What 2010 was to me.

Being sandwiched between work and responsibilities, i'm taking a breather to write this down.

Yeah, a lot of people have penned down what last year was to them last year, but i'm doing it now.

Honestly, 2010 was a good year for me. If there's a term to describe how the year was to me, i would say it was a turning point for me.

In those twelve, i've learnt a lot from my relationships with my loved ones and friends, and from events that took place, both good and bad.

I would say i still have a lot to learn, but i've learnt the hard way about taking up responsibilities, resolving conflicts, communications, and what it takes to be a man. Please be patient with me, for God is not done with me yet.

And as i embrace the new year, i take this verse to heart;
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11

What lies before me is unknown and scary, but with God, i place my faith and hope in the One who will bring me through this.


Love & Peace!~
BC?

Welcome, MMXI!

Yes, 2011 is here. So long to 2010, and let's embrace the new year with open arms, a open mind and open heart as well venture into the unknown.

There will be a few changes for this blog along the way, but perhaps it's for the best.

Remember, smile!


Love & Peace!~
BC?

Knocked from behind.

The rear view of Werb Boom Boom. *ouch*

Without a cause, my car got hit from behind by a Kelisa driven by a blur-looking woman (no offence) as I was exiting into Burmah Road after work on Tuesday.

The other car was barely dented, but the same can't be said bout my car.

I didn't know the damage to my car until I examined it thoroughly.

After discussing, we agreed to not make a police report, and settling this outside the police station.

Just now, the dad and brother of the female driver took a foreman to assess the damage. The foreman then said it would cost about RM200 plus, and the cost is bared by the father.

I was at peace knowing my car will be fixed. But my friend Clictus warned me otherwise.

He shared with me about his friend who was in a similar situation, and let the guilty party fixed the car, only to have the parts replaced by inferior ones.

I shriek in silence, fearing the same incident could happen to me.

This could be a knock for me to be wiser. I pray it'll all be good.

Love & Peace!~
BC?

Timed timing.

I can't believe i missed putting up a Christmas greeting here in the blog, so

BLESSED BELATED CHRISTMAS!

And since there're twelve days of Christmas (like the song), i'm not too late in wishing you, ya?

Christmas eve and Christmas itself this year was fun. Both Melissa D and myself, with the church children and youths (and young adults) visited houses and sang carols to the people in the houses.

Melissa D and me in the bus as we traveled from one house on to another in the island, caroling on Christmas eve.

Dressed in white tops, jeans and colourful ties/scarfs, we just had a fun-time singing out hearts out in the spirit of Christmas, without forgetting the reason of the season; the birth of Jesus Christ.

No turkey served, but we had good pasta in one of the houses!

The carolers, posing as they snack.

Again, more posing

Relaxing after we were done caroling in one of the houses


And it was bizarre that many thought Christmas, which falls on Saturday this time around, was Sunday! With the church services and 'usual routines' most of us go through, many thought we would go back to work as usual the following day. *argh*

But it was fun to be able to help Clictus and his family entertain a group of children during a Christmas party held at the Teh's (which is where i'm currently staying), and i do learn a lot about rationing food, doing one's best and entertaining guests.

And Christmas this year marks the first year anniversary of the engagement between Melissa D and me. And honestly, there are a lot of things to work out before we can be married to one another. Many challenges ahead, but with our loves for God and each other, we can make it.

All in good timing, according to God.



Love & Peace!~
BC?

Let's talk, listen and communicate

I can only think of several circumstances where one can actually throw a punch in an argument.

If it's a fist fight or the other guys asked for it (both figuratively and literally), both person in the argument can exert brute, physical force on one another. It's about fighting for one's pride, dignity and right.

But should it always be this way? Well, it would be a simple 'yes', if you are living in a cave, hunt for your food and wear animal skins for clothes.

But we're in civilised times, where we're connected with one another via emails, SMS and facebook and we need to interact with one another, be it for work or social purposes. No man is an island, right?

So, with conflicts and disagreements often popping up in the line of conversation, what can one do? Answer: Proper communication.

