Appreciation

It's nice to be appreciated. It's also good to be appreciative. This past year has been a roller coaster ride for me. Exciting travels, fulfilling achievements, melancholic spells, the full works. Despite the ups and downs, I truly appreciate the experiences that the year has presented.

A miniature Christmas tree from a wedding industry friend, a handmade thank-you card from a client whom I designed a prom dress for, a framed photo from a bride depicting the wedding gown we made for her, these are all appreciative gifts and I in turn appreciate them wholeheartedly.

To learn to appreciate life even more next year, now that is something I look forward to.

Photo shot at That Special Occasion.

Crazy

The crazy things we do sometimes. Here is a photo of me together with Eileen and Richard, stripping and then jumping into the pool during Leticia's and Tjun Hong's wedding in Bali. We had of course come prepared with our swimwear and had been willing to add to the merriment if the opportunity arose. To get others into the pool, some need to dive head in first, but in our case, we just leapt.

It is moments such as this that makes life fun to live. 'What the heck' is a motto that I sometimes live by. Those within my inner circle know how I can let my hair down if I want to and I only share such situations with those whom I have come to know well.

What is life without a little mischief now and then, don't you reckon?

Photo by Jim Liaw, courtesy of Leticia and Tjun Hong.

Inspired

Don't ask me why but I suddenly feel very inspired. I was supposed to wind down work these last two weeks of the year, spend some time with my godparents who are arriving from Adelaide in a few days, my mum and my sister. And what do I do? I accept an offer to work on a writing project.

Thing is, I always relish a challenge. The challenge was to pick up where someone left off. Actually, not quite so. I'd be starting from scratch as I never like to clean up someone else's mess. There are good foundations though and it's always easier to take on a project that has some good content in place, in this case, pretty good photos. I'll just have to put on my thinking cap to illustrate the images through words.

Of course, the fact that a friend asked, tipped the scale in favour of my participation. Now, I've set myself a goal of completing the text before Chinese New Year. That's quite a tall order but as long as I keep myself motivated, I seldom miss deadlines. Fingers crossed!

Photo of my congratulatory message to Leticia and Tjun Hong on 10.10.10.

Variety

I often get asked why I do so many things. Be it work, leisure or my personal life, I seem to pack a lot into a day. Perhaps it is some form of escapism. I suppose if I were to go to a shrink, he or she may be able to pin point my necessity to always be on the go. Don't get me wrong, I can certainly spend a day lazing by the beach or pool doing nothing, but I seem to be always on the lookout for new experiences, new challenges to conquer, new paths to venture into.

Variety is the spice of life. I suppose that sums it up. I have been very lucky and fortunate in some aspects of life, not so in others. In that respect, there is still much to improve on, many more aspirations to fulfill. That's what keeps me motivated and looking toward the future.

This time of year always gets me into a reflective mood. I look back at what I have achieved in the past year, what I could have done better. More importantly, I look forward to embracing the new year and the potential it offers. To have a greater variety of experiences, to fill in the missing links, to complete the jigsaw puzzle with the missing pieces so to speak.

Being interviewed by Patrick Low and Jason Victor during the first Photographers' Chillout in November; photo courtesy of CK San Photography.

Encounters

My friend Eileen describes herself as MARCOMS chick, wedding planner by day, writer by night, triathlete on the weekends and soon to be crusader of those in need. By and large, that certainly is an apt description.

Currently residing and working in Phnom Penh, we keep in touch via Facebook, email and during her periodic trips home. Most of all, I keep track of her musings in two of her blogs. Her newer one entitled 'An Encounter With ........' is an honest take on the lives and perspectives of everyday people. I find it an immensely interesting read. Her other blog 'Messages At Midnight' is more personal in nature but no less riveting.

We share a common bond in expressing some of our thoughts through words.


Photo of Eileen, her other half Richard and I in Bali, Indonesia.

A Good Guest

A good guest is one who doesn't complain. Instead, he or she appreciates the effort put in by the host, and makes it a point to enjoy the food, the drinks, the atmosphere, the company. You've been invited to a party, so why complain when you can have a good time. It's all in the mindset if you ask me.

From a personal standpoint, the rule of thumb that I advocate is that if you have nothing good to say, then don't say anything. And if one is deserving of a compliment, then I offer words of appreciation and encouragement. As a guest, I often put myself in the shoes of the host. Wouldn't you want your guests to have a good time, wouldn't you want them to love the food you've prepared? If one sees it from this perspective, then one will be more likely than not, more appreciative.

And my golden rule? If the host has personally cooked a meal, I never ever ask for salt and pepper or any other condiments for that matter, if they are not offered to me. We ought to respect the chef's culinary skills, don't you think?

Photo of a sidewalk tea house near the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey.

A Good Host

A good host is someone who makes the effort to ensure that his or her guests have a good time. Take a dinner party for instance. Sure, good food is always appreciated. Drink too for that matter.

For me though, I look at the other little details. An sms reminder a few days before the party with a teaser of the planned menu. A text of the address so as not to lose our way. Pairing drinks with the appetisers and main courses. Coffee for the coffee drinkers, tea for the non-coffee fans. A variant of decadent chocolate after another for dessert. Most of all, does the host give up the best seat in the house? Does he or she forgo place settings if there aren't enough to go round?

I may be in an industry that celebrates special occasions but I readily admit that I do not necessarily have the required patience to host a party that pays so much attention to detail. That's why I love working with my industry friends who are event planners for they are the ones who can carry out such functions with aplomb. But going back to why I am writing this post. Well, I had the pleasure of being invited to a dinner party last week that inspired these musings. Here's to that perfect host.

Dining alfresco in Istanbul, Turkey.