The large industrial fan is spinning incredibly furiously to cool what seems an impossible task. The sun is blazing with all its might on this Thursday 5.30pm evening. There is no indication that it is going to let up anytime soon.
As we, Jeannie and I sit here, at the Nanking coffee shop (otherwise known as a restaurant) waiting for our placed orders for our dinner and drinks to be delivered to us, we do our own thing – she on her phone doing everything office – liaising with colleagues, marketing and advertising people, and everyone else – work related.
I was hoping to whip out my phone and get cracking on this essay – which was beginning to form in my mind. However, the strap of my Bellroy bag kept releasing itself from its loop on the right side of the bag. It was a bit of a fumble to get it back in its loop.
So, in my eagerness of whipping out my phone (picture movement at lightning speed), I moved at a much slower speed…slower than you can imagine.
And so here am I…or is it I am, writing and hoping to put some thoughts down. At the same time, basking in the last hours of being 67.
I am not too sure what it is, whether it is because I am older than I was just now; or whether it is due to my writing, blogging, researching on a subject or bit of news that I find essay writability, things… life seem different. Very different.
For instance, I got on to the idea that a moment…that is (i.e.) one single moment is more than just that. Most people would define a moment as a sort of a flash in the pan,…quicker than a second. I say, “What’s the hurry?”. People say, “Stop being in a constant rush. Take time to smell the flowers”. I say, there is more time in a moment than you think. Live it. You owe yourself that. We owe ourselves that.
We are made to believe that our lives are in a rush…rushing for this and rushing for that…if not, we will be late. Being intelligent people, we get it. However, there are those who think we need help. And we do…most of the time. Hence, the introduction of A. I. (Artificial Intelligence). Help us get things done faster…to save time…for what?
Have we decided what we are going to do with all the free time we save each day, since we’ve got the latest in technology to make our lives bliss? Maybe, just maybe, we have to go for courses to learn how to live the free time that we have additional each day.
Hang on…when did you last check to see if you have gained free time each day? Maybe, an hour a day? Three hours a week? Or with that supposed time we have saved with modern technology and other help, we’ve cramped in more stuff to do?
The point is, Life is worth the living. Live it. Don’t discount the value of the moment, second or minute. There’s so much to live.
Now, to get back to my food. My Sarawak Kolo mee (1) looks delicious. And the Coca-Cola in an ice-filled glass, thirst quenching. Jeannie’s finished her tou sa pau (2) and teh o kosong panas (3).
NOTES: 1. Sarawak kolo mee is an iconic Malaysian dish consisting of springy egg noodles tossed in lard, shallot oil, and light soy sauce, generously topped with char siew (barbecued pork) and minced pork. In Subang Jaya, there are several highly recommended local spots to enjoy this savory, authentic specialty. 2. A classic Chinese steamed bun featuring a pillowy, soft, and slightly sweet exterior packed with a rich, smooth red bean paste filling. wikipedia 3. Hot black tea without sugar refers to a hot tea brew served without any milk, creamer, or sugar. This drink is commonly served in local Mamak restaurants or coffee shops by steeping a tea bag or tea powder in hot water.
A boat made from a 3-D printer. The wonders of technology.
HAVE YOU TRIED BEING YOURSELF? I MEAN JUST BEING YOU? WHEN YOU REALLY THINK OF IT, MOST PEOPLE TRY TO BE SOMEONE ELSE THEY AREN’T NOW.
PERHAPS, TO PORTRAY A BETTER VERSION OF THEMSELVES. THAT IN ITSELF IS GOOD. WE HAVE TO STRIVE TOWARDS THAT.
HOWEVER, NEVER LOSE THE PERSON YOU ARE. BE YOURSELF NO MATTER WHAT. THERE WILL BE SOME WHO ADORE YOU AND SOME WHO WILL HATE EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU. BUT WHO CARES?
ARE YOU WILLING TO TAKE THAT RISK? IT’S YOUR LIFE. MAKE THE MOST OF IT. LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST.
Years ago, if a person was to say that she or he had graduated from Tunku Abdul Rahman College or more popularly known as T.A.R. College; you may have guessed that the person had to be an accountant or something related to that field. Some of Malaysia’s best accountants and business management professionals were graduates from T.A.R. College.
T.A.R. College has been elevated to university status and is now T.A.R.U.M.T., or Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology. It is located in a very pleasant and conducive part of Kuala Lumpur. When I drove in to the campus, I was immediately impressed with the uncluttered-ness of its layout. It made me feel comfortable, a place where I could think and put thought to paper (old school instead of one of those everyday screen devices that most people are strapped to).
