Concern

A friend called me up today checking to see if I was alright. Apparently I have been sounding relatively depressed in some of my blogposts. Must have been this post, or perhaps this, or maybe this.

Like most people, I have my ups and downs. Those who know me well can attest to the fact that I can be prone to mood swings. Just ask my biz partner Anna or some of my colleagues who work with me every day. I am not that an easy person to get along with at times.

To set the record straight, I am doing fine, could be better, but fine nevertheless. In any case, my 3 cousins, 2 spouses and 3 little nephews fly in from Singapore, Auckland and London for a few days next week, so that should cheer me up! Woohoo!

Photo of my cousins Kiat Ken and Wui Ken, my sis Suk Harn, cousin Siew Yoong and I, shot last year in Langkawi, Malaysia.

Keeping Friendships Alive

2 decades is a pretty long time to be friends. We were a group of 3 at boarding school in Adelaide, which expanded to 6 when we got to university. If I were being totally objective, I would have to say that our bonds of friendship are not as strong as they were before. Career and family have gotten in the way; even our yearly birthday celebrations have not taken place this year. Still I'd like to think that our thoughts are with each other every now and then, and that we can rely on the group for support whenever such a need arises.

Well, keeping friendships alive is not an easy thing to do. Like any relationship, the effort must come from all parties. I am normally one who takes the initiative to keep in touch but I am also one who knows when it is no longer worth my time to do so. So, some seemingly good friendships that I had, have gone down the drain over the years whilst newer ones have taken on a life of their own. A new door opens when one is closed I suppose.

Whatever the case, our group of 6 celebrates our 20th anniversary this year, and we are going away together for a holiday in August, at least 4 of us are anyway. The other 2 have just started a new restaurant business and without my being judgmental, can't seem to find a way to get a few days off. Being positive is a trait that has served me well, and I am looking forward to this trip like so many others we have been on in the past - Kangaroo Island, Langkawi, the road trip to the East Coast - all these more than a decade ago. The prospect of re-igniting our friendships is indeed something worth considering, and who knows, KK may just be the place to do so.

Photo shot at Street 240 in Phnom Penh.

Common Courtesy

Today is one of those days where I find myself asking 'What has happened to common courtesy?' And to be blatantly blunt, I am extremely frustrated. I fail to understand why some people find it so difficult to respect deadlines and respond to reasonable requests in a timely fashion. Many of us claim to be professionals in what we do, and see ourselves as individuals with integrity in our dealings with family, friends and workmates. But really, how many of us live up to such lofty standards that we set ourselves? Granted, no one is perfect, trying hard however, makes up for the imperfection, and I truly hold such persons in high regard. The lackadaisical are the ones that get on one's nerves, mine in particular. Patience is not one of my virtues. At some point, a certain straw will break the camel's back, and when that happens, all hell will break loose.

To counter such negativity, it is once again time to think happy thoughts. Spending time with cousins whom I grew up with on a holiday in Langkawi last July is one such thought. I could do with another get-together like the one in the photo soon!

Photo shot at Frangipani Langkawi Beach Resort & Spa.