Thankful

I am thankful for my family and friends with whom I cele-brated my birthday earlier this month. Numerous meals with great company are the hallmarks of a wonderful birthday.

 

Whether it's dinner at a restaurant, coffee at a bistro or a home-cooked meal, each has its own merits and I appreciate the thoughtfulness of those closest to me. I am not one to initiate my own birthday celebration, in fact, there have been years where I just let it pass quietly while on holiday, but when close friends invite me out, I tend to say yes. With my inner circle, there is no pretence, and most importantly no need for small talk.

 

This year, I need to mention Tze Han, Leticia and Tjun Hong, who together created a home-cooked dinner to mark the occasion. Much effort was put in, and the resultant celebration was indeed a meaningful one. To one and all, much thanks again and here's to lasting friendships.

 

 

Tjun Hong, Tze Han, Debra and Leticia.

2 May 2014

I am thankful for the birthday greetings that have flooded my phone and Facebook wall today, plus the phone and Skype calls too. I've tried to respond to each one individually but if I have missed anyone out, do know that I appreciate your well wishes and kind thoughts immensely.

 

As I reflect on the past year, I have learnt much. To live life to the fullest, to always be in a positive frame of mind, to appreciate the good in life. The most important lesson of all, to value oneself. Ever so often, we try to accommodate others and put them first, whether in our personal or professional lives. Sometimes this is warranted, but at other times, not. We, well I, need to be more discerning. This I will be conscious of as I begin a new chapter in life.

 

As I embark on a new year, I will take all your well-wishes with me. To appreciate good health, to be grateful for family and friends, to experience joy and happiness, to love and be loved, to embrace work and career, to travel the world and much, much more. Cheers to all of you!

 

 

Birthday lunch at Oriental Pavilion in Jaya 33, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.

Inspired

Strike when the iron is hot. Get a move on quickly when one is inspired and when ideas are freshly minted. Sometimes a casual catch-up session with a long-time friend over coffee and chit-chat can lead to inspiring ideas being formulated. And when enthusiasm for such ideas is a motivating factor, an opportunity to realise a long-held aspiration can indeed be possible.

 

I am not one to write business plans. Neither is my buddy David. We rely on gut-feel and our instincts. Our approach is always based on the adage 'no harm trying'. If we succeed, great. If otherwise, at least we tried. Suffice to say, we are putting things in motion to give our ideas a go.

 

Here's to an exciting adventure ahead. Fingers crossed!

 

 

Photo shot at Chapel Hill Winery at McLaren Vale in Adelaide, South Australia.