I'M AT A CROSS ROAD

When one is at a cross road, one just can't stand there forever, one has to make a choice which road to choose.  Even when I was  out there at some of  my outdoor activities I had to made a choice. Choosing the right path would mean I will have a smoother or shorter hike and making a wrong choice I might go in  circle or even lost.
Today , after much thinking, soul searching even,  I finally told my executive director that I am quiting. The official resignation will be courier out today. What a relieve having got that off my chest.

when you are at the cross road, you have to choose your path.

What made me to take such a decision?

Here is the clue:-

Actually I had no problem with my Big boss , it's the GM who is the pain at the back where the sun don't shine. My son who was also working under him had quit after years of torment left last May. Now it's my turn, though I have not even secure a  job yet. Sure the pay is good and I enjoyed the perk, and I have to give all that up now. I heard on the radio just the other day, that if one is not happy working at a work place it's better they leave no point hanging around.  Well of course I will leave with a heavy heart as I had a good team working with me, plus I will be leaving some of my hiking and photography kakis whom I met over the short period I was here in Johor.

Anyway time to pack up my bags and I should be on my way back to where I belongs in Klang where my heart is.

Can't believe I lasted this long. see my earlier posting here

FUNERAL PORTRAIT

Have you ever wonder when people have their photographs taken?  Most of the photos I have seen during their funeral are taken quite recently. Rarely would one see photo taken during their youth.  So my question is when is the right time to have such photographs taken?  But then nobody can be sure when they will go right?  I have also seen one reproduced from the decease's identity card. Apparently they could not find any of his photograph or he must have dislike taking photograph.  Have you notice all the photographs are taken in the studio?   Can we break away from this norm?  Since I am an outdoor person I think I would like to have mine taken from my outdoor activities , not taken at the studio. It can be something like these . What do you think?

This is as good as a studio shoot.

Maybe this one?

NO MONEY, BETTER DON'T DIE

During the conversation with the cook at my late mother's wake service, he mention if one is poor,better don't die. While it may sound humourous, it is also so true. But poor or rich death is inevitable. If you have the money , it is no issue, but if you don't it will be a big burden, if you don't have a lot of siblings to share out the cost.

We use to hear people say, if you got no money better don't fall sick, because of the high medical bills involved. But now looks like if you have no money dying is going to be a costly affairs too, particulary if you folllow chinese rites. For a piece of land with reasonally good fong shui will cost you at least 30K these days. An average coffin will cost about 8k. And what about the other ceremonial expenses?

For Christains it might not be that costly. This morning my wife text me to request me to check with our pastor on the burial land cost. I asked her why? She said better stand by la .I think cremation is the cheapest. Get the cheapest coffin and done with it, no need to burden the children with all the unnecessary expenses. What do you think?

REFLECTION.

It's been over a week since my late mother left us. I am back to work and had some time to reflect on what happen last week. Got this message on my talk box from someone very dear to my heart.She had disappointed me a couple of days earlier during my son's wedding and now this.

“Sorry I can't come because I have no transport”.

Well given the benefit of a doubt it might have been a legitimate excuse, but I think it is just lame.

If it was just anyone I would not have mind, but she was family and I had always treated her as one

in fact I would say even better than my own fresh and blood.

In contrast,one of my friend whom I had met only a couple of time (and I have not even add him on fb at that time) showed up at my mother's recent wake service. I was rather surprise he show up . So my friendship must have meant something to him. He lived at Jalan Ampang , Kuala Lumpur.

And yet he was able to take a train to klang and from there took a cab to attend the funeral service.I am touched and humbled by his action.There was another surprise visitor, my hiking friend whom I met less than 5 times came all the way from kajang . Friends I never expect to come, came and those I count on did not show. What is the lesson learnt from this?  I meant nothing to her. It's a bitter pill to swallow,but time to face reality.

R.I.P MUM.

My mum had been battling colon cancer for close to 2.5 years. She was a fighter with strong will. When she was first diagnosed for last stage of cancer in 2010, Doctors predicted that she had less than a year to live. She fought hard and took control of her own timetable. She was able to witness the birth of two beautiful great-granddaughters during this painful yet joyful period. She also made it through two of her grandsons’ weddings in 2010 and 2012. Unfortunately, the constant pain that she was suffering had worn down her body. She finally waved her goodbye to us the day after her grandson’s wedding. 

Photo credit and the above note by my nephew :Sih Han

++

My mother passed on on 4th June 2012 at 8.48pm and was laided to rest on thursday 7th june, 2012.

I will alway cherish the memory of my mother who had make great sacrifice for her children and often depriving herself of the luxury of a good life. My father passed on when I was only three and she single handed raised my elder brother  younger sister and I.

Even manage to buy a house through her savings and loan from friends some 30 or 40 years ago at Rm18,000 which was quite a huge sum in those days. Always care for her children and she never fail to make me tea or  prepared my favourte soup for me whenever I visited her. I shall missed her love. Goodbye and rest in peace ma.

I would like to expressed my thanks to friends ,my pastor and elder who came to the wake to lend support and console me.I was surprise to see some friends whom i least expect to turn up but they did.  The one whom I was hoping would turned up did not. I felt hurt and betrayed. At least I am able to find the true color of a person from this episode.

A HEAVY HEART

The past couple of days was filled with anxiety. Preparation was in full stream for my youngest son's wedding. Then on thursday morning I received a call from my eldest son that my mum was admitted to the hospital. I rushed back home a day earlier than my planed leave. Half way my wife texted me to come home early as well.  I prayed a little prayer to God to halt everything at least till the ceremony was over. I reached the hospital around 6.00pm, and saw my mum so fragile. She was groaning in pain and as a son I felt so helpless, I could not do anything to help her.  All I could do was prayed that God ease her pain.
The docter came and from his report things does not looks good. He is opined at the most she has only a couple of months left. This morning my wife text me from the hospital not to return back to johor yet .Mum does not looks good. She had endured much suffering till her grand son's wedding. Maybe she knows everything has been settled now and wants to leave her. It breaks my heart, but then I can't bear to see her suffered further. May God have mercy upon her.   I can never repay the debt to my mum.  No words can expressed how much she meant to us. Mum we loved you.