#clarks

CHRISTMAS IS LOVE

/ Alan Atkinson / Leave a comment

Christmas has been kind of different this year. For starters, we, (my wife, Jeannie) and I; have been going to St. Thomas More Catholic Church for daily mass almost every day over the last several months. Monsignor (1) Patrick Boudeville walked us through the Old and New Testaments, explaining how it was like with the people living during those eras, and how we can relate our lives to them.

I attended mass at the close of the Advent season. It was simple, yet meaningful, in preparation for the Christmas masses.

During the period, Jeannie and I visited the major shopping malls in town to see the Christmas decorations. Many of them were very beautiful, spectacular. The individual stores, big and small; decked their stores with Christmas trees, lights and decorations that were themed with what the stores were offering for Christmas. There were multiples of Christmas carols and songs that were played and aired – sung by famous singers and new ones, too. We have noted them down and will try to get the songs to add to our personal playlists.

Eating – did I mention eating earlier on? The cakes and cookies on sale – they all looked so delicious. By just looking at them, we’ve put on some extra kilos. In our case, we didn’t just look, we had to eat… in moderation, of course.😂

Then, when we go home, away from the hustle and bustle of things, life becomes quiet. We kind of settle back into our daily routines. Maybe, the shopping malls and stuff like that are temporary – entertainment at best. There is more to Christmas than all this.

While all this is part of Christmas, a major part (it depends on how you look at it), that is; the real meaning of Christmas is about LOVE. Love with family and friends. Back in my growing up years in the 1960s and 1970s; after receiving our Christmas presents (which was usually after attending midnight mass in church), my siblings and I were more excited visiting our cousins (yes, Christmas started at midnight – visits were after our present opening ceremony). Visits carried on for the next few days. We had Open House at our house on December 26th (every December 26th, it was at the Atkinsons’ house) – with everybody converging at our place for the next few days. It was really fun. A fun and meaningful event that is missing today.

A child that was born over 2,000 years ago, came with a promise, a gift if you may; of a love like no other, for all mankind.

JEANNIE AND I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THIS LOVE, JOY AND PEACE OF CHRISTMAS WITH ALL OUR FAMILY, OUR FRIENDS AND THE PEOPLE THAT COME INTO OUR EVERYDAY LIVES, THOSE THAT WE MAY MEET OR SEE ONLY ONCE, BUT PLAYED A PART TO MAKE OUR DAY WHOLE.

MERRY CHRISTMAS – LOVE PEACE & JOY

This has to be one of the cutest pictures, don’t you think so?

Jeannie, feeling very much at home; what with the flowers all around.

I’m right at home, with J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter team, promoting my book,
SPARKS OF JOY – SEIZE THE MOMENT. It’s a best seller!

The chair was quite comfy.

Christmas lights all around.

This is Christmas decorations – Japanese style (I think).

NOTES:
1. In the Catholic Church, Monsignor (from Italian monsignore, meaning “my Lord”) is an honorary title, not a rank, given by the Pope to certain priests for distinguished service, making them part of the “papal family” and granting them special dress/privileges. It’s a title of honor, recognizing exceptional dedication, often for those serving in diocesan leadership or the Vatican. 

CHRISTMAS IS A-COMIN’

/ Alan Atkinson / Leave a comment

Yes, in a matter of days. There are hardly any more days before Christmas to add “s” in day (plural).

We, that is, my wife, Jeannie (also known as the Batik Influencer); and I, have been making our rounds to many of the major shopping malls, together with my cousin, Christopher and his wife, Evalina; and our close friend, Jolly. We wanted to bask in the Christmas-y feelings with all the Christmas decorations and music and presents and loads more of presents (just looking). And oh yeah…the crowds of people. You would think everyone from Malaysia, especially Malacca; came to Kay El (also known as K.L. or Kuala Lumpur [1]) and Pee Jay (P. J. also known as Petaling Jaya [2]), to do the same.

It was also time for a haircut and to colour. I told Sam when she last did my hair, that I would come to see her around this time for a colour.

I told her that I wanted something different from what I’ve had before. I suggested blue. Then, she went into her lecture mode: “You want, can but this and this and this and that and that and that. And you don’t have the time nor the patience to spend time looking after your hair perfectly”.

Sam and I have been very close friends for many years. She first did my daughter, Laura’s hair when Laura was 7 years old. So, she could lecture me with my best interests at heart.

When she put the colour on, I thought it was going to be the colour as in pictures #1 to #3. I thought it was pretty cool. I like.

After over one and half hours and two colours added on, the final result were as per pictures #4 to #6. Yes, two colours. Sam added in a bit of ash colour to give depth to the overall result. I like. I am happy with the final result. Even my neighbours think so. As I was walking my 10km walk this evening, a couple of teenagers remarked, “Uncle you had a haircut. You look good. Nice hair colour.” Compliments to Sam.

As most of us are busy with the hustle and bustle of doing things, let us not forget to have fun. The fun is being in the present (is there a pun here?) with the people we love…or like…or are in our midst😉.

