Ushering a new year...

It's time again for us to usher a new year leaping into new challenges and also hoping that this new year will be a bountiful year for us. But before that, let us sit down and think for a moment what had 2009 given us.

For me, 2009 is another roller coaster ride as what I've been through in 2008 but the latter presents me with more excitement, happiness and quite a fair share of grief and despair.

I started 2009 with plenty of emptiness but that soon had me filled in with new hopes and dreams when I've found a soul-mate who is able to share my dreams and my happiness not to mentioned being by my side shouldering my gried and despair just when I need her. With an equal share of grief and despair, a mistake I've made quickly became an opportunity for some ungrateful wretches to stab me in the back which has been an regret for some time. It was hard to recover but we did. Enduring the days where these mongrels are by my side breathing the same air, eating the same food, waiting for another chance to hurt us again, it forms an excitement to makes their life difficult by exploiting their weakness and their greed for power. That turn out to be a pleasure for us after some time. However, by that time, we were focussing on our journey to Europe, therefore, the antics of these weasels are no more our pleasure nor attention, although we do get excited whenever there's a chance to slap them with a humilliating front. That's what they deserve for such betrayal earlier.

By Mid of 2009, I've travelled half of Europe covering France, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic and Italy and also Budapest with my loved one. Sharing my dreams, discovering new cultures and marvelling at amazing architecture and nature as we journey through these countries through trains and flights. We learnt alot of their histories and adapted into the culture of sipping a cup of cappucino's on the side-walk while the world just bustling in and out. Otherwise, some light shopping on a raining afternoon presents you a galore of wonders which you never have thought existed. It is indeed a exiciting and new experiences exploring new cities by foot eating and drinking away. Those memories will be etched to my heart forever for it's my dreams to set foot on a continent with a fascinating histories and cultures.



Shortly my return to Malaysia which are filled with hopes, I started work in Singapore but that lasted only 3 months despite my commitment to the job. However, we can't force things if it doesn't work, therefore, I left to much relief. All the time, I was rushing here and there, being so tight and often discriminated by the employer due to my physical built. At the fourth quarter of 2009, I was jobless, without an income roaming the streets of Johor Bahru for opportunities.

Without any regrets, I thanks 2009 for the wonderful time it had given to me and the experiences I learnt grow from it.

I wishes everyone a Happy New Year and hopefully, your 2010 will bring you new hopes and challenges.

Cheers,
Andy "Shackks" Ooi

Bed of Roses

Many says that Life ain't a bed of roses... But to me, life is like lying on a bed of roses. To enjoy the companion of the beautiful blossoms, you'll have to endure the thorns that protects the roses.

Life is all about pains and it's achievement. It has been several months I'm back in Malaysia now, and seasons has past on the other side of the globe where I've been the past 2 years. However, I still misses London and it's lifestyle as much as I misses home when I'm in UK. How was that to be? I wonder, but I never managed to get any answers till date.

I've come to realise that many things are so much different and influences our mindset and opinions that we became somewhat self-conflicting.

For instance, when I'm in UK, i misses home, family and friends and the places where memories lingers on to make me move on when I'm down and out. But, when I'm back here, when I should be delighted to be home. Such a feeling only lasted a moment. Just like how the roses lasted and now I misses UK. Going through all sorts of hiccups and bumps here at home.

Although the life in UK was harder than at home, hard to imagine but then, the roses of the life was enjoyable. The roses alone are enough to let the painful scorns of it's thorns to be forgotten, maybe only to be regretted when I'm there... Well, we never know.

However, facing the fact that what's done is done. I'm now where I call my home, I shall step back to reality, fulfill my commitment and work hard hoping one day, roses will blossoms here and the bushes will have lesser thorns that it will be.

May Uk stays on as beautiful as what it has shown to me and hopefully, it's glory will live on forever for my children to see and they shall feel and see the atmosphere I once saw.

Cheers
Andy "Shackks" Ooi

Countdown to Home...

It has been two winters ever since I came to England in 2007 and now, I'm counting my days with mixed emotions. I'm confused. I don't know if I'm happy to leave this place but I kinda like it here. At least, the living standard aren't that high here.

However, UK is not my Home no matter what. Home is where the family is and my home is in Malaysia where my loved ones are waiting for me. Anyway, I'm looking for the day to come where I can hug my mum after being away from here for that 2 years which I can only hear her voice but not being able to see her. I miss her and I want to see her. It's time to go back now. haha

Furthermore, this place consist too much of memories I wish to leave behind and starts a new one. Everytime I look back, memories stabs me in the heart, memories once was sweet had turn sour now and I don't intend to dwell on them too much. I already have someone who are good enough for me to live for and I want to start a new life with her. A new chapter in life with her, hopefully, till the end of my book.

But then, before I go back to settle down. I'll explore at least half of Europe to gain more experience and see as much as I can. For I can't foresee any opportunities of roaming the streets of any european cities in the near future once I'm back home. So, this will be the best time to do it, since I'm still young and strong enough.

Time does fly and I shall be off to work now, or else, my bank account will not be fat enough for my holidays.

