Never gone* - Backstreet Boys

It's been 10 years since papa left us. Time really flies. We went to the columbarium like how we did for the past 10 years. The difference was that we are all much older. But we enjoyed recalling little things about him that made us all smile.

There are times when I miss him a lot - more than I thought I would. But more than that, I wish that my two girls would have had the chance to know their yeh yeh - he would have loved them deeply and they would have enjoyed being spoiled by him and entertained by his antics.

But having said that, I know my girls will see a lot of their yeh yeh in me - and I will try to love my girls selflessly and sacrificially as he did to me when he was still around. I thank God for giving me such a wonderful example to follow.


*Taken from the album of the same name, the song was written for one of the guys' father.

The greatest love of all* - George Benson

I can try to guess. Or even imagine. But I'll never know how much it meant for the Holy One to take away my sin.

So here I am to worship, here I am to bow down, here I am to say that you're my Lord. You're altogether lovely, altogether worthy, altogether wonder to me.

*The first and original version before Ms Houston made an even bigger hit of it.

Ten thousand angels cried* - LeAnn Rimes

It rained (again) this evening - on Good Friday evening. When that happens, I always remember this song:-



*I love her version of this beautiful song!

How deep is your love* - Boyzone

"...When you do have a child no matter how much you think you're prepared for it you'll be stunned by the capacity you have to love somebody."

RDJ.s character in Ally McBeal

I shared this quote before on Facebook, quite some time ago - and i still feel stunned at how much love i have for my daughter. The other day, i just sat with her, holding her hand, looking at her happy face and feel the love inside of me just .... just wanting to explode! I just sat there with a big smile on my face, hoping she didn't notice the tears i had in my eyes.

I wished she can know how much i love her... but at the same time, i know she can't. Not until she has a child of her own...

*Their remake of the Bee Gees classic!

Only one* - BoA

This was sitting in my draft folder since last August. Came up with the title and wanted to start blogging but did not get the chance to do so.

Until now - when it seems right to do so?

I noticed back then that all the links to my friends blog in the side bar reveal that not one of them have continued blogging! Yes, i am the only one left.

In fact, there was a time when i was sure that i would join them - and leave the blogging world for good. You would note from the side bar that in 2014, i only blogged twice! Only 2 postings in the whole year! I only resumed in 2015 after my second major surgery in recent times. But by the end of 2015, i was only blogging once a month.

Things did not improve much in 2016 - in terms of blogging.

The event that triggered my blogging life again was watching the movie Sing with Shona. I did not think i would blog regularly again - but at this point of time, at the end of February, i have already blogged more than i have in the whole of 2016!!!!

The thing about it though is that i do not know if it will last. I have many things i wanna blog about lately but i've been so busy. Term is resuming next week - and i'll be really caught up with work - at Uni and in church!

I really hope i can go on blogging... but if not, then at least i would have improved this year compared to last year!

*The lead single from her 2012 Korean album of the same name.

The dream is over* - Story of the Year

So 9 months after winning the Premier League for Leicester against all odds (see my post here), Ranieri gets the sack!

In an interview yesterday, he said that his dream has died. It's ironic that a man who made so many people's dreams come true and who has inspired millions not to give up on their dreams now finds his to have died.

Was it the right thing to do? What is 'right'? Unfortunately, in today's EPL, he can be considered fortunate to have lasted so long!!! But some fans wouldn't mind being relegated if he was still their manager.

The debate will go on but all should be able to agree that the EPL has lost one of the most charming, humourous, passionate managers.

Let me end off with something light-hearted...

*A song taken from the 4th studio album of this American rock band.

Try a little kindness* - Glen Campbell

I was at Giant the other day to buy milk. Just one bottle. made my way to the payment counters.

Not my photo - got it from the Foursquare page of Giant USJ

To my dismay, the 'express counters' were not opened and only 3 payment counters were - and all 3 had long lines of people with trolleys full of stuffs. I queued at the shortest one but it would still take a while before it comes to me.

I waited and waited and waited... i tried to look out for some managerial staff so that i could complain and ask them to open at least one 'express counter' for people like me. But none were in sight.

And so i waited. And waited. Some lady in front was taking a long time removing all the items from her trolley (and there were a LOT!!!) and placing them on the counter. And then taking each item and placing them one by one back into her trolley - as she opted not to pay for plastic bags so she was placing each item back in and was probably gonna roll it to her car.

