YOUR POTENTIAL IS ENDLESS.
IF YOU WANT TO PROVE SOMETHING, HAVE THE
RIGHT ATTITUDE.
ATTITUDE IS THE SMALL THING THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE. THE ALTITUDE OF YOUR ATTITUDE
SEPERATES THE GOOD FROM THE GREAT.
ALAN IAN ATKINSON
Writer, Author, Storyteller
THERE ARE THOSE PEOPLE THAT KNOW YOU AND UNDERSTAND YOU, AS WELL. THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT YOU DON’T HAVE TO SAY MUCH; YET THEY SUPPORT YOU IN ALL YOU DO.
AS YOU GO ABOUT YOUR WORK, BEING IN THE PRESENT AS EACH MOMENT COMES; MAKE SURE EVERY PART OF IT IS FILLED WITH JOY. EVEN THE SMALLEST OF THINGS BECOME A CELEBRATION OF LIFE, WHEN YOU DO YOUR TASKS WITH FULL OF LOVE.
~ ALAN IAN ATKINSON
Writer, Author, Storyteller
Celebrate the weekend, come on, There’s a party going on over at Amcorp Shopping Mall in Petaling Jaya; as there has always been every weekend. Theme: Flea Market. It is a party for all ages – there is always something for everyone. My wife, Jeannie, the Batik Influencer; and I, the Hatted (have to make sure I type this correctly…otherwise havoc! Lucky I saw the spelling error, 😂) Writer ; will be there, manning a booth at our current usual spot (F1.08, First Floor).
One could be forgiven to think that our weeks seemed to have shortened to a mere Saturday, Sunday. Monday, Friday…and it’s back to Saturday. It seems that was as time keeps zooming past us at breakneck (not literally) speeds. I am a firm believer in living each moment in the present.
The speed of each moment is supposed to be way, way faster than each second; I believe that speed is relative. We can actually feel and live each moment as we do each day, month, year. Or it can be absolutely fleeting as we feel the days, months, year has been. You may think that it requires some skill to capture each moment. Maybe it does. We can start by looking at time in a different perspective. That rushing and jam-cramming schedules so that we can add more to our free time that we have managed to save, is not all that important. Just saying.
The Batik Influencer is showcasing a whole new range of her Batik Cape Creations under the JEANNIE’S OWN label. Like always, the number of pieces to be made available; is limited to several, only. You will have to come to our booth quickly to acquire one of these very limited in n umber one-of-a-kind JEANNIE’S OWN Batik Cape creations.
I am looking forward to meeting multiple x multiple numbers of my followers and owners of my book, SPARKS OF JOY – SEIZE THE MOMENT. I learn so much (cannot quantify the amount) from all of them. Their insights go a long way for the book titles I am working on. I can’t fit all the insights and ideas into each book title, that’s for sure because the spectrum of ideas from end to end is so wide. However, just like each sunrise every morning where as time progresses in the day and the sun becomes brighter, and we filter the rays and light to choose what best suits us; I will do the same with the ideas for each book title.
Amcorp Mall has loads and loads to offer from the safe to say, “most renown flea market in Malaysia” to the many stores and restaurants that surround the flea market. Come on over to be in the most happening Flea Market in Malaysia. If you have a prior appointment elsewhere, try to relocate the appointment to Amcorp Mall.
The Batik Influencer and I will be at F1.08, First floor; to greet you, to entertain and be entertained by all you wonderful people. Par-t-eee! (wrong spelling for “party”).
Address:
Amcorp Shopping Mall,
Booth 1.08, 1st Floor, ,
8, Jalan, Persiaran Barat, Seksyen 52 Petaling Jaya, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Date: August 16th – August 17th, 2025
Time: 10.00am to 5.30pm (can be extended to 7.00pm)
BEING HAPPY IS A VERY PERSONALLY THING.
IT IS A DECISION. YOU DECIDE YOU WANT TO BE HAPPY.
BEING HAPPY REALLY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH
ANYONE ELSE.
BEING HAPPY ALSO BRINGS YOU PEACE,
WHICH IS
MORE IMPORTANT THAN ANYONE’S JUDGEMENT OF YOU.
~ ALAN IAN ATKINSON
Writer, Author, Storyteller
YOUR PAST. IT’S OVER!
STOP CHEATING YOUR FUTURE WITH IT.
NO MORE EXCUSES.
THERE IS ONLY ONE PERSON, HOLDING YOU BACK – YOU!
IT’S TIME FOR CHANGE.
TIME TO LIVE LIFE AND TAKE IT TO A NEW LEVEL.
~ ALAN IAN ATKINSON
Writer, Author, Storyteller
It has been a very exciting time during our weekends at Amcorp Mall over the past several weekends. The Batik Influencer has been coming out with several of her new Batik Cape Creations under her JEANNIE’S OWN label in very exclusive, limited numbers. They are usually snapped up before the weekend is up.
I have been meeting multiple numbers of people who are following me on the various social media platforms that I am connected with.
Both, Jeannie, the Batik Influencer and I; are very happy and grateful to all you wonderful people who have come by to visit us for chats. We have learnt a great deal from all of you, especially when you share about your experiences that you have been through. It goes without saying that we’ve had loads of laughter, too. Usually, the joyful and happy noises in the mall, can be traced to out booth.
Over the past few months; we have met many Chinese nationals. They come from various parts of China, bringing the culture of their cities, towns or provinces with them. They are very polite and friendly people. We have also met people from other countries – in fact, I think our booth seems to be a great stopover.