I've been reading this article online and i find it really good, not only for married or engaged couples, but even in other relationships (family, friends, etc). Click HERE to read more of about it.

But the gist of it (for those who are not reading the article), it talks about tips to fighting fairly over arguments, like not raising your voice, not being sarcastic, and not bottling up feelings.

If you're having problems with others, perhaps this is a good read for you.

Listen, if you don't want me to beat the living daylight out of you!


Love & Peace!~
BC?

Turning Point

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11, NIV

It's been awhile since i've updated this blog. I had planned entries in October, and i'm currently facing several issues at this juncture of my life.

The (near) future tough, bleak and uncertain, but the best thing for me to do is to continue praying, keeping my faith in God and holding on to the remaining

My apologies if you readers have been waiting on bated breath for the next entry and skipped to the next blog or website feeling disappointed.

I might share what has happened in the near future through this blog. Or perhaps, my circumstance can even be a testimony to others as well. We'll see. But the writings will come in soon, i hope.

For now, i need to maintain and update this blog.

I'll write an entry before the end of the year, as a reflection of what 2010 meant to me. Thinking about it, i think i'll be about how the year has been a turning point for me.


"We all have a weakness
But some of ours are easy to identify.
Look me in the eye
And ask for forgiveness;
We'll make a pact to never speak that word again
Yes you are my friend.


We all have something that digs at us,
At least we dig each other
So when weakness turns my ego up
I know you'll count on the me from yesterday


If I turn into another
Dig me up from under what is covering
The better part of me
Sing this song


Remind me that we'll always have each other
When everything else is gone..."

Taken from Incubus' Dig

Love & Peace!~
BC?

New Look, More to Come

I just chosen a new template for this blog, in effort to give it a new face lift.

I'll be posting more things up soon, including the list of blogs i read, websites i visit and of course, more postings from me.

So, sit back, relax and wait. Do read a book (manga, novel, textbook, etc), go on Facebook or watch a movie while waiting.


Love & Peace!~
BC?

Blessings all around.

The Hari Raya celebration was not celebrated visiting friends or eating kuih raya. Rather, I was at church camp, and it was awesome!

Initially, the camp's theme was Intentional Discipleship, but the camp speaker Pastor Don Barry, instead was prompted by God to speak about listening to God's voice. During the sessions, he spoke about how to listen to God's voice through inner impressions, dreams, signs and through others. I was intrigued and took interest in itm

But I was really caught off guard, when Pastor Don called out to me during the last session of camp, as I was about to take refill water. He prophesied that I would be someone of influence, who would do big things even though it would be unorthodox to the church. He said the word 'Bernard of Clairvoux' came to him, and that I'm someone wise. I was dumbfounded, but I need to seek God to know what His will is in my life.

Besides that, there was a lot of free time in camp, which was either used for meetings, relaxation or playing games. The other groups, which were the seniors and youth really creamed us at captain ball and soccer. Perhaps there was no proper formation or unity among us, or the others were way better than young adults....

But all in all, it was a great camp! And I think I'll upload some photos on this blog soon!

Over the weekend, I managed to attend my former Christian Fellowship advisor Ms Louise, who got married here at the Anglican Church along Jalan Bagan Jermal. Several of my CF friends, like Darren, Jing Hau, Michael, Eddy, Irene, Juliana, Mr Ben and several new friends, like Jane and Joycelin came up for the wedding ceremony and lunch reception. Unfortunately, I had to skip reception as I had church commitment to attend to in the afternoon.

Later at night, we met up to have dinner in Pulau Tikus and later at Crepe Cottage in Gurney Drive, where they serve some pretty decent desserts. Later, Melissa D joined in, and I introduced her to the gang.

I managed to spend time catching up with them, finding out how's life been treating them, work, CF updates and how the others were doing.

I'm blessed to know this group of people, and pray we'll have more chances to meet up in the near future.

Love & Peace!~ BC?

How often?

Sometimes, i wonder how often i should update my blog?