I felt like Judy Hopps in Zootopia waiting for Flash the sloth to give her the info she wanted - the only difference is that i was still waiting in line and it wasn't my turn yet!!!!

Another pic obtained from online without permission...

When it was almost the turn of the lady in front of me, she turned to me and asked if I would want to go first! It really took me by surprised - i stammered 'Well... erm... yeah... if you don't mind...I only have one item'. She smiled back at me. Her elderly parents must have been thinking that she was out of her mind!!!!

When it came to her turn, i stepped forward and paid for the milk. And then i was off, saying 'thank you' again for the millionth time.

Now why would she want to do that? What benefit will she get from doing that? Nothing! The benefit was all mine! The only benefit she can get is that satisfaction of knowing that she did something kind to a random stranger and really brightened up his day - and i hope she will meet more people like herself. In a world where people appear to be more self-centered and selfish, I am reminded that there are still those who are selfless - and i hope this motivates me more to be like that too.

Such a simple act of kindness - can you imagine what kind of a world we would live in if all of us did one simple act of kindness? It will cause others to do the same - and that would cause even more to do the same. And it will go on and on and on and on - for kindness will surely result in more kindness.

*One of our favourite songs in Sunday School back then!

Monkey* - George Michael

Little Gemma turned one recently. On my suggestion, we got a monkey themed cake for her when we were back at Ipoh to celebrate it with her maternal grandparents.

Why monkey? Well, she was born in the year of the Monkey according to the Chinese calendar. But it's not a very nice thing to say of your child? That she's like a monkey???

It's all in good humour and the wife and her parents did not seem to mind.

She is after all trying to climb all over the place. When i carry her, she would try to climb over my shoulders! She's one active one - and fearless one!

This little monkey have brought so much joy into our lives. She has also caused us to aged much!!! We are thankful to God that despite the little mishaps and scare (see here for example), she made it to her first birthday, full of energy, in good health and spirits. A milestone for all of us - and the first of many more to come!

May God continue to grant us the strength and patience and love to bring this little monkey up in a way that will please Him. Like her name suggests (and as the Dave Bryant song goes), may she be like 'a precious stone, crystal clear and finely honed' - so that the life of Jesus may shine through her and give the glory back to him.

*His 6th solo single reaching no. 1 in the US (the 4th from his Faith album)! It was also his first dance no. 1.

Save the best for last* - Vanessa Williams

One of the things i look forward during Chinese New Year is the 'yee sarng' - or literally translated, raw fish. Apparently it is created in Malaysia and is now something that one has to eat during a CNY meal!

It is basically a colourful dish mixed with some raw fish together with plum sauce (to overcome the fishy taste, i guess). The key thing for this is the name itself which in chinese sounds like 'increase in abundance' - that is something the superstitious would like to happen in the new year. The Chinese eat a lot of food at this time more for the name of the dish/food.

I had it 6 time this year. All very different. One even had raisins in it!

The first time, during our reunion meal

The 4th time. And the 3rd time at Ipoh.

The best one this year was the one we ate on the last day of CNY. I guessed we saved the best for last? It was home made by my sis-in-law.

What we really liked about this is that it uses fresh ingredients - vege and fruits! Carrots, cucumber, dragon-fruit, mangoes! It tasted so refreshing!

Well, no more until next year!

*Some consider this as her signature song. Certainly one of her better ones!

When you say nothing at all* - Alison Krauss

Queen Elizabeth II: It doesn't feel right, as Head of State, to do nothing.

Queen Mary: It is exactly right.

Queen Elizabeth II: Is it? But surely doing nothing is no job at all?

Queen Mary: To do nothing is the hardest job of all. And it will take every ounce of energy that you have. To be impartial is not natural, not human. People will always want you to smile or agree or frown. And the minute you do, you will have declared a position. A point of view. And that is the one thing as sovereign that you are not entitled to do. The less you do, the less you say or agree or smile...

Queen Elizabeth II: Or think? Or feel? Or breathe? Or exist?

Queen Mary: The better.

(Taken from Season 1 Episode 4, The Crown)

*Her version of this song which was released in 1995 before the more popular(?) remake by Ronan Keating was released in 1999.