by buying the Gundam robot.

Alas I didn't.

At least not on the 2nd day of Chinese New Year .... but who knows? I might just return ....

Anyone Following?

2012-01-21T22:37:00.003+08:00

Once upon a time, I thought that I could make a difference in people's lives. I recall having read somewhere that its blessed and wonderful to leave imprints in people's hearts. And so I believed - I really did. Once. In the past. Now I'm not too sure.

James C Maxwell a renowned leadership guru said that leadership is influence - nothing more, nothing less. I agree with him.

You are not a leader if you don't have followers.

Of course, the followers of the best leaders follow from the heart and not fear pursuant to a legally binding contract as in an employment contract where a decision to disobey a leader's direction or instruction is akin to insubordination, a gross misconduct in which summary dismissal is warranted.

So, is there anyone following me as I look over my own shoulder?

There is no one there ....

Liverpool Asia Tour 2011

2012-01-21T02:37:00.001+08:00

Liverpool Asia Tour 2011

Pre-Match View at the Bukit Jalil Stadium. When the match kicked off, it was a full house.

That would be Andy Carroll

Charlie Adam scoring his 1st goal as a Liverpool player

The slick Alberto Aquilani who is now playing for AC Milan on loan

A SImple TQ

2012-01-21T00:06:00.002+08:00

Every individual needs to feel that as a human being, he or she is significant. Or to feel important. To be told that one is valuable and esteemed. Yeah that's a nice feeling. At work, what should managers do to make their direct reports feel important? Sometimes, when money is short and its not enough to go around, then perhaps at times the simple act of saying a sincere thank you may be the least we can do. And above all, it doesn't cost a bomb.

2012-01-18T22:34:00.001+08:00

Last year in Feb, from the 3rd day onwards (if i recall correctly) in the Chinese New Year calendar, we went to Kota Bahru for a holiday. Here is one picture of the trip.

A Life Worth Living

2012-01-18T00:43:00.000+08:00

What should I set as goals if I want to live a life worth living for? My top of mind thoughts would center around loving and serving God Almighty and honoring His name through what I do or say. To that I would also add this: to bless friends and family. And I'd also include using the talents that God has given me to the maximum to bless others. Money or rather how much of the same I could accumulate should not feature at all in this list of worthwhile goals ..... I will consider further before I put pen to paper.

Early Confirmation

2012-01-17T05:35:00.002+08:00

I received a new year's gift yesterday afternoon in the form of an early confirmation from my employer. God is good. It has been His grace and strength that has sustained me throughout the last 3 months in this place.

Father and Daughter

2012-01-15T01:09:00.000+08:00

Petra and her dad with mummy behind the camera.

Visiting Friend's Mum

2012-01-14T18:35:00.002+08:00

We visited a friend of ours this afternoon at Pantai Medical Centre KL whose mother was admitted due to bleeding complications. Thank God her mother is stable now after a blood transfusion and has been eating albeit only a little at a time. She was to be discharged today but this had to be delayed as the nurse found some fresh bleeding. And so she will be kept under observation for another day or two.

Over lunch, we had a good time catching up although we would have preferred under a different set of circumstance and not in the ground floor cafetaria and Baskin Robbins of Pantai Medical Centre I suppose although Petra did enjoy her premium chocolate ice-cream, as always. This girl has expensive taste .....

My friend also introduced me to the Discipleship Journal Bible reading plan designed by the Navigators which is pretty good. It splits the daily reading into 3 different portions of Scriptures - 2 parts of OT and 1 part from the NT. Check it out here.

Petra in Lumut

2012-01-13T00:35:00.002+08:00

This was taken in Lumut in our family trip to Damai Laut some months back.

New Relying on Old

2012-01-13T00:21:00.002+08:00

I'd learned once that in order to gain a new thing we've got to let go of the old .....

Also that one should not allow circumstances to control our choices ....

And finally (at least for tonight), that its insanity (or plain stupidity?) to expect new results by following a course of action that has proven to be fruitless in the past.

What's Needed

2012-01-12T06:08:00.001+08:00

I think this blog is way too boring.

It need some spice and sugar.

Or fun .. feisty .. fired up ... postings.

Christmas Tree Deco Petra Style

2012-01-10T23:50:00.001+08:00

Late last year when the Christmas tree was assembled and before the usual ornaments were hung up, Petra took some of her toys and decorated it her style. As can be seen in the pictures, her style is pretty unique.

Work Work Work

2012-01-10T23:35:00.001+08:00

I have been working very late nights all the way into early mornings and yet .... tiring. Have been nodding off more frequently in the office and while driving to work. I must maintain focus and finish it .... well at least a big part of the project the details of which I cannot disclose due to strict social media policies.

Thinking Out Loud

2012-01-10T00:33:00.000+08:00

Work hard and be rewarded but never lose sight of our family and friends .... they are the ones who will stand by us when the hard times come.

Delayed but its Inevitable

2012-01-09T00:28:00.001+08:00

The opportunity to announce my intention has been delayed but its inevitable. We need to recharge, refocus and realign our lives this year so that we could finally do what we have been created to do.

War Campaign

2012-01-07T17:54:00.001+08:00

So busy so busy, slide after slide ..... feels like a war campaign ... for my company!!!

Posting From Office

2012-01-06T18:48:00.002+08:00

I bought my Lenovo netbook to the office today and now that I'm taking a break, I thought I could post a note or two. It has been 3 months since I joined this company. The boss and teammates are nice people and the company well established globally with a 200 year history. Although its operational and business structure is complex with various matrix reporting lines, I am slowly getting used to it. I love fresh discoveries and I think there are ample areas besides HR for me to explore

The year is still brand new.

