Pictorial CNY 2015 celebrations....

CNY eve simple dinner goodies with mom & brother....

Mom and family....enjoying the simple fares of CNY eve dinner.....

BBQ with long lost uncles and aunties.......

Getting the BBQ ready for a great time of fellowship.....

Uncles, aunties, nephews, nieces and family enjoying the simple BBQ.

Felicia, SYuen and SLing....

SYuen, Felicia, JWee and SLing at Al Dente Restaurant for dinner....

Caitlyn " Curly" Louis with SYuen and Felicia...

The grown "men" and gals - Caleb, Dave, JWee, Felicia, Caitlyn and SYuen

The delighful Ashley & Ryan with SLing, JWee & Kenneth.....

JWee, Tee, Lee Lee, Sing Yue, SYuen & Felicia at the family BBQ

BIL, Wei & SIL, Jade together with auntie, cousins & friends in Seremban....

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR 2015

GONG XI FA CAI, everyone!

Be good, be blessed and be safe!

Huat arrrrrrrrrrrr!

NS Museum....

I've always been fascinated with museum when I was a young boy and till today, the excitement of visiting a museum doesn't seemed to fade in my life. So, last Sunday, SL and I decided to bring our young friends, Ryan and Ashley for a little tour of NS Museum. The children were excited , of course, but as Ryan had been to the place before, he was very "strict" on not touching this and that. Such a wonderful obedient boy! As for Ashley, she was obviously the live wire as it was her first time there and everything is a wonder to her.

We started off slow enough by getting into the main hall for the display of certain historical items. Evidently, the displays were definitely a sad state of sharp stones and more stones. I sometimes wished that the museum curator or so-called Pengarah could have been more energetic and enthusiastic of equipping the museum. Sure, financial funding is always the factor but isn't there anything more interesting than some stones and some Independence/Communist era displays? Heck, there has got to be some form of creativity and new items for the museum. By far, this is really quite a sad state museum if I may say so.

Anyway, the nicer part of the museum is definitely the  two Minangkabau house structures located at the open yard. This one, I enjoyed very much as the house was airy, cosy and fun. The wood carvings are an absolute delight. The children enjoyed it very much especially with the cannons and the houses plus the wood cut perahu or small boat. Yeah, I am always a big fan or artistic flair and the wood carvings just showed how talented people were at that time.

The intricate designs with nature motives are always a welcome sight. The houses were clearly the epic attraction of the museum. I was told that there are two other museums available in NS namely the Seri Menanti Museum and Lukut Museum. I most sincerely hoped that these are better museums and I hope to bring the two tiny tots to enjoy the arts and craft there.

I am always hopeful that these two young ones are able to understand and enjoy the beautiful crafts and arts we have here in our home land, Malaysia. I guess, some museum curators just doesn't care the impact it will bring or is it that the parents are slowly turning into museum pieces themselves for being over-protective, over-emphasis on studies and finance and over-counter productive when it comes to learning new things and enjoying simpler things in life? I often wonder........

No matter what, to me, museums are a real fascination to me. I am always fascinated with the rich culture of our country and what she has gone through. The historical artefacts, the living culture of the people, the simple things of life such as olden days relics and replicas and the story behind every happenings are truly a great source of amazement and fun. 

I am never tired of visiting museums as I know it made richer in understanding the country we live in. Don't just take my word for it, really. Go and experience it yourself. The cheapest way to historical facts and fascinating things around us. Afterall, most museums are free and even the paying ones usually charges very nominal fees.

Have fun then and see you at the museums!

Thankful.....

If there was any day that I would remember most in my life at the start of this year, it would be the occurrence that happened Tuesday afternoon. It was truly an amazing and mind boggling event indeed. I wish I could describe or explained that goodness in words but I was truly speechless for once. 

In my heart, I knew that I had not serviced my car ever since I came back from the floods in Temerloh, Mentakab and Kemaman. I also knew that with CNY looming around the corner, I would have to tighten my belt a little and ensure there was enough for the holidays because traditional, my salary and so-called "bonus" would not come out on time for family and I to do our CNY shopping. Usually, our shopping would be done last minute and at the very last hours and it can be frustrating at times but I guess, I am used to it by now. I can only take heart that there would be many out there who may share my same predicament but suffered in silence too, right? So, it is okay and I can live with that. Guess, the grass is always greener on the other side too, huh? Well, never mind, the important part is to be thankful and count your blessing that you still have a job to go to each morning.

Anyway, my car speedometer had indicated that I am way passed the due date and readings for usual car service. I knew this when I was in Kemaman and the second trip to Temerloh but somehow, I just wanted to "stretch " it a little bit. But somehow, the car sound and the "roughness" do show and sound evidently as I start up the car each morning. I am never absent -minded when it comes to car service as safety is important and it is the only mode of transport for me to do my work. I also knew that the car was up for a major service as the readings said so. 

So, reluctantly, I drove my car to my familiar workshop to do my car service. As usual, the young boss was there and I told him that I needed to do a car service. This time , I did not say much as I was mentally calculating the amount I have in my pocket so as to not get into a fix when I do not have enough money to pay for the service. The young boss asked me if it I had been around during the holidays. I told him that I have been around but spent some time working out the flood works and so on. He asked me if it was bad in those flood hit areas and I answered in affirmative that it was bad in some areas. Then I asked his how was his family and so on - the usual small talk. Everything was good and it was just fine.

I went to the customer area and had my seat in the cooler room, Before that I had asked my mechanic cum young boss AC to clean the air cond filters and ensure that everything was okay with the car. I dare not ask him to check on others things as I was really tight then. So, I shifted uneasily in  my seat as I saw AC brought out the engine oil, the oil filter , air cond filters and some other stuff. Anyway, I just got out of my seat and see what the other mechanic was doing to my car. The oil was changed but this young mechanic took a longer time to take out the oil filter. Somehow, it seemed stuck to the device he was using and so on. Minutes were like eternity when you are rushing for work and somehow that was what took place. Everything was at a slow-mo pace and even the changing of oil filter took a long time.

Soon, it was done and I just wanted to get back to work. AC, my mechanic had a last checked on my car and then slammed the hood shut. I then asked him the magical question , " How much?". He just turned to me and told me " It is free. This is on me; once  a year." Now, wait a minute - FREE, you say? I thought I had trouble hearing him the first time and he just told me that my car service was free. Now, I couldn't and I wouldn't let that happen as here was a legit mechanic earning a living but he was persistently insistent that it was his treat and the service and oil change is free.

I told him that I would not have any of that as he was earning a living and he took from me a RM 50.00. He ushered me to the car and asked me to drive out of his workshop. I thanked him profusely and he just waved to me and asked me to get out of his workshop before he burns my car! He was joking , of course and I went off.

But you know what, I could not get over the generosity shown by AC. Yes, I had been his regular customer all these years but I am well aware that these are hard times for small businessman all around. I certainly do not want to take anything free from anyone as they are just earning a living unless they are unscrupulous, of course. But AC is a hard working mechanic and a diligent young man when it comes to work. I respected that very much. I was feeling overwhelmed and thankful indeed.

Yunno, I must have done something right in my life to be blessed with such a great honour. I am truly speechless and quiet for some time. Yeah, I could never imagine this happening to me.....never in my wildest dream..... sometimes, it is so surreal but it happened to me........One word: THANKFUL