Haze's Closet

List of things to do and buy for your wedding

2009-10-28T12:02:00.007+08:00

This is specially for Cecilia and my buddies that have been asking about what to do and where to buy.

1. To look for a place for your wedding dinner. I do know it is difficult and you may not know how much guest you will invite but approximately just give anumber of tables to your self and till the very last week then you can confirm the total.

2. Search for the best bridal package that will fulfill all your needs. Reminder they will definitely have some hidden chages somewhere ask them straight to the face what they want and what you need to apy extra. Please and pleaseee girls do not get tricked by their gimmick as they will definitely want you to buy more photos which is not worth it. I can proudly tell you i did not choose more than what was offered in my package and i'm very satisfied. As i know after all the things subside how many times will you view the album again?

3. Plan what type of wedding cards do you want if the restaurant do provide thant you can save a bomb. For me i design and get a printer to print it. Get the words right if you need to print in chinese character as well get someone who know chinese to do it.

4. Flowers... well this is the part that you need to engage with your florist get the best package and compare their work then choose the one you like remembe to book early if you want fancy flowers.

5. Call your close friends, this is the time where you gather them to help you out in things like spreading the news , choosing the best dress, distributing the cards and celebrate with you and cherish all the pass moments together as you will move on to another phase very soon and part of your time will have to be in building your marriage life and your own family.

6. Buying things for sang jit item, you will need candles those with Dragon and phoenix, cakes or biscuits, liquor you can use wine too, oranges depending how many the bride family ask for, and pows to represent miscellaneous things.

7. Furnitures that include the bed, the dressing table, side table, side table lamp, cupboard, potty, wasg basin, face towel, comb, cosmetic set, baqth towels, ribbons for decorating the room, red paper for wrapping anything you think you need, "xi" word for your main door.

8. You will also need to buy hand fan for groom and bride and as gift for the broom's brother hood.

9. apart from the list of things in setting the bed you will need to prepare tini size ang pows that could fit a 20 cent to be placed in every corner of your furniture, in every drawers in the bridal chamber as well.

10. start searching for photographer or videographer if you need both ask for a good package.

11. you will need to prepare the square powder and thin read thread tell the aunty that you need this for "khui bin" they wil lget you the right things.

12. list down the pai thee kong things as there is quite a lot and different in every chinese customs for example teo chew do not use thorny fruit. Buy joss stick that is in red. Lastly red dates tea and glutinous rice flour for the glutinous rice ball on you pre wedding night.

13. Book your band or sound system if any needed.

14. You will also need to display new hand bags as well as shoes in the bridal chamber.

15. Prepare accomodation for your guest that stay outstation.

This is the list of thing Cecilia you have my number if u need to know more.

Things To Do preparing for your big day.

2009-10-28T09:57:00.008+08:00

Since i have been working hard for all the preparation i decided i should put it in words and share to all, Cecilia here are the tips for you.

So the day have come when he get down to his knees (if he does) and the news broke to every family member of the house.
Some will be happy for you while others will ask you silly question like "Are you sure?".
I do believe this happen to every girl and this is the part where all of us will feel very excited about what to do or what to expect on our big day.

The very first thing will be...
1. Getting all the dates from the geomancy reader you will need to present the bride and groom birthdate in chinese lunar calendar, as well as the groom's parents birthdates.

The geomancy reader will provide you a few dates which you can choose that suits you best and then he will provide you with heaps of dates for your list of things to do.

2. This is where you decide if you want to hire a "tai kam Che" or "sang ke em" she is a lady that will help to give instructions on what to buy and what to do on the dates given by the geomancy reader.

3. The first thing on the list is the gifting ceremony. This is where the groom will need to send gift as thanking the brides parents and now in modern days a lot of things are being substituted with ang pows.

4. Next is setting the bed in the bridal chamber. This is where we have to do alot of shopping and buying as well.
First the furnitures for the room, according to chinese customs a new bride means what ever things will have to be new including your lingerie and undies.
Choose a set of nice comforter that you like unless you have old traditional people at home you may need to get red colored or at least bright colored ones.
Then you will need to get new clothes and cosmetic sets or if you can think of anything that you would like to display on your dressing table.
If you do follow the tradition you will need to get potty, basin and a mug as well you can get all this in a set but for face towel you will need to buy a separate one.

