Effort

Visits from my cousins are always something to look forward to. We grew up together as kids in Petaling Jaya - we spent many weekends and school holidays together at the Lake Club, we went on trips, we celebrated birthdays, we went to piano lessons - and we have remained close through the years, despite us living much of our late teenage and adult lives in different parts of the world. The bonds that we formed as children are intact and now with my nephews in tow, we still manage to enjoy our time together

 

We are pretty good at keeping in touch; whether through phone calls, Whatsapp messages or Skype, we update each other on the goings-on in our lives from time to time. We make it a point to attend milestone celebrations, even if it means flying thousands of miles. We plan holidays together as a group, despite it being stressful at times with the kids.

 

At the end of the day, it all boils down to one word ... effort.

 

 

Siew Yoong, Tian, me, San, Jin, Suk Harn and Mum at No.7, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, mid June 2015.

Pre-CNY Dinner

Shirley, Bunny and Nabil have been friends of mine for a long time, particular the former two, who were my colleagues when I first started my career in advertising. Through the years, our friendships have become stronger and more personal. We have each other's back and no topic is off limits.

 

We make it a point to meet as often as we can, a meal at least once a month or at the worst once every two months. Other times, we keep ourselves updated on each other's lives via a Whatsapp group. And with Chinese New Year just round the corner, a dinner was of course a must before we went our separate ways to celebrate with our own extended families.

As always good food was the perfect complement to great company.


Photo shot at Noble Mansion in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.