Petra will turn 4 in a few days time and I'm thinking its time to hop on a plane for an overseas this year.

Perhaps Thailand. Or maybe a bit further to Cambodia or Indonesia.

Guitar Store Puchong and Tom Yam Maggi Mee

2012-01-04T22:51:00.000+08:00

Today I got back at 9:30pm. Actually I could have returned home 10 minutes earlier if I didn't take a short detour in Puchong Jaya to look for 'The Guitar Store'. Its a pity that when I found it, the store was already closed.

I had Tomyam maggi mee for dinner and continued with my office work on the dining table. About 15 minutes ago Petra pulled me into the bedroom because she wanted me to accompany her to sleep. Now as I'm typing this post, I turned around and noticed that he'd slipped into slumber land.

Late Dinner, Pivot Tables and Effects Boxes

2012-01-04T00:24:00.000+08:00

Yesterday 3 Jan 2012, I got back home from the office at 10:15pm, went out for dinner with Val and Petra at about 10:40pm and returned home at 11:50pm. Petra dozed off at the backseat of our Avanza about 5 minutes before we reached home.

At work, I learned a bit more about pivot tables. In fact, over the last 1 month, I had learned a lot about the same.

About guitars. Yesterday night I managed to put in some practice minutes on phrasing with chord tones with the C7 chord. And I'd being toying with the idea of enlarging the quality of my tone with stomp boxes instead of the Zoom multi-effect pedal that I have been using. After close to 5 or 6 years I think its time to upgrade and I'll start with a delay pedal given that I already have a Boss SD-1 Super Overdrive and DS-1 Distortion.The models that I'm looking at are the Echopark, Line 6 DL4, Boss DD7 or Electro-Harmonix Memory Man.

Serving in 2012

2012-01-02T00:38:00.002+08:00

This year may be the year that I could finally focus on doing what I think I do the best in. In my 20 plus years as a child of God, I had served in various roles in many different ministries but most of these are primarily in response to the needs of the church. Looking back, I have no regrets for I have learned many lessons along the way - about faith in God and peer relationships. But now in 2012, by making certain decisions I think I can finally concentrate in an area where I'm deeply passionate about i.e. music and in particular, the electric guitar.

First Day of 2012

2012-01-01T03:25:00.002+08:00

Its 3 hours 26 minutes into the new year and we are all awake - Val, Petra and I. Both Val and Petra could not make it to the watchnight service yesterday at FCC PH as Petra had developed a fever at about 9pm the cause of which I suspect could be due to the diarrhoea that she had contracted.

Val gave her some meds and she slept for a couple of hours. Now as I'm blogging this entry, Petra is watching TV while her mum is upstairs practising piano.

Earlier, I had asked Petra, 'Why are you not sleeping?' (I know - bad English!!!)

Petra replied, 'I cant sleeepp' in the slang that she had somehow picked up from somewhere. Maybe from the T shows that she had been watching on Astro.

I'm taken aback actually - never expected her to answer in that manner and in those words given that she has some speech difficulties. My wish and prayer to God is that she'll be able to hold a proper conversation in English before mid 2012 comes along. After all, she will turn 4 this Jan '11 and I must admit it can be quite disconcerting if she does not do so soon.

Christmas 2011

2011-12-26T08:45:00.002+08:00

I thank God for new friends this season. Besides many whom we met during the year, of particular significance would be the young lady from China and her son as well as the 2 young families in Putra Heights whose mothers hail from East Malaysia. This is indeed cause for rejoicing. Also I praise and thank God for a friend who attended Christmas service for the first time in many years.

He is good!!

In my devotion I read Luke 2:9-20. I marveled at the worship rendered to God by the angels and the shepherds. It must have been a sight to behold in the context of the former and a quieter occasion by the latter but both gave glory to God. Do I have room in my heart to do the same?

'Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, goodwill toward men'

New Horizon

2011-09-19T23:29:00.004+08:00

Next week Monday morning I will report for work at my new office at Jalan Ampang KL. This would be the beginning of a new chapter in my life and a step of faith into unexplored 'territories'. I will miss the friends I'm leaving behind after 3 years of working together. My hope is that people in the new place will be equally if not more friendly and easy-going. In any work place there are bound to be pressure and support from work colleagues would be a definite plus.

A New Chapter?

2011-08-29T23:55:00.004+08:00

I took up a job offer from a multinational company last week but my current employer wants me to consider a counter-offer today. I said I will consider the same over the Raya break. What should I do? Dilemma ... dilemma ... dilemma!!!

On a separate note, many times in the past Petra would complete my sentence as follows "Petra loves .... ' with a big hearty 'Daaaddy'. However. of late she did not complete my sentence with 'Daddy' but she would instead say 'Petrrrraaa'.

So I pointed to myself with my index finger to my nose hoping that she will finally respond with 'Daddy'.

But my cheeky daughter will say 'nnnnose' instead.

I faint .....

Barclays Premier League 2011/12

2011-08-09T23:37:00.004+08:00

The new BPL season is just around the corner with Liverpool's first match commencing this Saturday. Their opponent is Sunderland. This is a match they should win given the fact that new players had been bought during the break to bolster the squad.

Additionally with Kenny Dalglish at the helm, expectations are running high to at least achieve 4th place in the league and to regain the Reds rightful place amongst the elite teams in the Champions League next year.