5. The pre wedding dinner night / Pai Thee Kong "praying ot the heavenly god". This is when some ppl will have a mini celebration before the wedding and also prepare for the prayers. Prayers will start at about 11pm in the evening and usually close relative and friends will be around there to witness the whole procession. The bride and groom will also have to serve tea to the immediate family as well.

6. The day well here it comes the groom will come take the bride out of her chamber and they will have some prayers and do the 3 days shortening process (in olden days the bride will have to be at the grooms for 3 days before returning to her parents home) then the tea ceremony will start. After that the bride and groom will proceed to the grooms home and serve tea to the elders. Not forgetting to give ang pows to the younger ppl as well.

So this is the 6 things and dates that the geomancy reader will provide you and all of this will wear you out very drastically so remember to prepare in time for all the things. I will set up a list of things to buy in another post as not to confuse myself as well.

Dinner with Grace

2009-10-09T12:03:00.010+08:00

Tomato Bruchetta.
This is good and appetizing for starters as it have the zingy taste.

Simple salad with a dash of oranges to it.

Healthy wholemeal ham sandwich.

Vietnamese rice wraps, remember to get the sweet chilli sauce.

Chocolate!!! this is for spoiling all the healthy food above ....

Those who want to know how it taste like ask Grace Loh

A Self Bake Simple Birthday Cake

2009-10-09T11:30:00.003+08:00

This is a birthday cake made for Soon's grandma on her birthday this year... what i would like to say about this is that it made the old lady very happy and was almost tearing on that day. Simple things and the little details that past us by without us noticing may go alog way for those who does.
The cake was a simple butter cake of course with Grace help it became a butter cake with chocolate crust and peaches was lined on top as a deco.

Thanks Grace for all the ideas...

Just for someone

2009-10-09T10:13:00.005+08:00

Just want to say something to this person...
Maybe she will never got to read it here or maybe when she read it as her usual person she may think i'm talking about someone else whom she always think she is the wrong one.

Things can never be going your way no matter how hard you force.
Why would you want to hurt the people around you without understanding them better first?
Or do you think that you really know them but in reality you just don't.
Well this really applise to me which you don't know me and i have a feeling that you never will.

Whenever there are times when a confrontation appear it will end up with tears of 2 party never a win win situation can be created and she never will want to lose in the end no solution to that issue. When u want to get things done should always consider the other, when time have passed and gone u can never hold it or try to make it come back or even compensate the time lost. in example how can you get back or try to make up to our childhood years when u were not there.

I know this is mean but you were always adding salt to someone's wound and when u were not strong enough to guide and things happen you will just give the look to that person indirectly telling see i told you so.

Everyone will have big dreams in life but at time reality just struck and you cannot stop it. the worse is that you expect someone else to live the dream for you when u cannot reach it. Look around you and really think aren't you happy enough and satisfied with what you have or do you still expect the superficial of life that you can read up in your lovely novels. Things in fantasy will not re run in reality.

Why would you want to make everyone unhappy when you yourself is not happy either don't you think that things can be made better. you will have to respect each other as grown ups nad dun let your mind stuck there telling you ppl are still young.

Been Busy getting married

2009-10-06T16:16:00.006+08:00

Been busy lately getting the preparation done and all the stuff prepared well...
As the saying goes getting married aren't about the bride and the groom but the whole family that is getting together. I'm thinking and hope i remember when the day comes for my son or daughter i will help them as much as i could to keep it simple and the way they like it. No pushing and shoving from parents definitely. As i do not want then to have a feeling like what i have gone through, which is excited at the start and just want to get over it in the end.

Lucky for me i have a big heavy bunch of supportive friends that gave me a hand or two and i would like to give them an old fashion thank you speech here.

Sheryl and Rachel you have been my best buddy since school years and not to comment that I Met Rachel since kindy thank you veery much for being there for me really love you guys.
P/S: Rachel sorry... as on the dinner night one of my nosy uncle simply scream at you well that is one nosy old hag that can never find a partner and we do suspect that he is gay :P

Mei Sun you have been a very good coordinator for me thank you very much for all the little ribbons that you help made and put up during the day i "pai tu" please remember not pray the pig.