Some friends i know update it almost everyday, filling it with every bit of (at times, unnecessary) information of what they do in their life.

Others, updates their blog once a week or a month, but write substantial, mind-provoking and brain-cranking stuff.

If i were to go by the first group, i would post something like;

"Today, i managed to contact the person i need for my work before having lunch with Melissa D at New World Park! Had some dodol later in office while Facebook-ing. *Bliss*"

But by going on the second way, i can post something like this;

"Being a minority isn't always easy, and this was proven when i buka puasa with my fellow friends last night at Seoul Garden in Gurney Plaza.

Being the only one who can consume non-halal food (get the drift), i was surrounded with counterparts from various organisations and dined with them. I even 'break fast' with them as the clock striked 7.28pm, and tried to get to know a couple of them better while feasting.

I would have been the second Chinese person among them had Melissa D joined me, but she had agreed to a meeting prior to the invitation to buka puasa.

Between cooking, eating and interacting with them in their native tongue, i realise they are a nice bunch of people to hang out with. Sometimes i wish i had more non-Chinese friends.

Don't use the 'racist card' on me, but i rather have friends from various background, races, religious and belief than to be stuck with the same group of people. Nothing wrong with being with people of the same creed, but there is no other way to understand another culture better and to broaden your horizon than to miggle with many different people.

As we left, i wished my friends Selamat Hari Raya and a safe trip back, while one of my friend's kid salam-ed with me, and kissed my palm, a sign of high respect for those who are older. I felt honoured, and proud that my friend has brought up great respectful children.

As a nation striving to unite under the 1Malaysia concept, it's good to understand, tolerant and respect one another as we coexist in this wonderful country."

Well, i try to maintain it as much as i can, but i need to change the layout of this blog. Should try and get it done by this month!




Love & Peace!~  
BC?

MyVi: My New Ride.

After running around from point A to B with a car, a few years younger than me for the past four years, I finally got a new set of wheels!

After driving a 19-year old Proton Saga, i'm now a proud owner of a (somewhat) new Perodua Myvi, SE!

My new car, Werb Boom Boom!

Yup, now both Melissa D and i have the same car, but mine's newer and is the Special Edition, which has the leather seats and sporty body kit.

My trip down KL a few weeks back wasn't solely to meet people, but to retrieve this baby back here for work.

My previous car was giving me a lot of problem, and i had to settle this problem soon, as not to affect my work, mobility and our upcoming wedding.

Hence, purchasing this car from my step-mom was the best decision to do lah.

And now, i have my own car... which i bought with my own hard earned money! And i can't simple drive this car recklessly, or like there's no tomorrow anymore. *sigh* But it's all good. Gotta take care of it, for the next ten years or so.

Check it out!

Compared to my previous car, this 2-year old car is way better.

Clocking only 30,000km when i was driving it up back to Penang, i finally get to experience what it is like to drive at an average speed of 110km/h, which my old car would have violently shaken (and possibly explode) before hitting 100km/h!

If i could drive my old car off a cliff (with me jumping out of it before it goes off the cliff, of course!) and watch it crash and burn, that would be spectacular. But it is a waste of money, pollution to the earth and it could still be used by brother. So, it lives another day.

My complaint is that the boot space is small, and i need to be extra careful with the car leathery interior and all. But i enjoy driving my car around!

There are still many features and i have yet to push, or in this case, drive, the car to its limits. I'm looking forward to many, many driving days with it!

*vroom vroom*

An accessory in conjunction with our 53rd National Day. Merdeka!

Love & Peace!~  
BC?

Nightmare before Merdeka.

I was shocked to read this, and seen this posted many times by friends on facebook about an alleged racist incident on the eve of Merdeka recently. Check it out:

The typical Merdeka Eve night started with an urge to watch the fireworks celebration in KLCC ended up in a racist attack by a group of teenagers. So, me and a friend of mine thought of a good solution to avoid the traffic jam in that area by walking from the office in Jalan Imbi through Pavillion, to Jalan Kia Peng through Convention Center to KLCC.