However, who knows? Maybe they will surprise everyone and go all the way to pick up their 19th English league title....

Ex-Branch Manager

2011-04-14T22:30:00.002+08:00

I was at the KL Industrial Court this morning attending a hearing for a case that went back to 2006. The ex-Branch Manager was dismissed for inducing a client to purchase unit trust from the Bank amongst other charges including approving loans at a margin of financing that was above the approved maximum threshold.

To me, it is quite normal to entertain clients over a meal or two but to extend one's personal monies in the form of a loan so that the client can in turn purchase unit trust is going beyond a normal business relationship. Moreover, if one factor in the fact that the aforesaid ex-Branch Manager had derived personal benefit from the closing of the unit trust deal.

This is without doubt a serious breach of personal integrity.

Andre Boas?

2011-04-14T00:18:00.000+08:00

A Google alert came into my inbox today proclaiming that Andre Boas Villa the current coach for FC Porto (if I'm not mistaken) had been chosen as the new Liverpool manager for next season. I shudder! This guy is nowhere close to the influence of Kenny Dalglish. I then checked Liverpool's official website. Phew!!! No such news .... boy I'm one thankful fan.

Man City Got Thrashed

2011-04-12T22:39:00.002+08:00

As I was driving to work early this morning, the news announcer on BFM 89.9 declared that Liverpool thrashed Man City 3-Nil. I asked myself whether the 3-0 scoreline deserves to be defined as a thrashing for I consider 4-0 and above to qualify under the term. Oh well - its nice to hear some good positive news going Liverpool's way anyway and I'm not complaining really. Above all, its great to see Carroll's first 2 goals for the Reds and I believe there will be many more to come. The Carroll and Suarez pairing is starting to bear fruit and I can't wait to see them live in action in Malaysia this coming July.

Reds' Preparation for Revival

2011-04-11T23:31:00.003+08:00

Liverpool take on Manchester City early tomorrow morning at 3am. The Reds must win to keep alive their hopes for European football next season. For me, the excitement for the rest of this season comes from watching how the strike pair of Carroll and Suarez gel to form a lethal partnership. To-date, I haven't seen the best. Hopefully, against Man City they will rise to the occasion, knowing how important it is for them to win.

I'm also looking forward to what the new owners John Henry and Fenway Sports Group as well as Dalglish will bring to the pitch in terms of new signings. Their philosophy of bringing in talented young players augurs well for the future. Its the right approach in developing a team with depth and sustainability - a fundamental criteria for consistent success in winning the league.

Its also the right time to look for able replacements for the Reds' aging stars who may have passed their prime i.e. Carragher and Gerrard.

Kiara Park Visit

2011-04-09T17:04:00.005+08:00

This morning we took Petra to Kiara Park for a short jungle hike. This would be her second time walking up and down sloping terrain amongst the various species of trees and scrubs and fallen branches. From what I observed, she doesn't mind hiking but somehow, water is still her passion. Consider this - on the way back to the car, we passed by a small building which appears to be some sort of water pump house maintained by the water authorities. From somewhere within the house I could hear running water and I knew she must have heard it too. This is because she stopped dead in her tracks, aimed her ear towards the house and listened intently. For a moment, I thought she might make a run for it, tearing down the fencing surrounding the pump house or jumping over the gate (yes, my imagination runneth over) But alas, she decided to follow me and Val towards the car. Water! Yup, nothing can excite her more than water.

Canon EOS550D

2011-04-08T23:18:00.002+08:00

I finally bought a Canon EOS550D with a 18-55mm kit lens last week Mon. This is my first DSLR and it may be the last. Photography is one activity that I enjoy but its an expensive hobby.

Welcoming God's Presence

2011-03-21T22:36:00.003+08:00

I'm now reading 'The Reward of Worship' by Jack Hayford. First few thoughts - when we worship, it is akin to laying out a red carpet to welcome His presence into our midst; where His power and grace are displayed, where we see His will and purposes being realised.

I want to live in that supernatural dimension - when it is natural to live in the supernatural.

Isn't this the way to live out the life God has given us?

Petra Goes Fishing

2011-03-16T00:18:00.004+08:00

This is one of my favourite life moments - seeing Petra's first attempt at beach fishing at Bagan Lalang. I'm looking forward to a father-daughter fishing team one day in the future ......

Penang Trip in Oct 2010

2011-03-12T23:28:00.005+08:00

This photos were taken during our family trip to Penang in Oct 2010. We had complimentary voucher for one night's stay at a high-rise condominium near Bukit Jambul but I cant remember its name. It was surrounded by houses given that it is located almost in the middle of a housing estate which caused me some difficulty in finding the place - even with the GPS at hand.

Random Photos 1

2011-03-12T08:56:00.002+08:00

Confidence in God or self?

2010-10-29T23:31:00.000+08:00

And the Lord said to Gideon, 'The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me saying 'My own hand has save me'.

The Correct Perspective

2010-10-28T01:16:00.002+08:00

Its not the difficulties, the pain, the unexplained

Its all about my response when He asks 'Do you believe that I am able to do this?' Matt 9:28

The crux of the matter is whether I know my risen Lord. Whether I know the power of His indwelling Spirit.

The question to ask myself is 'Am I wise enough to trust in what Christ Jesus has said?'

I also read today that the only call for the missionary is to have limitless confidence in Him.