Ruby thank you again for popping up to help me choose my evening gown and also making the little ribbons in my room luv u girl muacks
P/S: will make lots and lots of onion soup for you :p

And for Michelle my dearest baby sister, I can't express how glad i am to have you there stand by me always and also stood up for me when words just dun come out right. I really love you and i know words cannot express what you have done for me. Love you girl i remember i still owe you a purse and a bag :p

For all the friends that i did not personally adress i do want to thank you all for popping in and out of the preparation as well as the function and thank you very much for spending your time for me.

Stay tune for more stories as i will post up the step by step thing that happen through my wedding for pictures i guess u guys will know where to get them from face book of course.

XOXO
Haze

Do It Yourself

2009-05-08T08:11:00.001+08:00

Fabby

2009-05-08T06:39:00.006+08:00

well just would like to put into word his tragic story...

Before Fabby was brought home Michelle is the one that suggested she want to keep a pet dog in our place here as there are about 4 dogs in my hometown she just misses them.

After searching awhile for the right pet her friend inform her that there is this shi tzu that his friend would like to give up on. Michelle friend told her that it is a good condition dog, well taken carre of and stay indoors sleep on the sofa and bla bla bla... (doesn't this sound like a salesman talk?) anyway she came home and after several pestering i agree to take the dog since its for free :P

Fabby was brought home on a Friday night back in May 2007. I was expecting a cute doggie since her friend hard sell it so much.

Michelle and i was shocked ! he came to us without anything at all in a messy condition. He was full of lice!! it covered him so much that u cannot feel his flesh under his fur. he was so skinny that u can see his jaw protruding his fur all tangled up and he is stinky and he look like "i have no idea who am i and why am i here?" He dun even know his name.

The next morning Michelle woke up to a horror movie scene. His lice was everywhere wall to wall. On that day itself i brought him to Gills in Tanjung Tokong (do not go there super expensive and not worth to pay). But it still did not help. Then i sort to Sharon (since she have 14 dogs at the same time) she suggest a very painful but fast way which is to use kerosene. Well looks like i have no choice.

So Sharon was kind enough to come to my place and we start lice termination project. We start to pour an amount of kerosene on his body and gues what the poor creature din even budge he just keep still staring at me. The only thing i can tell him was dun worry all will be over soon.

After all the pouring and few shampoo he is as clean as a sheet. Thanks to Sharon's help.

and so now here is Fabby healthy and fat like a piggy.

The Voca People

2009-05-05T06:57:00.001+08:00

British Airways - True story

2009-05-01T08:14:00.004+08:00

This scene took place on a British Airways flight between Johannesburg, South Africa & London.

A white woman, about 50 years old, was seated next to a black man. Very disturbed by this, she called the air hostess,
"You obviously do not see it then?" she asked "You placed me next to a black man. I did not agree to sit next to someone from such a repugnant group. Give me an alternative seat."
"Be calm please," the hostess replied. "Almost all the places on this flight are taken. I will go to see if another place is available." The hostess went away & then came back a few minutes later. "Madam, just as I thought, there are no other available seats in Economy Class. I spoke to the captain & he informed me that there is also no seat in Business Class. All the same, we still have 1 last seat in First Class."
Before the woman could say anything, the hostess continued ,
"It is unusual for our company to permit someone from Economy Class to sit in First Class. However, given the circumstances, the Captain feels that it would be scandalous to make someone sit next to someone so disgusting."
She turned to the black guy & said,
"Therefore, Sir, if you would like to, please collect your hand luggage, a seat awaits you in First Class."
At that moment, the other passengers, who'd been shocked by what they had just witnessed stood up & applauded.
This is a true story. If you are against racism, WELL DONE, British Airways!!!

Can I Borrow $25 ?

2009-04-30T12:52:00.006+08:00

A man came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find his 5-year old son waiting for him at the door.

SON: Daddy, may I ask you a question?
DAD: Yeah sure, what it is? replied the man.
SON: Daddy, how much do you make an hour?
DAD: That's none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?

The man said angrily.

SON: I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?
DAD: If you must know, I make $50 an hour.
SON: Oh,'

The little boy replied, with his head down.