Sounds like an ideal plan as the path is a frequent walkway and is even advertised in Pavillion as 'Bridge to KLCC'. (Just to note that we didnt go into any dark alley)

At 10.15pm, we started walking towards Pavillion, stopped to get a drink at Starbucks and proceeded ahead. As we walk, we came across people from various races and foreign tourists along the way.

On Jalan Kia Peng, we walked past Novotel Hotel, Hakka Restaurant, Menara HLA and was reaching the junction of Jalan Pinang when a group of about 10 teenage Malay youngsters walking from the opposite direction. They looked like typical youths, giggling and talking to each other.

As we walked past them, suddenly one of them turned around and started to make a flying kick to my friend. Noticing the 'fun' he is having, his other friends started to do the same to me. It was so sudden and all I was thinking at the moment was, "What the hell did we do to them?"

Both of us ended up kneeling on the ground for a moment before more kicks and punches came flying in. Even though both of us had our tripod strapped across our shoulder, we were too shocked to react to it. Eventually one punch landed right on my right forehead and I started to bleed profusely. Seeing that they eventually stopped and walked away.WALKED AWAY, damn it. They were not even afraid to run but justWALKED AWAY like winning a game or something.The last thing I remember hearing from one of them was "Baliklah ke negara asal"

Imagine hearing this statement on Merdeka Eve.

I knew I was bleeding but I didnt know how bad. I could feel the right side of my head swollen and wet but I did not try to look at myself through a mirror. My friend also suffered bruises on the body and face.  By that time there were more people walking around us but they did not stop to see what was wrong. I don't blame them, it was a poorly lit area just in front of Menara Pinang. We recovered and continued walking towards the Convention Center. The guards were symphatetic to let us in to use the washroom to clean up. It was then I saw my bloody face.

I did not take a picture of myself then as it is not my intention to send a horror message. This is not a message of sympathy. It's a account of a random person walking on a street.

Eventually after cleaning up, we walked back to the Police Booth in Pavillion to relate the incident. The response from the officer: "This cannot happen, we have all our men on the streets" (Well, not on the street we got beaten up ...)

Apparently informing the police booth stationed in a public area is NOT MAKING A POLICE REPORT. WTF? Apparently we have to go to a Hospital, get some treatment and make a complain/report at the police counter there. I would be dead by then, ain't I?

Is this how the police maintained that they have improved  street crimes? By not noting down petty crimes like gang bang which did not result into hospitalization? Would we be taken seriously if only we landed in the hospital?

What we did was, we went back to the office, rested til this morning, went to a nearby clinic to get some bandages and medic.What else to do? I can't identify my assailants, and my wounds are not death-threatening.

If I had not wanted to celebrate Independence Day, would I walk or drive to the venue?

If I was not thirsty would I stop for 5 mins to get my drink and missed them completely?

If I had held my tripod as a defensive weapon earlier, would I save myself or get more beating instead?

If I'm not Chinese, would I get the same 'treatment'?

It's scary if this had happened to you. But shouldn't we, as Malaysians, respect and support one another? Isn't our blood the same red blood when anyone of us bleed? Where's the 1Malaysia concept which has been talked about?

Where are we heading? Happy Merdeka Day anyway.

What we can do, is pray for unity, peace and mutual understanding among all Malaysians.



Love & Peace!~
BC?

A centurian - Mother Teresa.

Mother Teresa, pix from Wiki.

I wanted to jump for joy knowing that my paycheck for the month has been cashed in, but it's best not to, to keep calm and observe this day.

Today, marks the 100th birthday of the noble woman, who had gone out of her way to help the poor, and lived a humble peasant's life, doing great things for humanity in India. To read more about her, click HERE

Anyway, on Saturday, there will be a screening of several movies and documentary about this wonderful lady in KL. Click HERE for the story.

And in conjunction of her 100th birthday, a mass was held in honour of her.

I would have not know about this, had not someone on behalf of Signis (World Catholic Media Professionals Association) Malaysia sent me a text message, with a quote from her - "If you can't feed a hundred people, then just feed one."