Pre Monday Morning Jottings

2010-09-05T22:36:00.000+08:00

Tomorrow its Monday - the start of another hectic week due to many unresolved issues concerning people, processes and policies. Last week was bad. I bought home some work to do over the weekend but I didn't manage to finish everything. Now I'm just plain tired and I want to knock off early so that I can start afresh tomorrow.

The 3 Investigators

2010-08-21T00:25:00.002+08:00

I'm now reading The Three Investigators' The Mystery of the Silver Spider. About 2 or 3 weeks ago, I bought RM170 worth of Alfred Hitchcock mysteries .... I grew up on these fantastic stories. Its a pity I had to buy them from this bookstore of old books in KL near the famous beef ball noodle shop (somewhere near HSBC Head Office) as I had lost my collection of similar titles many years back. Don't know what happened to them - its not that I have being moving from house to house. It just disappeared after I got married and moved out from my old home in SEA Park. I suppose this is one unsolved mystery of my own.

Bad Sore Throat

2010-08-19T00:42:00.003+08:00

I caught a bad sore throat from Petra who probably got it from one of her daycare centre mates. But Petra has it worse because she has been sick for the last 3 weeks or so already. My poor little girl. As always, being parents we wish we could just snap our fingers and make it all go away in a blink of an eye but ... some things are just not that easy. Lack of faith? But all it takes is a mustard sized 'dollop' of faith!! And I was told that a mustard seed is really small. Yeap so how come??!!

Neglected Areas

2010-08-14T22:39:00.003+08:00

I've been thinking afresh about my personal finances. Its not that I have a lot of money but whatever I have now though little could be working harder in terms of returns if I had paid more attention to it.

The price of procrastination can be painful.

There are other areas I didn't pay attention to as much as I should have as well.

Like friendships old and new.

Or certain hobbies that could have been profitable - if only I made time for it.

But I suppose its not too late to start now right?

Fish Died

2010-08-07T00:50:00.003+08:00

One of the five fishes that I have in my garden pond has died. 2 days ago. I'm not sure why but there are no sign of any disease - maybe due old age then .....

First Kiss

2010-08-05T00:06:00.002+08:00

Yesterday after our dinner celebrating Valz's birthday at Logenhaus Roast & Grill Taipan, Petra threw me the first real kiss with a 'muah' ... =) leaving a spot of her saliva also ... heh heh heh happy happy happy !!!

Petra's Terms of Reference

2010-07-31T23:06:00.004+08:00

Let me share with you Petra's terms of reference -

1) Van or any type of 4 wheeled vehicle is 'toot-toot'

2) Bun is 'bum'

3) A baby is 'poor baby' (she pronounced this correctly but there's always a poor in front)

4) Water is 'wot-ther'

5) Fish is 'shish'

=)

Busy Time Ahead

2010-07-28T23:35:00.003+08:00

At work, I'm faced with a sudden influx of cases - gross negligence, complaints against superiors, forged sick leave certificates, insubordination etc. All sorts. Which kind of makes life interesting I suppose. The long hours will kick in and the consumption of Nescafe will see an increase. Hopefully the ulcers will not follow suit. I hate ulcers - especially if it hinders my speech or enjoyment of food.

Girls Coughing Badly

2010-07-27T22:44:00.002+08:00

Petra has been coughing badly for the last 3 days. Today I noticed the coughing became worse. But thank God no fever. I hope this latest bout of sickness will pass quickly. Valz is down too with the same ailment.

Futsal Blues

2010-07-24T14:11:00.002+08:00

I just came back from BCM's futsal competition at Sports Planet Sunway. The bad news is that we the Legends of FCC lost at the round robin group stage, having drew one match, won one but lost two. I also picked up a bad knock on my left knee. Another bad news is that I nearly fainted after pushing myself to the point of physical exertion during the first match. Having not played competitively for years, its utter foolishness to run non-stop at the younger opponents and chasing the ball up and down the field. But nevertheless, all in all it was great fun!!!

Petra Sleeping

2010-07-24T01:10:00.004+08:00

The picture of Petra in black sleeveless was taken on 25 February 2010.

The other picture of Petra in her white pyjama was taken on 11 March 2008.

See any difference?

O Dear

2010-07-20T22:53:00.002+08:00

O my! It has been awhile since I last posted anything in this blog. But there's no way I'm going to stop because I already wrote 450 posts since I started years ago . I'm certainly not going to waste all my past effort.

So here are some quick updates:

I bought a Lenovo netbook early June this year.

Petra has been learning to sing songs.

Valerie has recently started teaching in the daycare centre where Petra has been going.

I will be playing in a futsal competition this coming Saturday.

I had just completed 2 years' service in the bank.

We bought a second-hand mountain bike from a shop named 'The Bicycle Trading' in Putra Heights.

We have been enjoying the Putra Heights evening service since we started going in January.

I will not be involved as a committee member in the Christmas presentation this year.

Going forward, we as a family are going to serve in the Putra Heights outreach.

I still think about Doulos every now and then. God is indeed great and faithful - He has and always will be!!!

Serbia vs Ghana

2010-06-13T22:57:00.002+08:00

Serbia is ranked 15 whereas Ghana is placed at the 32nd place in FIFA's list. I wonder who will win this match.

Bulk Up Goal

2010-05-10T22:22:00.001+08:00

I'm now at 55kg. I hope to add on another 5 by end of August. 5kg of muscles and not fats. =)

Petra's Growth Curve

2010-05-10T00:10:00.002+08:00

Last Saturday, we met Petra's teachers at Fungates, her day school. After a brief update on her development, I was also given a piece of paper titled 'Ages and Stages of Child Development'.

