Happy New Year, friends!
Greetings, folks! Firstly, Happy New Year! The first (working) week of the year has already passed by and it’s the w’kend now! Time’s flyin’ past so quickly already. I heard that Friendster had added some fancy stuff to their blogs and hence, I remembered that I ONCE had a blog in ‘ere. Upon checking the history, I discovered that I haven’t blogged since April 2008!!! Before giving my poor blog some breaths of life ,I figured it would be best to beautify it a li’l, so that it would be pleasing to the eyes of the reader! After having obsessively gone thru’ each theme, and each design, painstakingly trying it out on my blog, this is what I’ve come up with. I like the choice of colours as they’re very serene and calming to the eyes. Apart from that, it is my hope that the facelift to my blog would help inspire me to come up with some posts for this year!
The second half of last year had been most stressful for me, particularly in my careet. To cut a long story short, I had obtained a seat at a university in Scotland to do my Masters in Occupational Medicine (which is what I desire to do!) and I was soooooooo close to going. Yet, the Ministry of Health in M’sia were concerned ’bout the syllabus taught there, and its relevance to our local setting. Their advice was for me to do it locally instead! At that moment, it was extremely devastating as I was in the midst of preparing for my visa, etc. Yet, months later, now that I’m out of that sad phase, I’m able to now look back and reflect upon the month’s events. If everything had worked out well, as I wanted it to, I would’ve left in September 2008 for a year. For starters, I wouldn’t have been able to help out in my dear cousin Jeyanthi’s wedding, for which I was the organist and also the emcee. Apart from that, there was also a rather major conference at work and I’m glad I didn’t miss it. Then, there was Christmas and New Year.
Essentially, this was the first Christmas and New Year for Robz and his siblings without both their parents as my father-in-law passed away in March 2008. If I had gone away to the UK to pursue my career, I wouldn’t have been there for Robz when he needed me most, particularly during the festive season. Late father-in-law literally ran the administration of the church and it is now that we realize how much Uncle had done for the church. At least, with me being around, I’ve been able to help Robz with all our church work activities. If I had gone away to the UK, I wouldn’t have been able to help out with the Christmas Carols 2008 at church! I had chosen a lovely material during Hari Raya sales at Kamdar and bought 60metres in bulk . Back then, it was in the faith that we’d manage to gather 30 carollers. Previously, we’ve only had 20-24members. Months later, as the practices begun, we had exactly 30members and we stiched lovely outfits using that material. So many families were thrilled so see us in matching uniformed outfits ,singing Christmas Carols till the wee hours of the morning. This time, we moved around in a bus, so it was so much more fun travelling all over Klang Valley in a group. Then, there was Christmas service & New Year service. It is always a joy to attend midnight services, followed by a feast at church at 2.30am! We tried a different caterer out this time, thanks to a contact I obtained from my cousin Anne. The food was delicious and everyone loved it!
All in all, the whole of 2008 had been quite a whirlwind, yet when I sit back and ponder upon it, I realize that our desires of the heart are sometimes worlds apart from what God’s will is, in our lives. Perhaps it’s God’s will that I stay right ‘ere, in my home sweet home and continue to progress not just in my career, but spritually, and with the family,too! I’ve applied to the local universities and keeping my fingers crossed, hoping that I’d get a seat this year! These days, with the advancement of technology, whenever it is the festive season, we rush to send friends and loved ones forwarded emails and msg-es wishing them. In the midst of all that sms-exchange hustle and bustle, one of my favourite texts comes from my beloved Daddy, and he said, ” Happy New Year to my beloved daughter Julie ….. May the year 2009 be the best year of your life” .
With that, here’s a toast to the year 2009 and may it, indeed, be the BEST year of all our lives. Happy New Year, friends!