Then, Rigzin Dolma; my best Tibetan friend (the only Tibetan I know) is the “go-to” person even if it is just to have a short chat. Rigzin is very approachable, and is one of the nicest persons I know in the mall.
The Batik Influencer and I will be at the same spot, F1.08 on the first floor, this weekend (tomorrow and Sunday). We look forward to meeting with each and everyone of you; and to meeting and making many, many more new friends.
In remembrance of fellow La Salle Klang 1975 schoolmate, the late Kenneth Loh Chee Wey.
Address:
Amcorp Shopping Mall,
Booth 1.08, 1st Floor, ,
8, Jalan, Persiaran Barat, Seksyen 52 Petaling Jaya, 46050 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Date: July 26thth – July 27th, 2025
Time: 10.00am to 5.30pm (can be extended to 7.00pm)
Our dear friend (my wife, Jeannie’s and mine) of many years, Chef Wan; has got a copy of the recently published book, SPARKS OF JOY – SEIZE THE MOMENT for himself.. If anyone knows what a spark is, it is none other than Chef Wan himself.
Chef Wan is everything entertaining. When he gives of himself in whatever he does and commits to; you are guaranteed that you are going to gain way more than 100% from him.
I just realised that he put my book up on his Instagram feed. Interest in the book and readers getting a copy for themselves, has been growing. Will keep you posted with further positive developments, especially from readers and book-buyers, soon.
SOMETIMES,
WRONG TURNS ARE AS IMPORTANT AS RIGHT TURNS.
EVERY MISTAKE WE MAKE
IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO CORRECT OURSELF,
AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN SOMETHING NEW.
THERE ARE TIMES WHEN WRONG TURNS ARE
MORE IMPORTANT THAN RIGHT ONES.
~ ALAN IAN ATKINSON
Writer, Author, Storyteller
Being 67 years old is amazing. I’m speaking with 7 days (1 week) of experience.
The prelude to being 67 years old started 2 days before my birthday when my childhood and schoolmate friend, Charles “Bijou” Rozario sent me birthday wishes with beautiful blessings. Charles himself, has a story to tell. Me telling his story will not do enough justice to it. He has to tell it himself.
This followed an awesome fellowship of a pre-birthday lunch. A phone call led to showing up 45 minutes later to pick me up. Patrick & Hazel Archibald – some of the dearest people to my wife – Jeannie, and I. Lunch was simple, yet delicious, relaxed and thoroughly enjoyable. Hazel’s father joined us for lunch. The impromptu-ness made it all the more a nice time to remember.
With Charles being the first to send me birthday greetings, I have received countless birthday greetings either in person or through the many communication avenues, mainly social media. I have read all the wonderful messages from all you wonderful people – what a way for me to give thanks for the 67 years of living experience and to usher in my 68th year.
I don’t know where to begin with thanking all you wonderful people – social media can be a boon as well as a bane. A boon where everyone connects with me and sends greetings. A bane when it becomes quite tricky in trying to trace back all those who sent birthday greetings for me to thank each and everyone of them personally. Haha. The many groups’ and threads’ feeds seem to get entangled with each other and with other posts’ feeds that I may miss out on thanking some people.
Thank you, each and everyone, family and friends; for the wonderful birthday wishes and messages. These wishes and messages have given an extra oomph to the beginning of my 68th year of life.
On my birthday itself, Leslie Quak, my classmate from school and close friend, treated me for lunch at a restaurant called CapoDelCarne in USJ Heights – a quiet place, where we could talk at a leisurely volumed voice. The meal was good – we both had pasta, Leslie’s a different variant from mine. It was nice to be in the present.
Jeannie and I made it a point to go for mass in the evening at St. Thomas More Church. There, we were met by Mr. & Mrs. Raymond Perera, regulars of evening mass at this parish. They acquired a copy of my book, SPARKS OF JOY – SEIZE THE MOMENT. We also met my cousins, Dato’ Ronald Gomes and his wife, Datin Debbie Gomes, and; Christopher Nalliah and his wife, Evalina Nalliah.
The cousins and wives and us adjourned to Big Daddy’s for dinner. Big Daddy’s is a little restaurant & pub in Taipan, USJ. Serving mainly western cuisine; many of their patrons were there for the pub. It had a nice atmosphere.
The food was decently good. After dinner, we had what is known locally as “the cake cutting ceremony”. Candles were lit, all 67 of them, or at least it looked like there were 67 (when lit – had to qualify myself).
I cutted what looked like a fruit – inspired cake. Lots of fruit decorated the top of the cake. The cake was good. The cake should have been bigger to accommodate more candles.😁🤣
What a day July 10th was, and the days leading up to it. The highlight of the day was when I received a telephone call from my mum and dad with a help of their caregiver, to wish me for my birthday. Mum who is 88 years young and dad who is 93 years spritely, chatted with me for a while. This telephone call was a gift from my parents – a gift that a value cannot be placed. Grateful!
I had to make a statement for the next 66 years – I got tattooed with a tattoo (Stronger Than The Storm) which was partly designed by me. It means that I am the first one with this design. Soon was the tattooist. As usual, he did a great job.
OK. My report card for the first week of me being 67 years, going on 68 is done. In an article to come, I will discuss of what it feels like to be 67 years old. I am already quite qualified, and now, having just completed the first week of my 68th year. I have to admit, it is not like what I had envisioned, so you have hope, too.
I am not too sure whether it is age or whether it is because I am a writer, I tend to look at things differently. One thing is for sure.. call it stubboness…I refuse to give up my rights to think. A vast number of people today are giving away their rights without even as much of a flinch. It’s probably because…er…they don’t think.
One more thing…The next book title… coming.
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