I looked up the criteria under Social and Play Skills for children aged 2 to 3 years' old and made a quick assessment of Petra's current development, as follows -

1) Plays near other children - OK
2) Watches other children play - OK
3) Defends own possession - OK
4) Engages in domestic play - OK
5) Builds with blocks in simple lines - OK

Then I looked under 'Oral Language Skills' and made the following assessments -

1) Ask questions - No
2) Answers 'Where is it?' with propositional phrases 'in the box' - No
3) Answers 'What do you do with a ball?' - No
4) Tells about something with functional sentences which carry meaning: 'Me go store' or 'Me hungry now' - No

That's just 2 areas. There are many others that I haven't made any assessment yet.

Running Update #1

2010-05-02T01:34:00.002+08:00

Tonight Val and I finished 4 klicks in 30 mins which works out to 7.5 mins per klick.

Earlier this week, I completed 3.1 klicks on my own. Well not bad. I managed to achieve my personal goal of 2 minimum 3km runs in 1 week.

Next week, I shall run 2 rounds of 5km sessions.

Please Come to Malaysia

2010-03-30T23:32:00.003+08:00

Apparently at the Invest Malaysia conference today, Malaysian American Electronics Industry Association (MAEIA)president Datuk Wong Siew Hai said that Malaysia must consider permanent residency and dual citizenship as a competitive strategy to attract talent. It was also pointed out that this policy is already being used by Singapore, Japan and China.

I think this idea should be explored further but it will take some courage to implement given that the tendency to protect ourselves from external competition may stubbornly stand in the way. To allow foreign experts to work in Malaysia would basically deprive our sons and daughters from their shot at obtaining gainful employment here in their own backyard. Will this then cause them to seek for work overseas? This is a distinct possibility but in the long run, allowing the liberalisation in our immigration policy - especially for talented individuals with entrepreneurial flair - may create more job opportunities for all, including the locals as various high end industries set up shop here.

Those Days Years Ago

2010-03-25T23:13:00.003+08:00

When I was dating Valerie, I used to walk over to her house in SS3 from my home in SEA Park and hang out in her brother's room that had a window unit aircond, thick carpet and TV set. After dinner, we would rent video tapes and watch movies like Back to the Future I, II and III, Coneheads, Terminator, The Naked Gun, Rambo, Robocop etc. After the movie, we will normally adjourn to the nearest mamak store for a round of drinks before I head home - at about 1am in the morning.

Demi-gods

2010-03-19T23:15:00.004+08:00

On my way home last night along the LDP as I approached Sunway Pyramid from KL, I found myself being herded to the side by outriders to make way for some VIP in an elongated Mercedes. Why must these people be treated like some kind of demi-god? Didn't we the people of Malaysia vote them in in the first place? Have they forgotten? I find it really hard to accept the fact that they are allowed to push us around after they got our votes. Can't the government of the day ban all such overboard VIP entourages and stop wasting precious police resources on them? The police should spend their time fighting crime instead.

Blog Search

2010-03-11T23:33:00.003+08:00

My colleagues, ever since I told them that I blog, have been trying to search for this little corner in cyberspace where I put down my thoughts. I don't mind really so all the best to them.

Jobstreet Vacancies

2010-03-09T23:51:00.002+08:00

I have a feeling that the jobs advertised in Jobstreet are 'hard to fill' positions where nobody wants to recommend their friends and contacts from their professional network to consider applying because of the following reasons:

1. The boss whom the new joiner will report to is a tyrant.
2. Its a job where the pay does not match the responsibilities.
3. The job is sitting in a horribly managed department.

Hence, its my conviction that the best jobs are through word of mouth. My definition of 'best job' would be 'a great boss who praises in public and admonishes in private, great and friendly colleagues sans the hidden agendas' as well as other perks that commensurate with the salary package.

Living Life

2010-03-05T00:43:00.003+08:00

I think life must be lived to its fullest by loving and knowing people - their biggest dreams and greatest fears, the legacies they want to leave behind and the assurance that their contribution will make a difference.

Petra's Intro to Fishing

2010-02-18T00:12:00.003+08:00

This was taken on 21.9.09 at the Subang Jaya Recreational Park next to Holiday Villa where I first 'introduced' fishing to Petra

Hippo's Mouth

2010-02-16T15:19:00.004+08:00

You are looking inside the mouth of hippopotamus from Botswana (if I'm not mistaken) that has made the Paya indah Wetland its home.

1st Review

2010-02-16T00:26:00.002+08:00

Its already two and a half months into 2010 and I'm not at all happy with how it is progressing as far as I'm concerned in relation with the goals that I had set for myself. Got to try harder.

Happy Year of the Tiger

2010-02-13T19:30:00.003+08:00

Its almost time to hop over to my auntie's home in SS2 for reunion dinner. Before I do that, Happy Chinese Year everyone. My wish is that all your dreams will come true in the Year of the Tiger. As always, this is the time of the year in the Chinese calendar where we must clean up the house, send sms greetings to keep in touch with colleagues and friends, pass out the red packets, visit homes and eat cookies. Aware of the risk of letting this period degenerate into meaningless ritual, I am reminded to not let opportunities go by without blessing somebody with the love of God and the hope He had planted in our hearts.

The World's Best Guitarist?

