Fare Thee Well, Old Friend

 

One of the two little dots in the Tao symbol has move on...

For years, we have been poking and bantering with each other. 

All in good fun as it didn't take long for the two of us to figure out we are actually two opposing sides of the same coin!

In our community - where most "yalor, yalor" out of politeness, or to insulate themselves in the echo chamber of reinforcing beliefs - you are the rare voice of rebuttals!

I thank you for your sense of humour, and tolerance to suffer the slings and arrows of my "no big, no small" pokes.

Blogging would not be the same without you...

See you in the stars! CW the fisherman!

And unspoken things.

The Garden of Words - My "Jie-Jie" complex

Just watched this heartwarming 45 minutes anime from Youtube:

If you watching, do stay all the way to the end after the credits. It seems Marvel is not the only ones using this trick...



Growing up and studying in a monastery secondary school (all boys), I guess its natural to have feelings for our female teachers, especially if they are hot.

Females readers studying in convents may have similar fantasies, no? 

Anyway, let's just say I joined the Art Club because of her. Wink.

Who wouldn't want to spend more time with those you have a fondness to?

Nothing happened. Its all one sided. 

Bitter-sweet. 

All part of growing up.



Guess what? After leaving school at 16 to work, most of my female colleagues are older jie-jie. 

How not to have a jie-jie complex like that?

Thankfully, I am "nornal" now.

It happend when I reached and passed 50. (Get it?)

LOL!



Watching the anime, I recognised quite a few landmarks and buildings in the background.

Tokyo Bird Watching, Tokyo Buildings

Shinjuku Gyoen National Park is huge!







 

Our Love Changes; So Do Our Investments

Growing up, our parents and siblings meant the world to us. They are our whole universe.

OK, for some, they never really knew their parents since both are busy working their butts off for their careers.

Just substitute grandparents, maids, or iPads (I'm reaching for my Kleenex) for parents if you must...

Then once we started school, we discover friends!

They now meant more to us than our parents. Especially during our teenage years of trying to establish our own identity...

As we move through different schools and into adulthood, we just swap one set of friends for another. Surprise, surprise! We now spend more time with colleagues (who are not our friends) than friends outside of work!?

We say parents are important, but what do we do in practice? We spend our Christmas and New Year eve partying with friends and colleagues...

Lucky there are no Corporate Chinese New Year eve dinners or else who will spend time with family on CNY eve? Aren't you glad "Lor Hei" dinner does not clash with anything else?

Being accepted by the Group or Herd is paramount. Or so you thought.

That's until you met her (and/or him. Hey! What goes on behind closed doors I don't care).

Now she is everything.

No one else matters. Even parents. But you don't say it out loud of course! 

You dare now to disappoint the world just because of her.

Friends "jio" you out you not free. Mom asks you back for CNY you say you are taking a vacation with her.

You even willing to tie the "knot" together. What is personal freedom?

Then a child comes along...

And your whole universe has a new alignment.

Now that child matters more.

And you are willing to do whatever it takes to make that child's future a brighter one.

Your career becomes back in view. You want to provide your child the best money can buy, even if it meant you won't have time seeing your child grow...

You tell yourself nothing else matters...

P.S.  This love story is just a metaphor. If you had 10 or more years worth of investment and/or trading journey, see if it rang a bell?

Works better if your journey now include more than one asset class other than equities.

Even if you are a one asset class investor as in equities only, I'll be very surprised if your "parents and siblings" still matter the most?

 

 

Love at Changi beach

Both of them are sitting at their spot at Changi beach.

The sun is setting. 

The shimmering waves providing the backdrop to the silhouettes of people jogging, cycling, and rollerblading by. 

He turned and look at her.

Her face glowed in the amber of the evening sun.

Gently, he stroked her long tresses behind her ear.

Surprised, she whispered in a embarrassed voice as she brushes his hand off, "Stop it. People may be watching..."

"You are so beautiful," the man looked intently into her eyes.

"Stop playing around."

Bashfully, she turned her head to avoid his eyes.

But her hand reaches out to his hand.

They clasped. 

Silently, both of them just sat there enjoying the evening breeze.

"Grandpa, grandma!" a little boy of ten shouted.

"Mother says the barbecue is ready. Come back to the chalet!"

Gingerly, she helped her man rise up from the park bench. And handed him his cane.

The Carpenter

Once upon a time, two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side-by-side, sharing machinery and trading labor and goods as needed without a hitch.

Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference and finally, it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence.

One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's toolbox. "I 'm looking for a few days' work," he said. "Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there I could help with? Could I help you?"

"Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbor. In fact, it's my younger brother! Last week there was a meadow between us. He recently took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us.  Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll do him one better. See that pile of lumber by the barn? I want you to build me a fence an 8-foot fence -- so I won't need to see his place or his face anymore."

The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you."

The older brother had to go to town, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day. The carpenter worked hard all that day -- measuring, sawing and nailing. About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job.

The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped. There was no fence there at all.

 
 
It was a bridge .. A bridge that stretched from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work, handrails and all! And the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming toward them, his hand outstretched..

"You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done."

The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in middle, taking each other's hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox onto his shoulder.

"No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the older brother.
"I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, "but I have many more bridges to build." 

Single, Married, and Divorced

 

 

I received these pictures from a married lady friend via email. I've always loved women with a sense of humour. This one takes the cake! 

And if you can't see yourself in one of the pics, you are either hopelessly in love (envy man!) or waiting for love (Japanese: Kampatei! Korean: Fighting! Chinese: Jia You!).

Either way, you'll need lots of humour!

Now who wear the pants in the above pics? LOL!  

 

 

Love in the City

Elizabeth gazed into the mirror as she glides her lipstick across her lips. Ah! That’s the final touch.

For a moment, her eyes caught the faint glint of loneliness behind those mascaraed eyes. She sat there staring into the pretty reflection. Although in her early 40s, she can still turn heads, and she knows it.

But here and now, she wishes James would be here by her side. To spend more time with her… 

Elizabeth married James 15 years ago when she was 28 and James 40.

James was a good catch. He has always been ambitious and driven. That’s what attracted Elizabeth to James when they first met at a party. James has successful built up a thriving OEM manufacturing company after striking out on his own at age 45. As his business has grown, he now travels 1-2 week out every month on business trips and conferences.

Elizabeth has recently bumped into her ex-boyfriend Peter - the University sweet-heart she dumped for James. Peter was with his wife and their two young children at the mall where Elizabeth had her facials. They looked like the happy family. Mid-level executive, public housing, Volkswagen car, working wife…

That could have been me… Elizabeth wistfully thought to herself. Her gazed lowered to her Tiffany diamond ring, and panned to the Rolex on her wrist.

Opps! I better get going! Grabbing her Prada bag, she slips into her Jimmy Choo and hurried out and sashayed into her BMW. As she drove out of her bungalow’s driveway, she smiles to herself. Life as a tai-tai can be lonely at times, but there are some things money can buy… 

 

James laid Linda’s head on his shoulder as he wrapped his arm round her waist. Linda had a drop too much that evening entertaining their Japanese clients in Tokyo with James tonight. Like a pair of drunken sailors, James finally reached Linda’s room. As he laid Linda down on to the bed, James paused for a moment as he straightens himself.  His eyes meandered down Linda’s face. Moving onwards to her bosom, on to her tiny waist, her hips, and now to her legs…  

Linda is James’ personal assistant. She joined James’ company fresh from her graduation from junior college. From a dorky 18 year old, Linda has turned into a young woman of 28. She was with James from day 1 – soldiering beside him as he built up the company to what it is today.

To Linda, James is more than a boss. James is her mentor, her confidant, her best friend, her… 

Linda had a personality that puts everyone at ease and you can’t help but like her bubbly character. She lights up the room with her presence. However, Linda is not what you would call pretty… 

James thoughts ran amok as he looked at Linda lying there on the bed. He can recall the stimulating conversations with Linda during the many business dinners together. And Linda was there whenever James needed someone to listen to him when he’s feeling down.

James never had that kind of conversations with Elizabeth.  But Elizabeth is beautiful.  James always wears Elizabeth’s hand proudly as he introduces his wife to his business associates. He loved the look of envy in their eyes. 

James gave a gentle pat on Linda’s forehead, turned, and walks towards the door. As the door gently closes, a tear drop silently slides down Linda’s cheek…

Alfonso is 22, comes from Malacca, and has spent the past 2 years working in Singapore as a physical trainer. He dreamt of setting up his own gym in Malacca in a few years’ time, and expanding it to a chain of gyms all over Malaysia – KL, Ipoh, Penang, etc.

First he has to make and save up the seed capital. Although the salary in Singapore is a lot higher than what he could earn in Malacca, Alfonso soon learned of a more lucrative way to earn more. 