SON: Daddy, may I please borrow $25?

The father was furious,

DAD: If the only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why you are being so selfish. I don't work hard everyday for such childish frivolities.

The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door. The man sat down and started to get even angrier about the little boy's questions. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money? After about an hour or so, the man had calmed down , and started to think, maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $25.00 and he really didn't ask for money very often. The man went to the door of the little boy's room and opened the door.

DAD: Are you asleep, son?

He asked.

SON: No daddy, I'm awake,

Replied the boy.

DAD: I've been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier said the man. It's been a long day and I took out my aggravation on you. Here's the $25 you asked for.'

The little boy sat straight up, smiling.

SON: Oh, thank you daddy!'

He yelled. Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled up bills. The man saw that the boy already had money, started to get angry again. The little boy slowly counted out his money, and then looked up at his father.

DAD: Why do you want more money if you already have some?

The father grumbled.

SON: Because I didn't have enough, but now I do

The little boy replied.

SON:Daddy, I have $50 now. Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you.

The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little son, and he begged for his forgiveness. It's just a short reminder to all of you working so hard in life. We should not let time slip through our fingers without having spent some time with those who really matter to us, those close to our hearts. Do remember to share that $50 worth of your time with someone you love. Have we forgotten what is really important in life? Too caught up in money, personal ambitions, and forgot how to enjoy and appreciate the sweet simplicities in life? If we die tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of hours. But the family & friends we leave behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives.

Spot the difference in this 2 friends

2009-04-30T12:42:00.004+08:00

Be Careful What You Wish For...

2009-04-30T12:23:00.004+08:00

A man walks into a restaurant with a full-grown ostrich behind him, and as
he sits, the waitress comes over and asks for their order. The man says, "I'll have a hamburger, fries and a coke," and turns to the ostrich. "What's yours?"
"I'll have the same," says the ostrich.

A short time later the waitress returns with the order. "That will be
$15.50 please," and the man reaches into his pocket and pulls out exact change for payment.

The next day, the man and the ostrich come again and the man says, "I'll have a hamburger, fries and a coke," and the ostrich says, "I'll have the same." Once again the man reaches into his pocket and pays with exact change.

This becomes a routine until late one evening the two enter again. "The usual?" asks the waitress.

"No, this is Friday night, so I will have a steak, baked potato and
salad," says the man. "Same for me," says the ostrich.

A short time later the waitress comes with the order and says, "That will be $35.98." Once again the man pulls exact change out of his pocket and places it on the table. The waitress can't hold back her curiosity any longer. "Excuse me, sir. How do you manage to always come up with the exact change out of your pocket every time?"

"Well," says the man, "several years ago I was cleaning the attic and
I found an old lamp. When I rubbed it, a Genie appeared and offered me two wishes. My first wish was that if I ever had to pay for anything, just put my hand in my pocket, and the right amount of money would always be there."

"That's brilliant!" says the waitress. "Most people would wish for a million dollars or something, but you'll always be as rich as you want for as long as you live!"

"That's right! Whether it's a gallon of milk or a Rolls Royce, the exact money is always there," says the man.

The waitress asks, "One other thing, sir, what's with the ostrich?"

The man sighs and answers, "My second wish was for a tall chick with long
legs who agrees with everything I say!"

Girls In My Life

2009-04-30T11:40:00.007+08:00

When I was younger, I used to believe in the concept of one best friend,And then I started to become a woman.And then I found out that if you allow your heart to open up,God would show you the best in many friends.

One friend is needed when you're going through things with your man. Another friend is needed when you're going through things with your mom. Another will sit beside you in the blea cher s as you delight in your children and their activities. Another when you want to shop, share, heal, hurt, joke, or just be. One friend will say, 'Let's cry together,'Another , 'Let's fight together,' Another , 'Let's walk away together.'

One friend will meet your spiritual need,Another your shoe fetish,Another your love for movies, Another will be with you in your season of confusion,Another will be your clarifier, Another the wind beneath your wings.

But whatever their assignment in your life,On whatever the occasion,On whatever the day, Or wherever you need them to meet you with their gym shoes on and hair pulled back, Or to hold you back from making a complete fool of yourself .. Those are your best friends.