I was here, at TARUMT (without the dots after each letter) to share a presentation to a group of young adults – the next generation of Malaysian and world leaders to be. My presentation, IF YOU THINK YOU CAN, YOU CAN; was with the hope of inspiring these leaders, yes, each and everyone of them (most of them don’t know it…yet); to move from “all’s good to wonderful” or “good to great”.
Among this future generation of leaders were two who aspire to be Prime Minister of Malaysia, of which one is a lady. This is a great start. Instead of using the “anything is possible” phrase, I believe that almost everything is possible. It won’t just happen magically. They have to have their gameplan to make it happen.
With a well thought out gameplan, Malaysia could see a mindset change in its political landscape. The current administration has already raised the bar for Malaysians to have a better Malaysia. These students can help Malaysia grow for Malaysians even further, placing Malaysia on a larger and more prominent stage for world peace.
A student, who approached me after my presentation shared her passion to be a baker of cakes. She is studying accountancy. Her family has high expectations for her to be an accountant.
However, she has a bigger love for stirring and mixing cake-mix dough than churning numbers out on computers and calculators. I suggested for her to do both, be a baker accountant or accountant baker and see where that takes her to… the next level in her future. She could start an accountant style themed cafe that would attract people of the same profession to gather over some of the most delicious cake baked by a top notch accountant, coffee or tea, and discuss financials and strategies. She was excited about the idea.
The presentation went well. It whetted the appetites of these next generation leaders from being just getting by or all’s good, to great, wonderful. It also shows that there is a lot more work needed to stimulate and create a definite mindset shift that the future depends on them – the future leaders of Malaysia…the region…the world.
This lady, said she was nervous as it was her first time being an M.C. for an event like this, for that matter; any event. I thought she did a great job.
Today is my birthday. It is the Batik Influencer’s, Joey’s, Chen Yao’s, Joanne’s, Sarah’s, Kenny’s, Hannah’s, Michelle’s, Ray’s… birthday, too.
Happy Birthday, everyone!
The seventh day of Chinese New Year is also known as 人日 (renri), or “yan yat” in Cantonese (literally translates to “human day“) or “ren qi” in Mandarin. It is supposed to be everyone’s birthday today, so everyone grows one year older and wiser on this day.
Technology – isn’t it a marvel. You want it and yet you don’t want it. Can live without it and yet we can’t.
Sometimes we wonder, which do we want more, the air we breathe or technology.
If you had a hairline fraction of a second to decide without any margin for error , which would you choose? The jury’s out on this.
Amid the Happy Meals, burgers, soda drinks, coffee, tea, were children. Us and yes, the young ones, too.
In our family, birthdays are not taken lightly. Meaning, we are grateful for them. They are celebrations in gratefullness for the gift of life…
O.k. o.k., truth be told. Birthdays and their celebrations are a major part of our lives and have been so for as long as we can remember.
On this day, it was in celebration for Dato’ Sri Ronald and Datin Sri Debbie Gomes’ grandson, Xander’s (Wow! That’s quite a few apostrophes in one sentence) first birthday.
It was a marvelous gathering of his and her siblings and their families, and us; Christopher (cousin) & Evelyn and their son, Brandon; and Jeannie and I (cousin).
McDonald’s, where family reunites (New tagline?). 3 generations – grandparents, grand uncles & aunties (we are in that group), children and their children (Xander’s gereation).
Xander most likely was not too sure what all the fuss was and what was going on, but he played along to make everybody happy – a gracious host.
It was an opportunity to reconnect or rekindle relationships, cousinships and family (no ships here), especially with Ronald’s siblings and their families.
Cousins, left to right: Me, Alan; Leticia, Lavenia (on Leticia’s left); Luvenia, Benjy, Luvenia’s husband; and Christopher.
With Johnny, Leticia’s husband; as he becomes an owner of the book, SPARKS OF JOY – SEIZE THE MOMENT, authored by me.
EPIC! This is definitely one for the album. Here, our cousins (from left to right) Leticia, Lavenia, Luvenia and Geraldine were with Jennifer (4th from left, and I; 3rd from left). This picture was taken in the garden of our Section 5 house, us sitting on the flowerbed box, right outside the living room. On my 65th birthday in July, 2023;I went down memory lane , taking Jeannie and Laura on a short sightseeing trip of all the houses I lived in P.J.. This house remains almost unchanged when comparing to that visiting day and when this picture was taken over 60 years ago.
Cousins, then ↑, and now:
Cousins, right to left: Luvenia, Lavenia, Leticia; and me, Alan.Not in this picture are Geraldine who resides in Australia; and Jennifer, who passed in 2019.
