30 and still counting...

That's the number of years my parents have been married for, today...

Just over a year later, the arrival of my bro and another year later, the arrival of me.... and almost 28 years later... here we are... all grown up, matured, pretty sensible... I'd say! :)

Thanks Dad and Mum for firstly giving us the opportunity to live and see the world, slogging all the years to give us the best whenever and wherever possible, providing us with such good upbringing and education throughout... We are who we are today because of you.

Thanks for loving us unconditionally, for not giving up on us and especially for being such exemplary role models! :)

Ong Ah Mah

That's my grandmother. Truly a generous, and loving person... 1 grandmother who keeps up with the times :)

Almost 6.5years ago, she battled against the most fatal of the 4 types of malaria which naturally developed into pnemonia cos she was confined to the bed for almost 2 weeks. We were so close to losing her but with prayers and faith from all her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, other family members, relatives and friends, she did not let us down. She showed us her ever-strong will power to live on and recovered in no time :)

I recall the most critical moment when everything and everyone seemed messed up. I just told my mum I was going out for a while and she didn't even seem to mind... it was JB and I was going off on my own... I've never done something like this before...

That morning, mum, and a few of her sisters came to join me for breakfast in a little eating house just opposite the hospital (I spend the nite at the hospital just in case of any emergencies while the rest of the family went home to get some sleep). There was some kinda miscommunication which led to misinterpretation which was obviously crucial and depressing... In almost an instance, all of them got off their seats and rushed over to the hospital leaving me on my own to finish my prata. My heart was heavy and my appetite left me... still I stuffed my mouth with as much prata as I could, gulped a mouthful of my teh tarik kurang manis (less sugar) and ran across the road... eyes red and teary...

I got into a cab and told the driver to take me to the Church where I was baptised as a baby... told him to hurry cos I had no time to waste. The moment I alighted from the cab, I walked hurriedly towards the tall statue of Mother Mary. She was standing outside the Church building. Under that blazing sun, I fell on my knees tearfully in prayer. I prayed for intervention of the current situation with Ong Ah Mah. I prayed the Rosary and at some point, I opened my eyes and I saw this Indian man sitting rather close by and he was looking at me. I quickly closed my eyes and continued praying adding in a prayer for protection for I had no clue whether the man was intending to harm me. When i finished my prayers, I noticed he was still there, so I tried to hurry off and got a little worried when there were no cabs stopping for me. Thankfully, a cab came by soon after I muttered yet another short prayer.

A priest friend who visited her in the ICU then, recently asked how is she. He was pleasantly amazed to hear Ong Ah Mah just celebrated her 81st birthday in September this year. Truly it is amazing how she managed thru the years since.

Now Ong Ah Mah is staying with me for these few days till my 8th aunt comes to pick her up. Last Friday I drove in to JB to pick her up cos she got invited to a wedding dinner. I see her meddling with her feet... resulting in them looking bloody and raw... it pains me to even look at it yet, we can only say so much to her in hope that she leaves the wounds to heal... well it did at one time but soon her fingers felt the itch again so there she started again... Last Saturday nite when no one was home, I swept the whole house and mopped it twice. There were bits and pieces of dried skin on the sofa and on the floor of the kitchen and the living room. There were trails of blood too at these 2 places.

Earlier this evening when I was watching TV with her, I peeped at her feet from the corner of my eye... it was red... wet and raw... My heart crumbled... I wish and pray she will let it heal on its own. I know its hard, there are times even I struggle with such a temptation to scratch where I'm not supposed to. We all are guilty of that too at some point...

In times like these, Lord, give us the strength to overcome this temptation and distract us with more worthy matters.

A new beginning...

After moons and moons of procastination and hestitation, here, I've mustered the courage to create a brand new bloggie... to let out loud my thoughts, ramblings and whatsnot to a place where people, friends might stumble upon by chance... This bloggie will serve me as a reminder and source of reflection as I embark on this jouney in hope to discover my calling... my vocation...

What triggered the courage, you might wonder... well, was talking to my buddy, K, about perhaps taking up a diploma course in a culinary school... he was very encouraging and supportive, he feels that I am really cut out for this industry.

Well, it all started out with dad asking me this morning to look out for courses to take up for skills upgrading and applying for the SDF grants for up to 75% off the course fees... So there I looked at the courses offered at the ecitizen webbie... perhaps the wrong place to look at but nothing on there enticed me... till an idea came to search for culinary schools.

Told another buddy, A, about it... she commented that the course fees are usually very EX!! Which is true!! A dip course costs as much as a BA or BSc course... Of course we thought of a cheaper alternative which was to improve ties with a certain Chef friend of mine, in hope that he will groom me. HAHHAa wishful thinking on my part, perhaps...

But, while researching on the courses.... WAhla!! I learnt that they too have scholarships and grants!! :) That got me thinking and thinking... I mean K had a good point... I can come home and experiment and further discuss stuffs with mum while taking the course.. it will be excellent mother-daughter bonding!! :)

Then also Glen, my cousin who's finished with Shatec and I had a chat once... he would like to start up a cafe/bistro chill out place sometime in the near future... this will be an excellent collaboration!!

Well well... let's just see where this thoughts lead me to... Is this really my calling?? Let me consult the Almighty one...

Stay tuned... I shall update with more insights, thoughts, inspirations, etc as they come along the way of this journey in search of my calling, to whatever it may be...