It may all be wrapped up in one woman, But for many, it's wrapped up in several.. One from 7th grade,One from high school, Several from the college years, a couple from old jobs,On some days your mother, On some days your neighbour,On others, your sisters,And on some days, your daughters.

So whether they've been your friend for 20 minutes or 20 years, AND ONLY IF YOU'D LIKE TO,Pass this on to the women that God has placed in your lifeTo make a difference.

15 Pieces of Advise

2009-04-30T08:28:00.006+08:00

15 PIECES OF ADVICE TO BE PASSED ON TO YOUR MOM, YOUR DAUGHTERS OR GRANDDAUGHTERS, NIECES, AUNTS, GIRLFRIENDS, ETC...

1. Don't imagine you can change a man - unless he's in diapers.

2. What do you do if your boyfriend walks out? You shut the door.

3. If they put a man on the moon - they should be able to put them all up there.

4. Never let your man's mind wander - it's too little to be out

5. Go for the younger man. You might as well, they never mature anyway.

6. Men are all the same - they just have different faces, so that you can tell them apart.

7. Definition of a bachelor : a man who has missed the opportunity to make some woman miserable.

8. Women don't make fools of men - most of them are the do-it-yourself types.

9. Best way to get a man to do something is to suggest he is too old for it.

10. Love is blind, but marriage is a real eye-opener.

11. If you want a committed man, look in a mental hospital.

12. The children of Israel wandered around the desert for 40 years. Even in Biblical times, men wouldn't ask for directions.

13. If he asks what sort of books you're interested in, tell him checkbooks.

14. Remember a sense of humor does not mean that you tell him jokes, it means that you laugh at his.

15. Sadly, all men are created equal.

Men Never Listen!!

2009-04-30T08:08:00.005+08:00

In a Chicago hospital, a gentleman had made several attempts to get into the men's restroom, but it had always been occupied.

A nurse noticed his predicament. " Sir", she said " You may use the ladies room if you promise not to touch any of the buttons on the wall."

He did what he needed to, and as he sat there he noticed the buttons he had promised not to touch. Each button was identified by letters: WW, WA, PP, and a red one labeled ATR.

Who would know if he touched them?

He couldn't resist. He pushed WW. Warm water was sprayed gently upon his bottom. What a nice feeling, he thought. Men's restrooms don't have nice things like this.

Anticipating greater pleasure, he pushed the WA button. Warm air replaced the warm water, gently drying his underside. When this stopped, he pushed the PP button.

A large powder puff caressed his bottom adding a fragile scent of spring flower to this unbelievable pleasure. The ladies restroom was more than a restroom, it is tender loving pleasure.

When the powder puff completed its pleasure, he couldn't wait to push the ATR button which he knew would be supreme ecstasy. He was immediately knocked out by an excruciating pain.

Next thing he knew he opened his eyes, he was in a hospital bed, and a nurse was staring down at him. "What happened?" he exclaimed. "The last thing I remember was pushing the ATR button." "The button ATR is an Automatic Tampon Remover. Your testicles are now in this jar, sir."

MEN NEVER LISTEN, DO THEY?

Fishy!!

2009-04-30T07:59:00.005+08:00

A Husband called home to his wife and said:

"Darling, I have been asked to go fishing up in Canada with my boss and several of his friends. We'll be gone for a week. This is a good opportunity for me to get that promotion I've been wanting so could you please pack enough clothes for a week and set out my rod and fishing box, we're leaving from the office and I
will swing by the house to pick my things up. Oh! Please pack my new blue silk pyjamas."

The wife thinks this sounds a bit fishy but being the good wife she is, did exactly what her husband asked.

The following weekend he came home a little tired but otherwise looking good. The wife welcomed him home and asked if he caught many fish?

He said, "Yes!Lots of Salmon, some Bluegill, and a few Swordfish. But
why didn't you pack my new blue silk pyjamas like I asked you to do?"

(You'll love the answer... )
The wife replied, "I did. They're in your fishing box!!

IBM Ad

2009-04-30T07:39:00.004+08:00

2009-04-30T07:33:00.003+08:00

The happiest people in the world are not those who have no problems, but those who learn to live with things that are less than perfect.

The Daffodil Principle

2009-04-29T14:24:00.009+08:00

This is a story forwarded by someone...