As we get older, some of us have a busier schedule than ever before. While work may not come to the immediate forefront, our immediate families do. Perfectly understandable.
In today’s technological marvel of gadgetry screens from half a square inch to the 100-inch 16k QLED+++ tv screens (got meh? If no got, then coming soon…😉); to the ultra-cinematic screens that is all around you, top and bottom, which immerses you within the picture / movie; they consume our time more and more. Which leaves less and less time for anything else. After all, each day has 24 hours or 1,440 minutes, or 86,400 seconds only.
Living in the present, how we jostle for time depends on decisions we make. How we prioritize our time, and place in the order of importance who or what is important to us – is a continuous decision-making process. To a large extent, people are surrendering their decision-making to modern technology, all in the name of making life easier. They seem to willingly let technology tell them what to do.
In the meantime, let us focus on building stronger, better relationships with our families, friends with humans.
Just received a container (bottle?) of pineapple jam tarts and another container of cheese fingers – both absolutely homemade – for sure. These are no ordinary pineapple jam tarts. These are top-of-the-line, best-est pineapple jam tarts around town (here I mean Subang Jaya, Pee Jay (also known as Petaling Jaya or P.J.) (1) and Kay El (Kuala Lumpur or K.L.) (2). The cheese fingers are great, too.
It all started when I got a text message from my cousin, Rachel Jacques, “Merry Christmas Alan and Jeannie. I want to send you some pineapple jam tarts. Was thinking of you when I was making them”. My reaction was “Wow!”.
Thinking of me when she was making them. What a way to start Christmas morning, receiving this wonderful message.
Jeannie and I took a short drive to Mid-Valley Shopping Mall (3) for brunch and to pick up a couple of things. “Short drive” means the distance is the same as always but the drive was a breeze with hardly any traffic on the Federal Highway.
We were in Klang (4) a couple of hours or so later, to celebrate and bask in the joy of Christmas with the Atkinson family, a tradition of sorts for as long as I can remember.
Must do, have to do or want to do. We want to do. For us, the family gathering together on this joyous occasion is one of the best gifts we can give and get from one another.
Being in the presence of one another, sending family waves to each other, says it all. In this day and age, it is becoming more challenging for us to meet one another. Almost everybody face- screens each other. Terror one, two and three. Don’t play play. (Actually can). (5)
Jeannie and I were the earliest to arrive at dad’s and mum’s house, so we were able to have some 2-on-2 (Jeannie & I, and Mum & Dad 😁) time with mum and dad. I was about to say, “We gotta spend time with Mum & Dad” – the American way. However, “gotta” in this context means we have to make the extra effort.
They were watching a musical show on tv. Mum was in her element, singing along with many of the carols. She sang soprano and could hold her notes and timing pretty well. Dad was as usual, in choir conducting mode – “conducting the choir”.
Royal Salute.The King at 93 and the Queen at 88, of the Atkinson and Gomes families, literally.
The rest of the family, including my neice, Ashley (Terence’s & Mabel’s daughter), who was on holiday from Europe; arrived shortly after.
Jeannie got a chicken sort of dish prepared though the high tea was catered. Uma made a wicked (awesomely awesome) Shepherd’s pie, Mexican style, complete with cachos.
THE ATKINSON FAMILY
The food was great the evening was great, most of all – the whole family coming together was great.
Jeannie and I headed to the Archibalds for dinner. We arrived a few minutes ahead of 7.30pm. Most of their guests were already there, meaning the phrase “typical Malaysia time” was waning. Punctuality here meant being earlier than the stipulated time.😁
Hazel, Patrick, their daughter, Mary; yours truly and Jeannie.
Patrick’s and Hazel’s guest list was a bit unusual, a first; at least to me. There were about 20 guests.
The “main star” of each family that was there, was a person that was a godchild of theirs. Jeannie and I were a bit modified. Patrick and Hazel were witnesses to our daughter, Laura’s marriage. Can I say this was a “themed” dinner?
I found out that some of them were from Klang in their schooling days – all of whom were great fans of mum’s (my mother, better known as Mrs. Atkinson) butter cake. They grew up with mum’s butter cakes at birthdays and other celebrations.
The mix & match (if there was such a thing for food at dinner) of dishes (not just empty dishes but with food on them😉😀) at dinner was pretty good. If I had to choose one that was my very favourite for the evening; it would have had to be the cutlets.
Christmas Day came and went. Like that lah! (Malaysian expression).
At the Atkinsons on Boxing Day
“Boxing Day”, the day after Christmas; was one of the most important dates in the Christmas season in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. Besides boxing each other (which we were made to believe, yet had no idea why. No google and ChatGBT back then.), it was “Open House” at the Atkinsons of Klang.