2010-02-01T16:06:00.001+08:00

I noticed. For many, especially those in the world, gets caught up with who's the best guitarist, who played the fastest solo, who's the best in that, who's the best in this .... etc etc etc. However, true guitar fans with discerning taste believes that there's no such thing. Each guitarist brings out his own her uniqueness in the pieces he or she plays. Even Jeff Beck himself debunked such shallow 'best list' thinking. How much more so in God's kingdom. We who play for the Lord week in and week out should only be concerned one thing - giving our best to Him in worship through the six-stringed instrument in our hands

52nd Grammy Award

2010-01-25T23:53:00.003+08:00

The 52nd Grammy Award is just around the corner and the notable nominees in my view are Third Day's 'Born Again' and Jonny Lang with Fisk Jubilee Singers' 'I Believe' for Best Gospel Performance. Jonny is a fantastic blues guitar player who came to know the Lord a few years back. Third Day's Born Again is also nominated for Best Gospel Song and their album 'Live Revelation' for Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album.

U2's latest album 'No Line on the Horizon' is nominated for Best Rock Album and one of their songs from the said album i.e. 'I'll Go Crazy if I Don't Go Crazy Tonight' for Best Rock Song.

Shocking News

2010-01-06T00:42:00.002+08:00

2nd day at work. On the way to the office this morning, BFM announced over the airwaves a shocking piece of news - that our Group CEO has resigned amidst an investigation into some improper practices. It was not mentioned that she was directly involved but rather that some branch level managers were also asked to take leave since before Christmas. Nevertheless later in the evening the corporate communication fellas finally came out with an official statement saying that she has not resigned.

Reconnect

2010-01-04T23:27:00.003+08:00

First day at work in 2010. Thank God there are no new big issues - only one or two that were bought forward from last year. One of my key result areas for the first 3 months of the year is to reconnect with friends and family whom I have neglected due to work in 2009. Hopefully I can remain focused and achieve this as at work, its still a battle to accomplish deadlines because my assistant is not up to speed yet. There are also other immediate concerns that I have to think about - one concerning my daughter and the other church.

Freeze List

2010-01-02T16:42:00.003+08:00

I learned today that the following stuff freeze well:

Fresh whipped cream, butter, milk, cheese, root ginger, nuts, grated coconut, homemade pancakes, herbs (e.g. fresh rosemary and basil) and spices, meat or vegetable stock, cooked rice, tomato paste, bread dough, pizza dough, cookies, cakes, pies, sauces and Chinese take-out.

Yes its a American list obtained from an American website. But go ahead and try freezing your next wat-tan-hor meal that you had bungkus and let me know the results.

2010

2010-01-01T13:19:00.002+08:00

2010! In the beginning of every new year, we tell ourselves that it will be better than the previous one. We bring into the new year with high hopes of meeting 'new' targets and objectives. And this we do every 1st Jan without fail. For some the list could be very long and detailed - right down to specific tasks that must be accomplished on a daily or monthly basis. I used to do this but it didn't help me much every year. Perhaps this might work for some but not for me. Nowadays I'd rather live by a plan-do-check cycle every 3 months.

Note: Its a pain in the neck to type the 'E' alphabet by having to press the touch sensitive circuit board underneath the missing key.

End of the Road | Music | Christianity Today

2009-11-28T16:51:00.002+08:00

Probably Martin Smith's last interview as lead singer for Delirious

End of the Road | Music | Christianity Today

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Tony Melendez

2009-11-28T06:14:00.002+08:00

Inspiring!!!

Attitude really determines our altitude isn't it?

The Greatest Story Rapped

2009-11-27T17:28:00.003+08:00

I don't buy rap albums - its just not something that I enjoy listening to. But today I came across the following number from Shai Linne ... Yo! Check it ..check it out ... and hear the greatest story ever told

Greatest Story Ever Told
written by s. linne

Verse 1
Alright check it: let’s go back in time, brethren
Divine lessons always keep your mind guessing
The glory of the Triune God’s what I’m stressing
The origin of humankind was fine- blessings
Were plenteous- God is amazingly generous
Crazy benefits in a state of innocence
God told the man what he could taste was limited
Not long after came our nemesis in Genesis
He scammed well, man fell, damned to hell
The whole human race- he represented it
Fooled by the serpent, man through his work
Woman through birth- even the earth ruled by the curses
But instead of a wake immediately
God said her Seed would be the One to crush the head of the snake
Yo, wait what’s this? Whoa, a gracious gift!
In Jehovah’s faithfulness He clothed their nakedness
This was so they would know their Savior’s kiss
And bliss- but first, many growing pains exist
Suffering in the worst form, ugly deeds
Eve’s firstborn seed made his brother bleed
Indeed things got progressively worse
Every section of the earth's been affected by the curse
And though God’s judgments against sin were gory
Praise the Lord! It’s not the end of the story

Chorus:
It's the greatest story ever told
A God pursues foes whose hearts turned cold
The greatest story ever told
Restoring all that the enemy stole
The greatest story ever told
The glory of Christ is the goal, behold
The greatest story ever told
It's the greatest...

Verse 2
Next scene: man’s sin was extreme
God gets steamed, man gets creamed
The Lord is so Holy that He drowned them in the water
Fire in the valley of slaughter- Sodom and Gomorrah
But at the same time, He’s so gracious and patient
That from one man He created a whole nation
Eventually enslaved by the mentally depraved
They cried out to the only One with the strength that He could save
He brought them out with signs and wonders- satisfied their hunger
Then He appeared on Mount Sinai in thunder
Where He laid down the law for God-ruled government
Commonly referred to as the Mosaic covenant
Sin’s imputed- so for man to know he’s unrighteous
God instituted animal sacrifices
This was to show our constant need for atonement
And when it came to sin, the Lord would never condone it
And when His people disobeyed and went astray
He raised up prophets and kings to lead them in the way
But they would get foul with their idolatry- wet and wild
Prophecy- send them into exile
To take their punishment like a grown man
Then with His own hand He placed them back in their homeland
And while in their forefather’s land they dwelt
They awaited the arrival of Emmanuel

Chorus:
It's the greatest story ever told
A God pursues foes whose hearts turned cold
The greatest story ever told
Restoring all that the enemy stole
The greatest story ever told
The glory of Christ is the goal, behold
The greatest story ever told
It's the greatest...