Several times my daughter had telephoned to say, 'Mother, you must come to see the daffodils before they are over.' I wanted to go, but it was a two-hour drive from Laguna to Lake Arrowhead 'I will come next Tuesday', I promised a little reluctantly on her third call. Next Tuesday dawned cold and rainy. Still, I had promised, and reluctantly I drove there. When I finally walked into Carolyn's house I was welcomed by the joyful sounds of happy children. I delightedly hugged and greeted my grandchildren. 'Forget the daffodils, Carolyn! The road is invisible in these clouds and fog, and there is nothing in the world except you and these children that I want to see badly enough to drive another inch!' My daughter smiled calmly and said, 'We drive in this all the time, Mother.' 'Well, you won't get me back on the road until it clears, and then I'm heading for home!' I assured her. 'But first we're going to see the daffodils. It's just a few blocks,' Carolyn said. 'I'll drive. I'm used to this.' 'Carolyn,' I said sternly, 'Please turn around.' 'It's all right, Mother, I promise. You will never forgive yourself if you miss this experience.' After about twenty minutes, we turned onto a small gravel road and I saw a small church. On the far side of the church, I saw a hand lettered sign with an arrow that read, ' Daffodil Garden '

We got out of the car, each took a child's hand, and I followed Carolyn down the path. Then, as we turned a corner, I looked up and gasped. Before me lay the most glorious sight. It looked as though someone had taken a great vat of gold and poured it over the mountain and its surrounding slopes. The flowers were planted in majestic, swirling patterns, great ribbons and swaths of deep orange, creamy white, lemon yellow, salmon pink, and saffron and butter yellow. Each different colored variety was planted in large groups so that it swirled and flowed like its own river with its own unique hue. There were five acres of flowers.

'Who did this?' I asked Carolyn. 'Just one woman,' Carolyn answered. 'She lives on the property. That's her home.' Carolyn pointed to a well-kept A-frame house, small and modestly sitting in the midst of all that glory. We walked up to the house. On the patio, we saw a poster. 'Answers to the Questions I Know You Are Asking', was the headline. The first answer was a simple one. '50,000 bulbs,' it read. The second answer was, 'One at a time, by one woman. Two hands, two feet, and one brain.' The third answer was, 'Began in 1958.' For me, that moment was a life-changing experience. I thought of this woman whom I had never met, who, more than forty years before, had begun, one bulb at a time, to bring her vision of beauty and joy to an obscure mountaintop. Planting one bulb at a time, year after year, this unknown woman had forever changed the world in which she lived. One day at a time, she had created something of extraordinary magnificence, beauty, and inspiration. The principle her daffodil garden taught is one of the greatest principles of celebration.

That is, learning to move toward our goals and desires one step at a time often just one baby-step at time and learning to love the doing, learning to use the accumulation of time. When we multiply tiny pieces of time with small increments of daily effort, we too will find we can accomplish magnificent things. We can change the world . 'It makes me sad in a way,' I admitted to Carolyn. 'What might I have accomplished if I had thought of a wonderful goal thirty-five or forty years ago and had worked away at it 'one bulb at a time' through all those years? Just think what I might have been able to achieve!'

My daughter summed up the message of the day in her usual direct way. 'Start tomorrow,' she said. She was right. It's so pointless to think of the lost hours of yesterdays. The way to make learning a lesson of celebration instead of a cause for regret is to only ask, 'How can I put this to use today? Use the Daffodil Principle. Stop waiting.....

Until your car or home is paid off

Until you get a new car or home

Until your kids leave the house

Until you go back to school

Until you finish school

Until you clean the house Until you organize the garage Until you clean off your desk Until you lose 10 lbs. Until you gain 10 lbs. Until you get married Until you get a divorce Until you have kids Until the kids go to school Until you retire Until summer Until spring Until winter Until fall Until you die... There is no better time than right now to be happy. Happiness is a journey, not a destination. Wishing you a beautiful, daffodil day!

