Ciao 2008, Wassup 2009

Today people around the world celebrate to welcome the new year - 2009 !

However the dawn of the new year is not greeted with merriment and joyous cheers as we brace ourselves for tough times. It was reported that tho shopping malls appeared crowded, visitors were only window shopping.

The global economic slump brought about by the falling of US Dollar has everyone in recession.

People are being retrenched and Mummy's getting a 2 digit pay-cut next year :( ... She is worried about how I am going to get my neng-neng.

Ee-Ee says that it's high time we practise the "ikat perut" tactic ???

Oh well, Happy New Year anyway.

Christmas 2008

Merry Christmas Everyone !

Do you know Rudolph ?

Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
had a very shiny nose.
And if you ever saw him,
you would even say it glows.

All of the other reindeer
used to laugh and call him names.
They never let poor Rudolph
join in any reindeer games.

Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say:
"Rudolph with your nose so bright,
won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"

Then all the reindeer loved him
as they shouted out with glee,
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer,
you'll go down in history!


- Johnny Marks, 1949

Prayer for my Khong-Khong

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."

3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence.

4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,

6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side, 10 thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.

9 If you make the Most High your dwelling—even the LORD, who is my refuge-

10 then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.

11 For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;

12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.

16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."

NIV, Psalm 91

When A Child is Born

A ray of hope flickers in the sky

A tiny star lights up way up high

All across the land dawns a brand new morn

This comes to pass, when a child is born

A silent wish sails the seven seas

The winds of change whisper in the trees

And the walls of doubt tumble tossed and torn

This comes to pass when a child is born

A rosy hue settles all around

You start to feel you’re on solid ground

For a spell or two no one seems forlorn

This comes to pass, when a child is born

It’s all a dream, an illusion now

It must come true, sometime soon somehow

All across the land, dawns a brand new morn

This comes to pass, when a child is born

A ray of hope flickers in the sky

A tiny star lights up way up high

All across the land dawns a brand new morn

This comes to pass, when a child is born

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZfjIAmfH8w

Christmas at the Curve, Mutiara Damansara

Papa and Mummy took me to the Curve Shopping Complex to look at the Christmas decorations. I tell you all the shopping complexes here at the Klang Valley are competing to put up the most colorful and elaborate Christmas deco, and has become a yearly trend and affair.

This year there was an enchanting Christmas Garden setup at the Curve. There were dwarfs and animals crafted plants there. You can click here to look out for more on what's happening at the Curve http://www.thecurve.com.my/

You can also visit the competitor shopping centre http://www.1utama.com.my/welcome.aspx. They are featuring "The Magic of Christmas". Or you may walk across the Curve and visit Ikea /Ikano Power Centre to see Santa's Village.

Ha ! Ha ! You will be spoilt for choice during this holiday season, not to mention the far many options one may have if you are downtown in KL city.

Niways ... just enjoy this yuletide season as times ahead aren't rosy.

Going to the Dentist

Picture taken from http://www.usbornebooksathome.co.uk

Mummy & Papa took me to see Uncle Dentist today. There you can check out Uncle Dentist here http://jkohdental.com/ It was quite an experience. Uncle Dentist said I could sit with Papa on his special chair which could go up and down like an aeroplane.

Uncle Dentist also gave me a round mirror to let me look at my teeth. And he had a very bright light on the overhead to help me count my teeth. Mummy kept telling me to say "aargh" to Uncle Dentist.

After counting through my teeth and looking at them with his little round mirror ... Uncle Dentist had one just like the mirror he loaned to me, Uncle Dentist says that I MUST start to brush my teeth daily. No more drinking milk just before bed and no snacking once I brush my teeth. He sounded serious about this ... both Mummy and Papa want to follow the advise given by Uncle Dentist.

Do you heed Uncle Dentist's advise ?

oH deAr ! oH mY !

oH deAr ... oH mY ...

Just only we read that Financial Advisers are telling us that the Employee's Provident Fund (EPF) http://www.kwsp.gov.my/index.php?lang=en have always been faring better than the stock market with consistent returns - saying that the EPF NEVER gives negative returns ! There you can see from the comparison chart above.

Why the notion for this justification ? It's because for year 2009 - 2010, the government have "imposed" EPF contributors (like my Mummy and Papa) to reduce their compusory contribution from 11% (for employees) to only 8% to help promote in-country spending. Many financial advisors have warned against the bad effects of this on the long-term retirement savings for individuals.

Then ... yesterday, it was reported that total investment income for EPF has dropped by 60.4% from the previous quarter to RM2.06 billion in Q3 but EPF justifies that they have positive income posted despite volatile market.

However, can someone tell me shouldn't there be something for us to be fearful of ?

God's Plan

God has a plan for me. It is hidden within me, just as the oak is hidden within the acorn, or the rose within the bud. As I yield myself more fully to God, His Plan expresses itself more perfectly through me. I can tell when I am in tune with it, for then my mind and heart are filled with a deep inner peace. This peace fills me with a sense of security, with joy, and a desire to take steps that are a part of the Plan.

God's Plan for me is a perfect part of a larger Plan. It is designed for the good of all and not for me alone. It is a many-sided Plan and reaches out through all the people I meet. All the events and people who come into my life are instruments for the unfolding of this Plan.

God has chosen those people He wants me to know to love and to serve. We are continually being drawn to one another in ways that are not coincidental. I pray that I may become a better instrument to love and to serve and that I may become more worthy to receive the love and service of others.

I ask the Father within me for only those things which He wants me to have. I know that these benefits will come to me at the right time and in the right way. The inner knowing frees my mind and heart from all fear, greed, jealousy, anger and resentment. It gives me courage and faith to do those things which I feel are mine to do. I no longer look with envy at what others are receiving, nor do I compare myself with them. Therefore, I do not cut myself off from God, the giver of all good things.

God's gifts to me can be many times greater than I am now receiving. I pray that I may increase my capacity to give only as I receive, and receive only as I give.

I believe that when I cannot do those things I desire to do, it is because God has closed one door only to leave ajar a better and larger door. If I do not see that door just ahead, it is because I have not seen, heard, or obeyed God's guidance. It is then that God uses the trouble or seeming failure which may result to help me face myself, and see the new opportunity before me.

The real purpose of my life is to find God within my own mind and heart, and to help my fellowmen. I thank my Father for each experience which helps me to surrender myself to His Will. For only as I lose myself in the consciousness of His Great Presence can His Plan for my life be fulfilled.

- Glenn Clark