God bless her, and everyone!



Love & Peace!~  
BC?

One good advice after another.

Without guidance, we are no different that lemmings following one another to their inevitable death from walking off a cliff.

I thank God for friends and people around me, who are there giving advises, consult and help in time of need.

Especially with the countdown moving, and the wedding date looms closer, there are still things to be planned, confirmed, revised and settled, which both Melissa D and i are still fumbling about.

While i was back in KL, i manage to catch up with Justin, about his life as a father and job in HELP. And i'm inspired by him on his advises given.

Although i didn't get a chance to meet several friends, but it is all good. After all, the main reason i was down in KL was to retrieve my 'new' car (which i will blog about ASAP) and to send Rowen back home (and face his father! HAHAHA!)

Back in KL, my dad and step-mom did give me a some advice about the wedding dinner and the housing in the future, with some disagreement and argument in between. But it's all good as nothing was held back and no grudges were kept.

Even back here, my friend, a photographer working for a rival company, shared many tips and gold nuggets on wedding planning and investing in a good house to stay in the future. I was taken aback and had a better insight of things.

So, for now, both of us will be planning for the wedding and confirming things ASAP, within two (or three) months to come while putting the house search on the island on hold.

Whatever it is, i give God all the glory and praise. With His wisdom, strength, love and courage, we can move forward!

Love & Peace!~  
BC?

It could have been ok, but let's count our blessings, ya?

I've managed to find a room to rent a couple of weeks back... just to move out, again!~

Yes, the person who rented the flat here had some arguments with the person who owns the unit. He, another housemate and i, had to move out by the end of this month. To make matters worse, we were told to move out by this Saturday, in the next few days. *sigh*

Praise the Lord that there are friends (in high places, and) all around us. Friends offered to look for budgeted rooms for me to stay, while some even allow me to stay in their place.

Tonight, i'll be going to my friend's house in Batu Uban to clean some rooms. Why? Because he's renting out of his rooms for me to stay up for this year. While another church friend is getting a place to get his work done and a room for me to live in as well in the next couple of months.

Honestly, i thank God for his providence, and i'm learning to have more faith in Him. Taking leaps of faith every now and then is good, eh?

The place i that i'm staying at the moment has old people swarming it. Day in and day out, there is people sitting by the bench at the ground floor of the flat. And they sit there, either chatting, drinking, snacking, resting, observing or absolutely doing nothing.

I really wish i had their time, to do more things. Unfortunately, we're bound to the same rule - everyone gets only 24 hours per day; no more, no less.

Well, going to get my new car (well,sort of) in a few days' time. Well, it's a simple car, which i pray will take me from Point A to Point B safely.

As long as i can move safely, i'm good. All glory to God!~




Love & Peace!~
BC?

When courting, do remember....

Being in this courtship with Melissa D for more than two years, as well as observing other couples and getting advises from more senior couples, i learnt a lot of things. Some, i've implemented in my own relationship, while others, i wish i did before.

Here a few gems:

- Be serious about the relationship, with both individuals looking into marriage. If it's casual, don't make promises... and if it's for the sake of being 'friends with benefits', forget it - he's interested in getting in your pants, not a commitment!

- Get married as soon as you can. Don't leave the damsel hanging, waiting for you to pop the question.

- Get blessings from parents from both sides. You'll need it.

- Have the same vision and dreams, if possible. Nothing's worst than both individuals running against each other in the future.

- Have the support from the your other half - both of you need it!

- Be committed, for best or worst!

- Get a house to stay in after getting married. It's best to get the place before the wedding.

- Do not enter the marriage with debts from the wedding, or the relationship might suffer over the financial problem.

- Do not have an extravagant wedding ceremony. Do it within your means.

- Love one another, as you love God.

- Advises from others are good, but it's the couple who determines what's best.

We're still learning as we proceed towards marriage, and i pray that this relationship will be a testimony to others out there.

Love & Peace!~  

BC?