Now… what shall I write for Christmas🎄…O the stress… hahaha😁

Picture #1. When I first took this picture while the colour was setting in, I thought it was pretty bold. Looks interesting. Looks good.

Picture #2. Yes, the colour looks good and way you look at it.

Picture #3: Is this my better side?

Picture #4. The end result.

Picture #5: Soft and gentle colours, with a tinge of the ash colour.

Picture #6: The writer look.

Sam, “O.k. let’s see…”

Sam, in her lecture element mood.

“Wait, wait. You will see. I do something that suits you and you like.”

As for the Christmas presents, we got some for our loved ones. And…why of course, ourselves, too. Ain’t telling what they are until Christmas. As for mine, hint…it is something to do with ting ting ting and rhymes with joy.

NOTES:
1. Kuala Lumpur is the capital of Malaysia.
2. Petaling Jaya is a cith in the central state of Selangor in Peninsular Malaysia.
3. Sam Image Studio, SG-22-0 Shopping Gallery Subang Square Centre Jln SS15/4G Subang Jaya

TIS THE SEASON TO BE JOLLY WITH THE BOOK WRITER AND THE BATIK INFLUENCER

/ Alan Atkinson / Leave a comment

🎵It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas🎄, everywhere we go🎶… and you know how the rest of the song goes. Join in the festivities.

Jeannie (The Batik Influencer) and I (also known by many as the Hatted Writer), together with my cousin and friends; have been on a tour of sorts, or pilgrimage if you may; of some of the major shopping centres in Kuala Lumpur (1) or Kay El (K.L.) and Petaling Jaya or Pee Jay; checking our the level of christmassness each of them had to offer. It was more of the company and building the drama towards the big day and then, being filled with the reason of Christmas.

Though we have not planned, nor it is our intention to cover each and every of the many (there are multiple x many in Subang Jaya, Kay El and Pee Jay) shopping centres or malls, I dare say we have visited quite a few over the last few days.

Our first “official Christmas visit” was Sunway Pyramid, obviously due to it being amongst the closest of all the malls to our house.

Our next was to Bangsar New Village, then Bangsar Shopping Centre, TRX, Pavillion, KLCC and Nu Sentral.

At KLCC, I decided to visit one of Malaysia’s most well known and premier bookstores – Kinokuniya. My book, SPARKS OF JOY – SEIZE THE MOMENT is available at their store. You can get your copy of the book at Kinokuniya.

Or, you can get it directly from me, whichever best suits your convenience.

I will be at Amcorp Mall, Petaling Jaya or Pee Jay P.J.), together with the Batik Influencer, my wife, Jeannie; tomorrow (Saturday – December 13th) and Sunday, December 14th. I will be very happy to specially personalise your copy of the book. I am looking forward to meeting all of you.

The Batik Influencer has a whole new range of her JEANNIE’S OWN Batik Cape Creation with her this weekend. They are, very, very limited number of pieces. Come on over as early as possible to get one, two or more of JEANNIE’S OWN Batik Cape Creations.

Christmas is just a wee number of days away. So, if you want to bring your guitars, violins, keyboards, trumpets, tubas, triangles to play and sing Christmas carols, the Batik Influencer and I will definitely join in the fun. Tis the season to be jolly, fa-la-la-la-la-la-la-la🎵🎶

It is also getting to be the time when we have to prepare our goals, directions, dreams and aspirations, if we have not done so already (for some of us). I, for one; am grateful for each moment that has not presented itself yet, for the “now” moment and for the one that has just left. I had a traumatic (can I say that?) experienced which began about 48 hours ago and lasted for about a day, until the clearance that all was ok was confirmed. This experience is for another essay, maybe soon.

Now, let the weekend began. Oh, it has already.

Address:
Amcorp Shopping Mall,
Booth 1.08, 1st Floor, ,
8, Jalan, Persiaran Barat, Seksyen 52 Petaling Jaya, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Date: December 13th – December 14th, 2025
Time: 10.00am to 5.30pm(can be extended to 7.00pm)

I ENJOY LIFE

/ Alan Atkinson / Leave a comment

I ENJOY LIFE – MY SET OF RULES.
IT IS NOT MY BUSINESS TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT OTHERS THINK OF ME.

THOSE SET OF RULES INCLUDE:
1)PERSISTENCE – DOING SOMETHING DESPITE DIFFICULTY OR DELAY IN ACHEIVING SUCCESS.
2) BELIEVE THAT WHATEVER I SET OUT TO DO…WILL BE ACHIEVEMENTS OF SUCCESS.
3) HAVING FUN IN THE JOURNEY TO ACHIEVING SUCCESS.
4) GRATITUDE – ALWAYS GRATEFUL FOR THE MULTITUDES OF BLESSINGS.