If you want to brighten someone's day, pass this on to someone special. I just did

Ah Kau's Story

2009-04-29T13:57:00.006+08:00

Ah Kau is a guy who sells newspaper every morning next to your apartment, and you are one of his daily regular customers. Before dashing off to your office every day, you will go to his small stall and buy The Star newspaper. Wearing a newly pressed shirt, a tie, and a pair of Clarks shoes, you grab a copy of The Star, pay RM1.20 and exchange smiles with Ah Kau and greet him."Apa macam Ah Kau ini hari? Bisnes ada baik?" The normal greeting like you do every day.

Yes, Ah Kau doesn't speak English. He speaks Chinese and knows a little bit of Malay. He speaks a little bit of Malay but with a very thick Chinese accent. "Biasa saja! ini bisnes aa, kadang kadang baik, kadang-kadang tada untung." "Biasalah hidup. Kadang kadang ok, kadang kadang tak ok." You give Ah Kau a pat on the back. You smile and walk away and get into your car. You start the engine and start driving to your office, a multinational semiconductor company located in a premier industrial area. You are a young and promising finance executive and the future looks bright for you. A year goes by and things look pretty good on the track. You decide to marry your fiance and have your new wife moves in to your place. Both of you feel happy because you can save more money as the two of you will be sharing one apartment and can live as one.

Ah Kau is still selling the newspaper as usual. Sometimes in the morning your wife gets the newspaper from Ah Kau instead of you. A year later a child comes along, and you decide to buy and move into a newly developed condominium just across the street. This place is bigger so it will be perfectly fit for the 3 of you. But since both of you are working, you decide to get a maid to take of the household and your kid. By this time you're offered a managerial job from another multinational; the remuneration package offered is much better in terms of the pay, contractual bonus, medical benefits, ESOS scheme and a few others which make it impossible for you to decline. So you join this company happily. You get busier. You realize that you spend less and less time with your family. When your department is busy preparing for the next audit, your working hours become more and more ridiculous. Any internal issues arising in the office means you'll be stuck in the office until 8 or 9 pm. Sometimes, during the weekend, you'll spend your time in your office, buried under paper works and documentation's, instead of taking your family for a walk in the park.

One morning, on your way to get your copy of The Star, you realized that Ah Kau is no longer in his stall. So is his rundown motorbike. Instead, there's another young Chinese guy at the stall. "What happen to Ah Kau?" You ask out of curiosity. "Oh, he is still around, but he is no longer taking care of this stall as he has opened up a new grocery shop down town. I am running this newspaper stall for him. "Ok." you smile. You feel happy for Ah Kau. At last he manages to improve his life. Your normal life continues. A year passes by and at the end of your company's fiscal year, you're rewarded for your effort with a 5 months bonus pay-out by your employer. Wow. Now that is a very handsome reward. You feel your effort has been equally compensated. To celebrate, you decide that it's time to trade your 5-year old Proton Wira to the latest Honda Accord model. It won't be much a problem to you to get a loan scheme from the bank as your pay slip will provide you an easy gateway to access financial help from any bank. One day, the hardest reality of life hits you right on the face. The company that you've been working for years announces that they're moving their business to China for cost and competitive reason and has asked you to find a job somewhere else.

"What?" You scream out cold. "I got a lot of liabilities on the card! Who's gonna pay for my mortgage? My car? My credit card? My gym fees? My bills?" You yell like there's no way out. This is the first time you feel let down by your own employer. All your hard work seem to go up on the smoke. You feel sick. You now hate your company. On the way home, you stopped by at a mamak restaurant for a cup of teh tarik while pondering about your future. Alone. Suddenly you saw this new, shiny BMW 3 series being parked nearby. And to your surprise, it was Ah Kau. Yes, Ah Kau who used to sell newspapers nearby your old apartment. "What happened to old Ah Kau?" You whisper to your self. Ah Kau still recognizes you, and sit next to you, and shared his story.To make it short, Ah Kau had accumulated his money from selling newspapers to open more stalls, one after another. Every new stall is run by his workers so that he focused on opening more and more stalls, which in turn give him more and more money. Over the years, he had accumulated enough cash to open up new grocery store while at the same time buying more assets to grow his wealth. And his current wealth and success is achieved without any loan or financial help from banks and other financial institutions.