Cheers
Andy "Shackks" Ooi

Heavy snow for 2 days

What happened on Sunday came as a shock for us. While we're busy sorting out, cleaning tables, as the lunch session are about to end, outside started snowing. That afternoon was a very busy one as everyone came for the lion dance performance and it was chaotic. Almost every table was occupied and there's still handful of people waiting in the bar for empty table, and thankfully, they waited patiently.



Sunday started with a gloomy morning then a sunny afternoon, when the lion dance performance started. As time passed on, clouds began to gather and blocked the sun away about 3pm. As the day began to tick nearer to four, snows began to every land it could. It stopped at 4pm and started again about 7pm. Pei Yee was hoping it would continue until late night so that we can have some fresh ones on our face as we walked home but it din't happened. But then, as we reaches home, it began snowing again. Heavy snowing and wind creates a scene like those you would only sees it in the movies. It was like a snowstorm, with snows falling from everywhere even into the house if you open the windows. Visibility are limited due to the snow and what used to be greens and tar are nothing but layers of white snow.



On Monday morning, as the snowing continues, the layers of snow on the ground reaches approximately 1 inch thick. It's almost impossible to drive or even to walk as normal but then, we took the best of it and had some fun. We came out early, had some snowballs flying around, snapping some pictures and took 15 minutes to make a very simple snowman. A normal walks to work only takes about 20 minutes max but we took almost 50 minutes to reach. All due to the thick snows and also snapping some pictures for memories. It was quite a beautiful scene with layers of white snows covered every inches of land or horizontal platform on the face of the earth surrounding us. Everything was white, the roof of the houses, the cars, grassland, trees, everywhere. Nothing else can be seen (except for the walls). It's the first time I've seen such heavy snow in UK. Not even in Iceland (well, it was snowing on the day I reached Iceland, but when I reached late at night, most of the snow had melted.).



On the Town centre, the first floor car park was empty as the ground was covered in snows as well and the pond was a No Entry due to safety reason. We can't use the stairsdue to slippery conditions. Some shops aren't open and everyone who's out are for some reason, definitely not for leisure. Only the kids are out for some fun in the snow. Business that day was bad as everyone prefers to stay indoor for the road was wet and slippery. Cars are slow on the road to avoid accident and we're extremely cautious when we cross the roads. We avoided crossing the main road on the way to work as a slip while crossing the road would be fatal.

It was truly a quite afternoon and later on in the evening, the management then decided to close early to minimise the loss and get to finish early. We did some shopping for groceries and then went home. On the way home, we had some fun with the snows throwing snowballs at each other, stepping on the fresh snows on the grassland. it was quite fun actually. Albeit the fact that the grounds was slippery and wet. We reached home about half eight and i did not waste any time bulding a proper snowman. It took me about an hour to build one at the height that reaches my shoulder. But the next day, someone took the head away.

Good thing don't last. On the sunny tuesday, the snows began to melt. The beaten track of snow became ice due to the low temperature and became extremely slippery as what I've experienced in Iceland when I was on the Golden Circle Tour walking on the Þingvellir national park and the Gullfoss waterfall. While on the way to work, Pris almost had an accident as we had no choice but to walk on the road and it was so slippery that she can't return to the footpath when there's a car approaching us. Somehow, I managed to pull her to the footpath.

It was indeed a nice experience and the scenery which we took for granted everyday was even better. Some may not like it, but for me, it was nice. A relaxing walk yesterday with Pei Yee within the white landscape will be a very good memories in time to come when I returned to Malaysie where's it's impossible to witness such scene again. But for now, I'll have some trouble walking to work later on...

It's foggy today maybe due to the condensation of the ice but then, according to BBC weather forecast, it's going to be a rainy day which I can foresee more walking problem and tomorrow will have a another session of snowing. We'll see how it goes then.

Cheers
Andy 'Shackks' Ooi

How Time Flies

Time really flies. February is here and the memories of Christmas when I went to Birmingham with Jack, Pris and Penny was still very vivid. January 2009 was very much of a fantasy which are worthy to be recorded into my history. It was a month of a roller coster where I'm really lost and the New Year still brings back some unwanted memories. However, towards the end of January, 2009 shows what changed it brought me.

True to some who said 'Being with someone who you loves are more painful than being with someone who loves you'. I now understand what it means. I've somehow, with some blessing found someone who loves me and she actually took the initiativeto make her feelings knowns. it was quite a funny story and we're now enjoying every day as minutes and hours passes by.

I now dare not think of the distant future and makes any plans for the both of us as I could not promise her anything, but I'm treasuring my moments with her everyday and hopefully, our relationship will blossom as days passed by. Never had I imagined we'll be together but then, I believe that Fate does have a way of surprising us everyday in our life when we least expected. We used to be bitter-heads but now, we are the talk of our colleagues teasing us and making jokes about our relationship.

Anyway, It's the 7th day of the Chinese New Year which stands for the birthday of Man. In Malaysia, it's the day where we has Yee Sang with our family. But for me, all I can imagine is a busy day ahead.

Cheers
Andy Ooi

Happy 2009

The year of 2008 has been a roller coaster ride for me. Happy moments, good memories and aching events which I've no intention to elaborate. All of them somehow found their way to me last year.

No matter what, I'm still grateful for those happy moments graced upon me and shall learn from what I've experienced throughout the year.

I wishes everyone a Happy 2009 with loads of happiness, fortunes and good health.