He discovered there were quite a few rich but bored or lonely tai-tais that visit the gym where he works. These women would ask Alfonso to be their private physical trainer. It’s another kind of physical workout, if you know what I mean…

Alfonso waves at Elisabeth as her BMW draws near the curb.

Winter Of Life

 You know... Time has a way of moving quickly
And catching you unaware of the passing years.

It seems just yesterday that I was young,
Just married and embarking on my new life with my mate.
And yet in a way, it seems like eons ago,
And I wonder where all the years went.
I know that I lived them all...

And I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams...
But, here it is... The winter of my life and it catches me by surprise...

How did I get here so fast?
Where did the years go and where did my youth go?

I remember well...
Seeing older people through the years and thinking that those
Older people were years away from me and that winter was so far off
That I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like...

But, here it is...
My friends are retired and getting grey...
They move slower and I see an older person now.
Some are in better and some worse shape than me...
But, I see the great change...

Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant...
But, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those
Older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd be.

Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day!
And taking a nap is not a treat anymore... it's mandatory!
'Cause if I don't on my own free will... I just fall asleep where I sit!

And so, now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared
For all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability
To go and do things that I wish I had done but never did!!

But, at least I know, that though the winter has come,

And I'm not sure how long it will last...
This I know, that when it's over... Its over...

Yes, I have regrets.

There are things I wish I hadn't done...
Things I should have done, but indeed,

There are many things I'm happy to have done.
It's all in a lifetime...

So, if you're not in your winter yet...
Let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think.
Whatever you would like to accomplish in your life, please do it quickly!
Don't put things off too long!!

Life goes by quickly.  So, do what you can today,
As you can never be sure whether this is your winter or not!

You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life...

So, live for today and say all the things you want your loved ones to remember...
And hope they appreciate and love you for all the things
You have done for them in all the years past!!

Life is a gift to you.

The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after.
Make it a fantastic one.

~ And, Remember ~

"It is health that is real wealth

And not pieces of gold or silver."

~Author, Unknown~

The World is Mine

Today, upon a bus, I saw a very beautiful woman

And wished I were as beautiful.

When suddenly she rose to leave,

I saw her hobble down the aisle.

She had one leg and used a crutch.

But as she passed, she passed a smile.

Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.

I have two legs; the world is mine.

I stopped to buy some candy.

The lad who sold it had such charm.

I talked with him, he seemed so glad.

If I were late, it'd do no harm.

And as I left, he said to me,

"I thank you,

you've been so kind.

It's nice to talk with folks like you.

You see," he said, "I'm blind."

Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.

I have two eyes; the world is mine.

Later while walking down the street,

I saw a child I knew.

He stood and watched the others play,

but he did not know what to do.

I stopped a moment and then I said,

"Why don't you join them dear?"

He looked ahead without a word.

I forgot, he couldn't hear.

Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.

I have two ears; the world is mine.

With feet to take me where I'd go..

With eyes to see the sunset's glow.

With ears to hear what I'd know.

Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.

I've been blessed indeed, the world is mine.

The Rain

 

It was a busy
Morning, about 8:30, when an elderly   gentleman in his 80's

Arrived to have
Stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry

As he had an
Appointment at 9:00 am. I took his vital
Signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over

An hour before someone
Would to able to see him. I saw him looking at his

Watch and decided, since I
Was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate

His wound. On exam, it was
Well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the

Needed supplies to
Remove his sutures and redress his wound.

While taking care of
His wound, I asked him if he had another doctor's

 appointment this morning, as
He was in such a hurry.

The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to
The nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife.

I inquired as to her health.

He told me that she had been there
For a while and that she was a victim

Of Alzheimer's Disease.

As we
Talked, I asked if she would be upset if

He was a bit late.

He
Replied that she no longer knew who he was,

That she had not recognized him in five years now.

 

I was surprised, and asked him, 'And you

Still go every morning, even though she doesn't

Know who you are?'

He smiled as he
Patted my hand and said,
'She doesn't know me, but

I still know who she is.'

I had to hold back
Tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm,

And thought,
'That is
The kind of love I want in my life.'
True love is
Neither physical, nor romantic.

True love is an
Acceptance of all that is, Has been, will be, and will not be.

The
Happiest people don't necessarily have the

Best of everything; they just make
The best of everything they have.

'Life isn't about
How to survive the storm,
But how to dance in the rain.'

We are all getting Older

Tomorrow may be our turn.