~ ALAN IAN ATKINSON
Writer, Author, Storyteller

INDIVIDUALISM, LOOKING SCOTS, FLYING AND THE BEACHES OF THE PENINSULAR

/ Alan Atkinson / Leave a comment

It was not the usual, everyday weekend at Amcorp Mall today. You are going to ask the question. Come on… ask the question… Everyday weekend? Everyday weekend here means Saturday and Sunday…with the occasional Friday and Monday off from work (sometimes longer).

The Batik Influencer (my wife, Jeannie) and I pulled up into a parking slot at Basement Level 2. Nothing out of the ordinary, so far. Started unloading our stuff, with Jeannie taking one batch first to our booth. Moments later, I get a call from her saying that there is a long line of upward travellers (1) because two of the vertical vehicle shuttlers (a bit of fun here) broke down. That meant that we had to ferry our things to our booth at a much slower rate. Anyway, we sorted out things pretty quickly – in about an hour (usually takes about five minutes).

The day went by pretty quickly with both the Batik Influencer and I, the Hatted Writer; having met multiple (American for the word “many”) numbers of people, who stopped by, chatted viewed the things we had to offer, acquiring some that caught their interest.

And speaking of interest, a Scottish man, wearing a kilt walked past. I called out to him and asked if I could take a picture with him. I mean, it isn’t every day you see a kilted (with proper bag, too) Scots walk by. His name, Matthew Crabbe. He said he isn’t really a full Scots. He is Welsh-Cornish, with some Irish and Scots blood; broadly Celtic. he grew up in a town north of Edinburgh.

The kilted Celtic and the tartan-ed writer.

One may be forgiven to think that this was a weekend of Scottish celebrations – I was wearing a red tartan (Scots) flat cap. Matthew donned a kilt because he wanted to express his individualism and not be lost in a crowd of same-same attire. I resonated with him as you can read in many of my articles. We had quite a few laughs. Matthew said he definitely will be back next weekend and catch up with me.

From flying to the sands on the beaches of the peninsular.

Another gentleman, Toh Beng Liong; while going through my book, SPARKS OF JOY -SEIZED THE MOMENT, came across a chapter: “Love Flying”. He was a former pilot, used to fly single and twin-prop planes. And that got us talking about his love for flying, too. Both his sons are pilots.

Beng Liong lives near the beaches of Port Dickson, and gets to walk along them everyday. That got Jeannie to talk about the beaches on the eastern side of Peninsular Malaysia. She hails from Kuantan, Pahang. The beaches in Pahang and Terengganu are beautiful. Beng Liong suggested we move to Port Dickson. That thought has crossed our minds. Will see.

NOTES:
1. Trivia
I thought I’d give A.I. or Artificial Intelligence a run for it’s money to see if it got the meaning of this short line. It bombed out! Did you get the meaning? Scroll down…further down…for the answer:

“a long line of upward travellers”:
“A long line of upward travellers” most likely refers to the interpretation of palmistry lines, specifically a travel line on the hand that is long and points upwards, indicating a strong likelihood of significant travel or foreign settlement and the potential for achieving success through these journeys. 

Further details:

Significance of Length: A clear, long travel line is generally interpreted as a positive indicator of successful and frequent journeys. 

Location of Travel Lines: These lines are generally found on the Mount of Moon in palmistry, but can also originate from the Life Line and extend towards the Mount of the Lower Moon or Mount of Ketu, or run parallel to the Life Line. 

Upward Direction: When a travel line points upwards, it signifies an intense desire and probability for foreign travel and settlement. 

Ambition Lines: Upward branches from the Life Line are sometimes referred to as Ambition lines, which are associated with personal achievements and can indicate a strong drive for success. 

“upward travellers”
“Upward travellers” can refer to a few distinct concepts within the travel industry: increased interest and activity in travel, magazine publications catering to high-end travellers, or specific technical applications like upward-travelling lightning strokes.

Here’s a breakdown of “upward travellers” based on the search results:

Upward Bound (Aviation Focus):This term is also used in the context of the Middle East’s aviation sector, referring to its transformation driven by strategic investments and technological innovation, particularly in sustainability. 

Upward Travel Trends:Multiple reports indicate an upward trend in travel intentions and activity across various demographics and travel types, including increased holiday travel, interest in cruises and international trips, and sustained popularity of city breaks for young travelers. 

Upward Curve Magazine:This is a triannual print and digital magazine specifically for independent air travelers who use corporate or private jet charters, distributed in-flight and in VIP airport lounges worldwide. 

Upward-Traveling Lightning Stroke:In a scientific context, this refers to a theoretical model describing the electromagnetic fields generated by a lightning stroke that travels upwards, often used in atmospheric and electromagnetic compatibility studies. 

Answer: People wanting to get to higher floors of the building using the lifts.

2ND DAY PAST 67

/ Alan Atkinson / Leave a comment

WHAT DO YOU DO?

YOU DON’T WAIT AND WONDER
WHAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN NEXT.

SEIZE THE MOMENT, THE VERY NEXT MOMENT.
CREATE YOUR FUTURE. BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR IT.
LIVE IT. ENJOY IT.

~ ALAN IAN ATKINSON
Writer, Author, Storyteller