My friend

I called my old friend yesterday. He just had his birthday on 22 Nov.. so.. I called him a little bit late to greet him "Happy Birthday". It's been quite a while we hadn't had a good chat. There were many things we were talking about, mostly about his personal things, such as looking for a job, family, his holiday in Hong Kong, etc.

We were talking about some other friends too. It's been almost 10 years since we graduated in high school (we were studying in the same junior and senior high school back then) and in almost 10 years my friend has not returned back to Jakarta (1998's tragedy, waiting for his PRs, etc.)

Fortunately I met him before in June 1999 in Sydney, where he studied at the uni there. He came to Singapore too in 2002 quietly.. and appeared like that in the food outlet where I worked as a surprise :)

I still remember, when I was in Beijing in year 1996, he just went to Sydney and wrote me quite number of letters (internet was not famous yet back then... and all communication were by letter or by public phone only... no hand phone too.. hehehe..).

I still remember when he told me he was moving to a new place with his grandma, and the place was damned dirty!!! It took him few days to clean everything... especially the toilet.. hehehe... *I think if he recalled this thing again, can make him vomit.. =P

Next year Chinese New Year I intend to go back to have a family reunion (which we do not have it often, perhaps.. once in every 3 years?) and he told me if he hadn't found any job yet, he wants to go back too..

Well.. it's not that I hope you won't get a job, buddy.. but.. I really hope that you can go back to your hometown and visit your parents, especially your father and look at the situation now (with so much changes around...)

A Twist of Fate

Yesterday I watched the musical theater show titled "A Twist of Fate"

Below is the story line:

In 1917 a baby is abandoned on the steps of the famous Raffles Hotel. A childless English couple finds the crying infant and sails away to England with the child in their arms.

In 1937, 20 years later, the orphaned Emma West discovers a gold hairpin among her adoptive father’s estate. She uncovers a secret that leads her to Singapore and into a web of conspiracy, deceit and love that stretches back in time and across oceans. Meanwhile, in Singapore, the house of Lim Chin Boon is in turmoil; the dying Master Lim receives a letter from a young lady who could well be his long-lost granddaughter; or is she part of an elaborate plot to steal his wealth?

In the tradition of Agatha Christie and the great “whodunits” of the 1930s, A Twist of Fate is a delicious comedy of twists and turns, false clues and dastardly deeds, set against the backdrop of a Peranakan family in Singapore. Dark and stormy nights, midnight rendezvous, an inconvenient murder or two, and memorable tunes make this an entertaining, suspense-filled evening at the theatre.

Stars Laura Michelle Kelly (Mary Poppins – Laurence Olivier Award Best Actress 2005). Lyrics by Laurence Olivier Award winner Anthony Drewe and music by Dick Lee. Book by Tony Petito and Steven Dexter. Voted Best Musical of 1997 by The Straits Times, A Twist of Fate is back again by popular demand – bigger and better.

It was held in Esplanade or so called "Gedung Durian" hehehe...

I went there lots of time but yesterday, it was my first time to watch the show inside the theater. The company that I work is one of the sponsors of the show and we were given tickets for the Gala premiere show. Quite numbers of my colleagues went there, some bring their spouse, partner, friend, or even parents.

We were seated at the top balcony (quite scary since it is the highest place), and strictly no photography inside the building...

For the first part of the show, I almost fell asleep since I was too tired these past few days. But after the break, everything was just fine.

I wonder how the stars having such a nice and strong voice for the whole performance. Were they recorded? Or was it coming out naturally? Anyway, I found them all so talented to memorize all the scripts and dances. If it were me.. I 'd faint already in the first part of my appearance then.. hahaha...

The show was started at 8pm and finish at 11pm with a 15-mins break in the middle.
I brought my sis and watched together with other colleagues too..

Reached home at 11.30pm, I was terribly tired then.. Take a shower, and having a phone call for a while.. then I went to sleep... What a tired week!!!

It wasn't that bad...

The revision classes have almost done, left one for tonite. Minutes by minutes, hours by hours.. Last weekend was really a complete torture. I am physically and mentally tired...

Yesterday evening, after the class, I had a dinner with my mom and the others at Marche. I ate a sumptuous dinner starting with soup, main course - sirloin steak w/ side dish of mashed potato and saute wild mashroom salad, and ended w/ dessert, which is crepes w/ custard and banana caramel plus strawberry ice cream and beverage of Erdinger.. hehehehe... What a complete meal!! This is one way to distress myself..

For last Saturday, after nite class, I ended my day by watching Toy Story II.

Now, I'm very very very very tired.. And after today, the rest is our own revision study... Lots of things to remember.. S162 loans to director, S157 director must act honestly and exercise reasonable diligence in discharge of his duties, and the rest that I can't remember.. hahahaha..

Then Donoghue Stevenson, law for negligence/tort, Re McArdle-Past consideration is no consideration and bla bla bla.. i think got more than hundred to remember?????

Yesterday after dinner, we went through the Orchard Rd, as if yesterday was Christmas Day.. Other than decoration and lighting, there were also Christmas musical along the road.. Almost every place was decorated or thematic w/ Christmas.

Feel like buying present for myself.. like clothes, or soft toys, but those are thick clothes - nice though- but not really suitable with the weather here.. as for soft toys.. there were too small or not nice to be hugged.. and so on.. havent got a suitable one.. yet. Maybe u wanna buy one for me?? hehehehehe... =D

Well.. get back to the biz... must pass the exam first, then think about what to buy for Christmas... Ciao

Raising children, nurturing talents

When I was about shredding the stacks of paper, I found one of it written by Mr. Liew from Capitaland, is about 'Raising Children, Nurturing Talents'.

He said, when he was flying to US, he was reading a book entitled "Authentic Leadership", written by Bill George, the CEO of Medtronic Inc. Bill writes that the best advice on raising children comes from Khalil Gibran, in "The Prophet":

Sir Alan Cockshaw, said this on raising our children:

"Give them roots,

Give them education,

And give them wings"

And Ho Ching, President & CEO of Singapore Technologies talked about her strategy for growth:

"Grow by letting go"

Mr Liew added:

"Nurturing talent in the organization, especially young ones, is like raising children. We must "let them go" so that they can find themselves and learn to define and reach their own limits. But like kite flying, we must still guide the flight upwards or at least provide enough anchor and support for them so they don't over reach their own capabilities. Need to let go and sometimes pull back. Some cannot manage beyond certain altitude or fight the strong wind , which they unwittingly challenged. The thiny string must surely stay, for cutting it too soon, or at all, may sometimes cause a premature end to their otherwise bright career."

So, how about you? How would you raise your children in the future???

 

Have u ever felt

'lonely'

when u need some1

that some1 happens not be available

or not even be reached

or be with u?

The time when u need it most

he/she is never around?

Or have u ever felt

u re not number one

but two, three or w/e

Other thing might be more important

or more precious

and u only get a little attention?

That's what I feel now