The morning usually began early (it should… after all it is the “morning”), with family members from the Atkinsons and Gomes clans – uncles, aunties, cousins and lots more being the first to visit. Our neighbours and friends made up the rest. The boys of La Salle Klang and the girls from HIJ Convent Klang made up the next big number of visitors. We also had many visitors from other states in Malaysia, as well as visitors from abroad that added blessings to our family.
Open House at Jalan Ladang (where we used to stay), quite often lasted non-stop for 2 to 3 days. Food flowed. Drinks flowed. Throughout the time – always. Music played 24 hours, non-stop, almost. The time when the music stopped was because it had reached the end of a vinyl record, or open-reel tap-deck, or cassette tapes. Turn it over to the flip side, and continue with the music.
The house was a big house with a lot of land, including a badminton court. It was amazing how we accommodated so many people with so many people over the two to three day hive of activity. But we did. The La Salle guys from my late brother Nigel’s, Terence’s, Malcolm’s and my batch; my late sister, Jennifer’s classmates and schoolmates of HIJ Convent, our cousins – they all reminisce about the great times they always had with us during our Christmas Open House and other times, too. We lived near La Salle School, which meant our home was a natural stopover for the boys. We always had fun – kaw kaw (6) maximum.
Fast forward to today – we may have never appreciated the time we had as much as we appreciate them now. I wonder if appreciation is quantifiable – if we add the energy of our appreciation now to the time we were living in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.
Today’s world is commandeered by the screen in front of us, be it the smartphone, tablet, computer big-screen. With the introduction of A.I. and ChatGBT, many people have willingly surrendered their rights to think and make decisions – to technology. Make no mistake – at the apex of technology is still helmed by human. Can you imagine another “the Martians Are Coming” (7).
While technology and all the gizmos that come with it are exciting and mostly helpful when used appropriately, they are tools to help our everyday life, instead of our everyday life becoming enslaved to these devices. I love tech and all it has to offer, but I won’t trade human-ness for them.
Let the spirit of being with people continue to be the magic of Christmas.
NOTES: 1. Subang Jaya and Petaling Jaya are cities in Selangor, the west central state of Peninsular Malaysia, Malaysia. 2. Kuala Lumpur, the capital, is a bustling, ultra modern, cosmopolitan city of Malaysia. 3. One of the largest shopping malls in Malaysia, Mid-Valley Megamall is located in Kuala Lumpur. 4. Klang, is officially the royal city of Selangor. 5. Don’t play play actually means seriously, or this is serious. 6. Kaw kaw means strong or concentrated. Kaw is usually associated with coffee. Kaw Kaw would mean absolutely maximum. He got a reprimanding kaw kaw for the multiple errors he made in his work assignment. 7. “The Martians Are Coming” usually refers to the panic caused by Orson Wells” 1938 radio adaption of H.G. Wells’ War of the Worlds, presented as fake news bulletins, but it’s also a popular phrase in sci-fi.
Top-of-the-line, best-est pineapple jam tarts around town.
Notice the “his” (Kheng’s) and “her” (Sarah’s) matching socks, with drooping magnetic ears. Super high tech.
The power couple, dad and mum; as there were tearing open the Christmas wrappers from their gifts received.
The various Christmas tree ornaments, decorating one (there are three) of the Christmas trees in Dad’s & Mum’s house.Picture taken (as in most of the pictures here, courtesy of the newest addition to the Atkinson family, Kheng.
Jeannie, very proud of her beautiful Christmas-y blouse acquisition.She’s got one for the coming Chinese New Year, too.
Laura, the youngest of the Atkinson family; with her husband, Praga.
The Queen of the Atkinson and Gomes families. Looking as lovely as ever.
Our (Jeannie’s and my) son-in-law, Praga.
Uma, Malcolm’s wife, always a great cook. She made a sort of a slightly spicy, shepherd’s pie (she got the recipe when they stopped by at the Manger to pay homage to baby Jesus) with chachos (if I spelt it right), I think.
The youngest of my siblings, Malcolm. Also, the calmest.
Ashley – She’s back from a far away land, for the Christmas holidays.
You would probably mistake him for the lead singer from the world famous “Sha-na-na” singing group. Jay has earned and established bragging rights of his own – famous as an established singer and musician. Husband of Ashley, he speaks fluent French, just saying.
The Atkinson family, pickled or tickled about something.
Patrick and Hazel Archibald, and us; Jeannie and Alan.
At Patrick and Hazel Archibald’s home, for Christmas dinner.