Verse 3
After 400 silent years filled with sighs and tears
In Bethlehem the Messiah appears
God in the flesh- Second Person of the Trinity
At thirty begins His earthly ministry
Baffling cats with accurate, exact facts
And back to back miraculous acts
A stumbling block to the self righteous
But the humbled- His flock, said “There’s no one else like this”
He came from heaven to awake the numb
Demonstrated His power over nature, son
A foretaste of the Kingdom and the age to come
But the reason He came was to pay the sum
For the depths of our wickedness, our wretched sinfulness
Bless His magnificence- He’s perfect and innocent
Yet He was wrecked and His death- He predicted it
Next He was stretched, paid a debt that was infinite
He said that He finished it- resurrected so the elect
would be the recipients of its benefits
Through faith and penitence we get to be intimate
His grace is heaven sent, it never diminishes
Now the Holy Spirit indwelling is the evidence
for heaven's future residents who truly represent
Jesus, the Author, Producer, Director and
Star of a story that will never, ever end!

Chorus:
The greatest story ever told
A God pursues foes whose hearts turned cold
The greatest story ever told
Restoring all that the enemy stole
The greatest story ever told
The glory of Christ is the goal, behold
The greatest story ever told
It's the greatest...

Malaysians Love Shopping

2009-11-21T21:39:00.003+08:00

Eye on Asia, Grey Group's proprietary study on 16 Asian countries, reported that 58% of Malaysians spend more than 2 hours in a shopping mall which is more than double the Asian average of 27%. The study also revealed that a mere 3% leave immediately as soon as they found what they were looking for. So which group do I fall into? The latter one. OK I exaggerate. I do linger but very seldom do I do this.

Somali Christians Being Killed

2009-11-21T00:07:00.003+08:00

Pray for the Somali Christians.Their lives shine like stars in the darkest of nights. Read the story here.

AOG is Now Legal in Vietnam

2009-11-21T00:01:00.001+08:00

Good news and praise God! The Vietnamese government has accorded legal recognition to AOG churches in Vietnam. Read the story here.

Back to Back Domestic Inquiries

2009-09-30T22:47:00.003+08:00

I have another Teller to prosecute tomorrow at Subang Jaya. And the following one is at Ipoh where I'll be heading to next week. Boy I'm longing for a break .... maybe a drive up to Bangkok would be nice =)

A Hug That Means A Lot

2009-09-17T23:08:00.002+08:00

My little one gave me a hug when I came home today =)

She still loves me ....

Pain

2009-09-17T00:25:00.002+08:00

Had to smack my little girl today. Painful for her I'm sure but worse for me.

Fail Fast

2009-09-17T00:21:00.001+08:00

"Fail fast -- try something, and if doesn't work, move quickly to something else" said Vivek Ranadive, chairman and chief executive officer of U.S. software maker TIBCO at the "Summer Davos" of the World Economic Forum in Dalian, China.

Missionary Support

2009-09-15T22:36:00.002+08:00

It is a norm for most of us to think that a missionary is financially supported by the sending church. However, today I learned that there are also those whose cross-cultural ministry is financed by the host or receiving church.

If the host country is generally poor, then the level of support will correspondingly be lower than what the sending church could possibly provide. This is not a bad thing per se as the missionary will then be living a lifestyle which is on par with the locals thus facilitating an effective ministry.

Petra on Youtube

2009-09-07T01:40:00.002+08:00

My daughter is now on Youtube .... here's the link

Tooth Ache Remedy

2009-09-02T22:26:00.000+08:00

Yeah it was pretty bad last night so much so that I got up from bed and googled for tooth ache home remedy. Found out that gargling with salt water helps and walla it does!!!

A bad tooth

2009-09-02T00:00:00.001+08:00

I'm having a bad toothache. Hope I can sleep tonight.

Its Not Too Late @ 40

2009-08-24T17:04:00.002+08:00

If you think that most entrepreneurs are college whiz kids who started their companies working from their dorm rooms, think again as research from Kaufman Foundation has debunked that myth. They found that out of the most company founders started their first company at the age of 40. The full story here.

Why for RM200?

2009-08-21T23:51:00.002+08:00

I had just finished a case prosecuting a young Chinese girl who misappropriated RM200 cash last month. Its so sad that she had resorted to such an act. Why? The future would be so bright for her if only she had exercised self-restraint ... but now how?

Well just as I had been forgiven for my sins, I would extend grace and forgive her also, with the hope that she will learn from her grave mistake and become a wonderful 'reformed' person provided I own the bank and she owned up when accused. But she didn't. So how?

Vox AC15CC!

2009-08-21T01:04:00.003+08:00

I love playing the Vox AC15CC1 - my first tube guitar amp.

It sensitively responds to the attack of the plectrum and above all, captures the Strat's natural tone beautifully. Cant imagine enjoying a solid state amp anymore .... Opps looks like I'm musically spoilt now ....