There you go. That's the story. While Ah Kau is set to become financially free, you're back to where you're started before. Ground Zero.Before leaving, Ah Kau gives you a familiar quote," Biasalah hidup. Kadang-kadang ok, kadang kadang tak ok."He gives you a pat on the back and walks away.In reality, if you're observant enough, there are a lot of Ah Kaus out there, that you will see every day and every where you go. The names are different, but inside them is every character of Ah Kau. They might be Uncle Dorai, Ah Chong, Pak Abu, Makcik Gemuk, Pak Man nasi lemak or others.They look to be struggling on the surface, but if you look carefully and compare with you life, many of them are living with little or no liabilities. They ride an old kapcai bike. They live in an old rundown house. They don't have credit card to swipe. They wear a 10-year old shirt and short. No new, shiny Toyota Harrier. In short, their living means are far below than yours. But what you don't realize is that many of them can save more money than yours, and over the years generate enough money to expand their business, or invest in properties. Their asset columns are much thicker than that of yours.

So the next time you see Ah Kaus, never look down on them, and never under estimate them. Or else you're up for a harsh reality lesson.

What goes around comes around

2009-04-29T12:51:00.002+08:00

He was tired and aching and on his way home from a long day at work, so he almost didn't see the old lady stranded on the side of the road, but even in the dim light of day he could see she needed help. So he pulled up in front of her Mercedes and got out. His old Pontiac was still sputtering as he approached her. Even with the smile on his face, she was worried. No one had stopped to help for the last hour or so. Was he going to hurt her? He didn't look safe; he looked poor and hungry. He could see that she was frightened, standing out there in the cold. He knew how she felt. It was that chill which only fear can put in you.
He said, "I'm here to help you, ma'am. Why don't you wait in the car where it's warm? By the way, my name is Bryan Anderson."
Well, all she had was a flat tire, but for an old lady, that was bad enough. Bryan crawled under the car looking for a place to put the jack, skinning his knuckles a time or two. Soon he was able to change the tire. As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled down the window and began to talk to him. She told him that she was from St. Louis and was only just passing through. She couldn't thank him enough for coming to her aid. Bryan just smiled as he closed her trunk.
The lady asked how much she owed him. Any amount would have been all right with her. She already imagined all the awful things that could have happened had he not stopped. Bryan
never thought twice about being paid. This was not a job to him. This was helping someone in need, and God knows there were plenty, who had given him a hand in the past. He had lived his whole life that way, and it never occurred to him to act any other way. He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance they needed, and Bryan added, "Pass it on."
He waited until she started her car and drove off. It had been a cold and depressing day, but he felt good as he headed for home, disappearing into the twilight. A few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe. She went in to grab a bite to eat, and take the chill off before she made the last leg of her trip home. It was a dingy looking restaurant. Outside were two old gas pumps. The whole scene was unfamiliar to her. The waitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. She had a sweet smile, one that even being on her feet for the whole day couldn't erase.
The lady noticed the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude. The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving to a stranger. Then she remembered Bryan. After the lady finished her meal, she paid with a hundred dollar bill. The waitress quickly went to get change for her hundred dollar bill, but the old lady had slipped right out the door.
She was gone by the time the waitress came back. The waitress wondered where the lady could be. Then she noticed something written on the napkin. There were tears in her eyes when she read what the lady wrote: "This isn't a tip, it's a gift. You don't owe me anything. Somebody once helped me out and if you feel you want to pay me back, don't let this chain of love end with you, pass it on." Under the napkin were four more $100 bills. Well, there were tables to clear, sugar bowls to fill, and people to serve, but the waitress made it to closing time.
That night when she got home from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about the money and what the lady had written. How could the lady have known how much she and her husband needed it? With the baby due next month, it was going to be hard. She knew how worried her husband was, and as he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a gentle kiss and whispered soft and low, "Everything's going to be all right. I love you, Bryan Anderson."

There is an old saying "What goes around comes around."
Today I post you this story, and I am asking you to pass it on. Let this light keep shining.

The Water Bearer

2009-04-29T12:13:00.006+08:00

A water bearer in China had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the House, the cracked pot arrived only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of it's own imperfection. And miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you. I have been able to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said.
The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw. So I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you've watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table.Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house?

Moral: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've justgot to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them. Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.

Can every one of us accept flaws of others? It will be easier said than done tho.