How important is it to have structure and processes in place? Are these elements that set an organisation or a person a mark above the rest?

Taipei

There is a certain allure about Taipei that makes me want to return to the place over and over again. Then again, I am a person that tends to visit a place many times.

It is the querky yet interesting charm that Taipeil possesses that attracts me. A city with strong influence of Japanese culture, which still manages to retain its old world charm. Yet you can detect a desire to maintain its own way of life.

I Love Taipei.

Off to Work

It's Monday!!! I am off to face the "Mother of All Monday-blues". Must brace myself and face the world with positive energy... that will get me by. That should see us through the day... at least the working day.

I guess if you consider the people who have been layed off this recession, we who still ahve our jobs should be considered lucky and should not complain. If you put things in such perspective, then I guess its not that bad after all. Nonetheless it is only human to complain and whine about monday-blues. It does not mean that we are taking our situation for granted.

I have been teaching for 12 years now. During these 12 years many changes have taken place in the education system. There are times when these changes make no sense. But what is important is to trust the ones with the "bigger picture" to make decisions that are for the good of the nation and the future.

St Theresa's Prayer

May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibility is that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.

Age...

You know that you are old when...

Your ex-student serves you at NEWURBANMALE!

I had the intention of getting pair of slippers at NUM. I walked in and as I was making my selection, the sales guy asked me if I was teaching in AMK in 1997... I apparently taught him art. I could not for the life of me recognise the guy, he had grown to a fine young man. he gave me his name sheepishly and told me that he was old - at 25! What did that make me?? So kindly he said 'matured"... like wine? So what to do, accept it a a compliment!

With Fitness First @ paragon closed for renovation, there wasn't much choice as to which FF gym to go at 5 pm. For some strange reason, I had to go to FF today, California just would not be right. Not sure why, sometimes we are creatures of strange habits. All other branches closed at 6 pm... AMK..no no, so Cathay was the best choice, Gary could do his work while I did my cardio. The gym was nice. The workout was good.

Watched The Dark Knight while on the cross-trainer.

Ledger may win a posthumus Oscar for his role. I guess everyone is being sentimental about his death and all that. No comments actually. He was good. But what made his portrayal of the joker any different from Jack Nicholson's? The latter was just as good. In fact all portayals of villians in Batman somehow seem stronger that the cape crusader himself. Sentimentalism.

Cathay is picking up. Not as "hip" and crowded as Cineleisure, hopefully in time it will find a niche area and be as good. Crowd is trendy though.

Sunday night. The night before the Mother of All Monday-blues.

NEW FEET WITHIN MY GARDEN GO
by: Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)
NEW feet within my garden go,
New fingers stir the sod;
A troubadour upon the elm
Betrays the solitude.

New children play upon the green,
New weary sleep below;
And still the pensive spring returns,
And still the punctual snow!

A Gathering of Friends

Friends

A Gathering of Friends

A nice evening spent with friends, over a simple meal is something that brightens up your life. This evening made me think about friends, making them, having them, keeping them...

It is good to have friends that you can laugh with, cry with, share light moments with and difficult times with. It makes me think what might life be if we did not have friends. Then again, the wrong type of friends can wreck your very existence. Is there any thing in life that is not a risk?

Today, we had a nice meal. Laughed, joked, teased and passed another day. I am glad for the friends that I have made in life. They have presented me with many moments and much learning.

I forgot to mention. It good that 2 Jan falls on a Friday... you get the feeling that its the beginning of the week when it is not. When you realise that it is the end, you just feel a sense of euphoria. Such little pleasures in life.

In life we must venture into new ground. I have tried facebook, friendster, so why not blogging... really I have no idea where to begin or what the blog is to be about. Should there be a theme? Or should it just be haphazard? Some people find much pleasure in just being random... well we will see.