Up and Down

2009-08-21T01:00:00.003+08:00

Petra two or three days ago climbed down the stairs alone to join her mum who was having breakfast downstairs. Today I heard she climbed down and then up - on her own. My little girl has achieved another milestone ...

Bear Hug with Kiss

2009-08-08T23:48:00.002+08:00

Petra threw me the first combined kiss on the cheek with a bear hug today =)

What's Next?

2009-05-26T23:29:00.002+08:00

After camp and hopefully, the arrival of an assistant in my office, I will blog more regularly. Perhaps even to start the next round of my STEP journey chronicles.

Once a Month Again

2009-05-24T23:42:00.002+08:00

O dear, its back to once a month blog posts again. Sorry readers - its really tough for me to maintain a once-a-day posting regime due to my tight schedule. Yup my job is taking its toll on me again.

And that's why I'm looking forward to our annual Church Family Camp in Grand Kampar Hotel next week.

To serve God leading devotions, enjoy the worship, meeting new friends and spending time with family both immediate and extended. And not forgetting, to savor the superb chee cheong fun at the Kampar wet market for supper.

First Walk in the Park

2009-04-19T22:10:00.002+08:00

Earlier this evening, we took Petra out to the park behind our home for her first walk-in-the-park. She enjoyed herself putting one feet in front of the other and learned to balance herself at places where its uneven. At one point she went after a group of teenagers who were having fun playing basketball. We stopped her in her tracks and told her that she's too small to join the big boys. We took her to the playground and holding by her hands, we slowly guided her down the slide. This she enjoyed.

Bits & Pieces, Here and There

2009-04-09T23:22:00.003+08:00

1. The Reds now need a miracle to advance further in the Champions League.

2. At one time not too long ago, the momentum enjoyed by the Opposition seemed to have somewhat waned especially right after the defections of their MPs in Perak and the resulting fiasco. But the by-election results in Bukit Selambau and Bukit Gantang speak for themselves; that the call for change is as strong as ever.

3. The water in my garden pond has remained clear so far, coming towards the end of 2 weeks in fact. I hope that it stays that way till Sunday. My theory may be working after all i.e. if a green carpet of algae is growing well on the walls of the pond, then it may be using up all the available nutrients in the water to deprive the floating algae species from thriving and turning the water into green pea soup.

4. I hope my ex-colleague from TNT Logistics whom I recommended for the Investigation Manager post gets the job.

5. Looking forward to a short break up in the mountains with Valz and Petra after Sunday.

6. I'm enjoying the fresh challenges in my current portfolio.

7. The plants in our garden and courtyard are growing well. Thanks to Valz's loving tender care. Pictures to follow soon I hope.

Nice Quote

2009-04-08T23:26:00.002+08:00

Friends, today on my way home, I came across a great quote by Corrie Ten Boom whilst waiting for the cars lined up in front of me to move at Bukit Jalil.

Here it is - Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.

Nice ...

Good Exercise!

2009-04-07T23:12:00.002+08:00

Whoa I'm way behind in the frequency of my postings of late. Kinda ran out of inspiration.

Perhaps all I want to say for now is that I'm glad I went for futsal last Sunday. Had fun playing against the younger guys and I'm looking forward to more of the same, if not with the youths from church then maybe with some of the guys from the bank.

Four - One

2009-03-19T21:51:00.001+08:00

This is old news but still good to blog about. Liverpool thrashed MU 4-1 last weekend. I watched the game and was utterly satisfied. Yup, all the way to the core =)

A U2 Classic

2009-03-14T15:24:00.004+08:00

I think as electric guitarists playing in a church worship band, we can learn something from the masterly use of delay effects by The Edge specifically by studying the classic U2 hit 'Where the Streets Have No Name' a song way ahead of its time when it was first released in March 1987 along with one of the band's best album, The Joshua Tree.

Listen to how David Evans (more popularly known as The Edge) lays down the chops to deliver layers upon layers of repeated notes rising to a crescendo in selected moments and all the time synchronising perfectly with the drums and bass.

Old Shows

2009-03-12T22:01:00.005+08:00

I am now upstairs after having watched the ending of the latest episode of the revamped version of KITT now showing on Star World. KITT is the super car of the 80s TV series 'Knight Rider'. It was David Hasselhoff then in the lead playing Micheal, the 'tough' and tall blonde bloke with a penchant for pretty girls.

Now it's some other guy whose name I am not familiar with playing the lead who does have some resemblance to the previous Michael. The pretty girls are still there but KITT - he's different. His roving 'eyes' in the middle and above the front fender no longer darts from side to side but rather ... hmmmm ... how should I say it? Cock-eyed? I checked Merriam-Webster and the term means 'squinting eyes'.

Oh well ... I shall not say this resurrected TV series as crappy (Yes, Babylion ... I take back my words) After all, I did watch it week in week out while I was growing up 20 years ago. Guess I should approach the new series differently.

But I wonder how many of those in my generation could remember, that with regards to TV series showcasing super fighting machines, before there was an Airwolf or KITT, there was a super-chopper called Blue Thunder? Yup, its THE first show of such genre shown on TV and I remembered clearly how impressed I was as a kid to see bullets bouncing off the cockpit of this super-chopper pictured above.

U2's No Line on the Horizon

2009-03-07T23:21:00.004+08:00

U2 one of my all time favourite bands has released their 12th studio album 'No Line on the Horizon'. According to those who had heard it, their latest album is not their best work but certainly better than some of their other releases. Here is a review of the same in 'Christianity Today'