My Uncle My Hero

An old man with white hair opens the door, he looks hagard and tired,I can still recognised him, he has left a great impression for me,the last time I saw him it was 15 years ago, he was stunning, smart and arrogant then, but today... he looks defeated and lost, like a child who had lost his direction. His wife just passed away this morning, he tried really hard to put up a brave front, but it only makes it worst, he was once the warrior of his life time, a hero to many, but today he looks like he had lost his whole world, his arrogance has been deflated....
He once told me, go for the best, don't settle for second choice, marry someone who can provide the best for you, (Not that I do not heed his advise, but I did not get to meet such person...sob!!!) He is the one who introduced asparagus( the most expensive veg available at the time) to me, I was only 8years old then,he brought us to the best restaurant in town and ordered the best dishes, he told me then, find a man who can afford to bring you to such places, think I was not paying attention to his sentence then, and ended up marrying someone who works in the restaurant and cooks asparagus!
I remembered visiting his house when I was young, it was like a castle to me, it is so huge that till today I still wonder, was it because I was small and tiny that I find the room too big or was it really that big.It was a great comparison to where he lives now, an old rented apartment, that he does not fit in, it breaks my heart to see him in this state, but he looks contented in that tiny place of his, I guessed he has had the best once upon a time, and now all else does not matter anymore.
However, I wish that one day I can bring him to dinner for caviar and gooseliver, like he once gave me the best.

How to choose the right pre-school for your child

I started to ask myself this question now that my son is 2,we have been going around asking everyone,which kindergarten is good,and all the answers we got was, oh...this school is popular,and they have lots of activities, and they have hundred over kids, soo....I was thinking is it because they have so many kids in there that's why they are perceived as good?One day,I brought my son to this school that everyone think is so great, well, the first thing I noticed is that the place is dirty, the teachers are trying really hard to be friendly,to the extent that it don't seem very sincere, call me skeptical if you want to, but this is how I feel.
Another experience that I have recently is this newly open kindergarten that promotes leadership, I find this hilarious,they are preaching to groom your kids to be the future leaders, wow,that means whoever goes to that school can be a leader?At this tender age where they are learning ABC they are already taught to act and think like a leader,isn't this great?These kids must be some genius!There are parents who are so desperate to make a leader out of their children that they quickly enrol, to me all these are just big words to con parents who live in the dreamland.
Yes, I agreed I am one of the parent who wants to have smart and intelligent children like any other parents, but I also want my kid to enjoy in the process of learning.
After seacrhing for some time we found this cozy little kindergarten that was hidden in a corner of the neighbourhood, it just feels like home,the teachers are gentle, loving and caring, they know every childs likes and dislikes just like their own parents, isn't this a place you will feel more at ease to put your child while you are at work?Rather than those schools with too many children and the teacher needs to refer to every detail from the forms that you fill up on the first day of school,like the car you are driving, the name of your child, and even which school bag belongs to which child!
After so much have been said, I still have to leave the final decision to the person who will be spending the time there,so I asked my son which school he wants to go,and he had chosen the humble little school where it feels like home!

Tidak Apa Attitude

Years back when I just joined the workforce and was still young and naive,or rather stupid and dumb, I attended a management course,which was organised by my company then, in order to let us break the ice,the instructor wants everyone of us to said something we like about ourselves, some of my course mates talk about their beautiful eyes, some about their fantastic flawless character,when it comes to my turn, I was not sure what to say, after all, i don't really think there is anything that I like about myself, so...in the moment of panic ,I blurted out that I like myself being a carefree person, and suddenly everyone looked at me -Shocked!As if I am some alien who just joined their planet.The instructor then turned to me and said,'So, you mean you like your tidak apa attitude???'Throughout the course,it has been mentioned on and on, and everyone just turn to me whenever the instructor mentioned the word 'Tidak Apa'!

After all these years,I still hold on to the idea that one day if I ever see this instructor again I am going to beat him up and make him apologise to me in the newspaper for not respecting my preference and liking.

Well, being 'Tidak Apa', has surely caused me much embarrassment, but it also helped me look at setbacks and disappointment differently in life.When faced with situations, those who worried too much or care too much will either freaked out or got too stressed up and failed to handle any situation, and it was those Tidak Apa who strolled down calmly and settle the issue without thinking much of it!

Once, when I just got promoted, along with my dear friend Lily,both of us have to lead a team of 8 nutcase who are either, lazy, careless or simply stupid.In that tensed moment, where the work needs to be done, Lily got very worried and start to panic, and later loose her cool, at that moment, I have to calmed her down and at the same time, handle the 8 crazy fellows and get the job done on time. Later when we talked about it, she was amazed on how I could managed all these in such a cool manner.Well, to be honest, it is not because I am more capable or smarter than her, in fact it was the other way round, but it was because, I don't think much of it and did not realised the urgency in it, so I just take it as a normal task without stressing myself up. Thanks to my Tidak Apa attitude!

The awkward months of pregnancy

The already plump figure becomes even more out of shape, the clothes that you just bought last month, that is still hanging in the wardrobe along with the price tag,that you are waiting for that special occasion to show off seems to be a little too small now.Well, face it... that is just the beginning of pregnancy,there is more to come,this is the time when people look at you...thinking,err...is she pregnant or just being fat!

Soo....when is the time to wear maternity clothes???One friend told me, she doesn't have to wear it at all,the other told me, she start to wear it when she wants the whole world to know she is pregnant.There are some who try to hide their pregnancy, until the 12 weeks, according to them, they do not want to cause disappointment in case there are some misfortune during that unstable months.

Recently, I have read about this article in the papers about pregnant ladies complaining that they were not offered seats in public transport.
Well,I have came across many occasions in the public transport trying to be courteous,offered seats to some lady who look like they are pregnant,but actually they are not, you know what I mean?I am sure you have seen some of them!So...the real pregnant mums please don't blame us if you have to stand throughout the journey in the bus,we don't know who is the real one and don't want to offend the wrong one!soo...we just pretend to sleep when we see you board the bus!

Pay to play

Recently,I have spoken to a few parents,who send their toddlers to attend classes.. believed to make them smarter then their counterparts.Well,is not that I have anything against it,but the fees that they have to pay is shocking...and activities carried out in these classes are even more alarming.I have attended one with my son recently,like any parent,I also longed for my son to be the creme de la creme, so, convinced by my mum,both of us went excitedly,(a parent are require to participate with a child) the class starts with shaking and rocking my son from left to right and right to left then followed by both of us crawling side by side,all this seems too familiar...when we were kids,our parents always play this kind of game with us unconsciously,not knowing that it will some how benefit us in our future development,but look at today's parents,we pay few hundreds or even thousands,just to do this simple task with our children under supervision.
Hey parents...talking about creativity???Lets get back to basics!

Interview

This is my first time interviewing people.....wow...the feeling is just great,previously,I am always in front of the desk,now I can be behind the desk,(thanks to my boss,who was not in town)you know how its like???eheheh...that means,you get to meet nervous,timid,arrogant,over confident,and some even a little crazy people who try real hard to please you to get the job.Well...I also see bit and pieces of myself in all of them.Some come well groomed,some come without combing their hair and expect to get the job!Hmmm....I guess my boss's intention of letting me carry out the interview is like placing a mirror in front of me,checking on my own reflection,what kind of people you like to work with???