Friends Inheritance?

Is there such a term? As the days passed, the group of people I know as friends have grown since my brother's passing... why? coz' his friends, most of whom I have never met before, have become my friends too... its amazing to constantly find out what he meant to his friends... not only the ones he met while he was with Comsoft but also the old friends he went to school with in Brunei (CHMS & SGS) and Perth (AIUS & WAIC) that he lost contact with... I am so blessed to know that he left good memories for all those that had him as a friend... Hence, the question: is there such a term as friends inheritance?

© elultimodeseo

Try This on For Size...

I am not a vigilante nor am I a fanatic but what gets me very annoyed and think that some sections of my community in Brunei should either go live in the stone age or be reborn as one of those poor animals that they take pleasure in mistreating or abuse or worse, torture... The question is why is there such blatant disregard to animal welfare and cruelty to animals? not to mention irresponsibility by some pet owners?


What brought this sudden rage? have a read of this article on Borneo Bulletin... http://www.borneobulletin.com.bn/weekend/news/jul24f4.htm


Here's some observations...

• Some people do not think that animals have feelings and that their lives are insignificant... I have seen drivers who purposely aim their cars at cats and dogs... and run them down... and when they did succeed, they are jubilant... =.='
• When there's a dead corpse of a cat, dog or bird on the road, drivers either drive around or over it... never proactive to find a solution to it... always expecting someone else to sort out the mess... 'not my problem', 'someone is paid to do the clean-up anyway', 'someone will call the relevant people to clean it up'... sounds familiar?
• Some people keep so many animals though they are not capable to look after them nor can afford to... simply coz' they feel it too costly to send their pets to the vet to be neutered... keeping pets come with responsibility... not only to feed them and give them a home but also their welfare... there are some people who think their pets are self-cleaning and self-healing machines... hence when unwanted kittens or puppies come into the world, they are abandoned at rubbish dumps or the roadside (did you know that some owners even abandon their sick pets too?)... expected to fend for themselves... did these poor animals deserve such treatment? would it not be better if the responsible thing of finding them homes be better? and if you really don't need such hassles, why not just have your pets doctored so that such problems may not occur in the first place? 

I would dearly love to see how these people would survive if they were to live the lives of the poor animals they have no disregard for... how would they like it if they get chased, beaten, kicked, run-over and most probably killed... worse if they ended up in someone's cooking pot? That could be an idea for a reality show... hmm...


All religions teach us to be good and kind... I would hazard a guess it would include treatment of animals and all things living... so where does that leave us and the poor animals who are mistreated through no fault of their own? bottom line is, it all comes down to us... the humans... if we do the right thing from the start, would we be having this problem?


I think we as a community has to be less 'me' oriented and try to see the greater picture... the excuse of ' I am just one person, how can what I do affect the situation?' is not acceptable... the Malay saying 'Sedikit, dikit menjadi bukit' tells us that with patience, things will happen... 


We should start with ourselves and make a change for the better by being better informed and constantly improve our knowledge... that will lead to a change in our attitude and behaviour... which in turn will lead to educating the people around us... the more people who are informed, the more change we can make which will eventually lead to a positive change in the problem or situation... we just have to persevere till the objective is achieved... 


The Animal Shelter in Brunei is doing their best with the limited resources that they have... often time, the volunteers dip into their own pockets to take care of the animals they have rescued... it is a NGO and unlike other countries, they do not receive government funding to keep going... so all the help that they can get in terms of donations and help would be greatly appreciated... even if you can't afford to donate money or food, you can donate your time or help with educating the people around you about animal cruelty and animal welfare... at the end of the day, every single bit of positive help will contribute towards reducing and eradicating this escalating problem of strays in Brunei.


In the BB article, it mentioned that countries such as the US have laws to protect the rights of animals... The R.S.P.C.A. is entrusted with the power to enforce the laws and protect all animals from harm and mistreatment in Australia, UK and US... it makes me wonder if we have similar legislation in Brunei? or is animal rights deemed too trivial to matter?

© Lires

Wedding Dress

No, I am not dreaming of a wedding dress nor a wedding... its the furtherest thing from my mind at the moment... it is actually the title of a song by TaeYang of Big Bang from Korea... the original version together with the music video is beautiful... I came across an English cover by Kevin Lien, a Malaysian (I think) and I think its equally as good... I like both versions... which version do you prefer? =)


By the way, gotcha didn't I? =p

2010 - A Hoodoo Year?

Well, your guess is as good as mine... I had enough dramas and bad news to last me for a long time to come... would not want to live through this year again... =(


I lost a brother, May in Sydney broke her ankle in 3 places after a fall down stairs at work... Karen in Melbourne broke her coccyx after a fall down stairs at home... all within the last 7 weeks... hope you girls will be back to normal soon... I know how painful it can be... been there 6 years ago...


On top of that, my friend Adi is back in hospital for treatment for Leukemia... he's in a lot of pain and relies on morphine shots to sleep... they are even talking about bone marrow transplant... I am really worried... please fight this sickness and be strong D, you can show it the door and tell it to never come back again... I will be home to see you soon... 


Just today, another friend I met while out shopping told me she has got breast cancer... I know Lynn will beat this disease... when will the bad news end??


I am so emotionally and physically drained as it is... when I get home, I have another challenge waiting for me... how the parents are coping is another worry... I am worried and sometimes wonder how I will survive through all these...


Give me Strength... he used to say that too... 

© F-AYN-T

여행 (A Short Journey, Goodbye) - Super Junior

Been going through bro's room packing up his stuff and discovered more comics and trading cards... also found a lot of photos from when he was at college and uni... no time to scan them yet... plenty to do when I get home to Brunei with them... just hope there's a scanner that can do both prints and film...

While going about with the sorting and packing... my itunes is on too and lately, I have been listening to Super Junior's new 4th album 'Bonamana'... some cool songs there... my current favourite is 'No Other' - its almost on repeat... =p

However, this other song by SuJu is so poignant... it affected me when I first heard it... its written by 2 members of the group (DongHae & EunHyuk) and they had their fellow group member (Kangin) who was leaving to join the army (compulsory national service in Korea) in mind... its about friendship but it also applies to loved ones who had left us... be it for a short while or till we meet again...

I know I should not be so sentimental but its very difficult not to... promised myself that I will live for the two of us... I better start soon...

English Translation:

My heart that loved you
my eyes that looked at you
are still here.

Oh baby say goodbye, for a short while goodbye.
The talk about goodbye, I’ll put it aside for a short while.
When I open that door and take one step
your breath that’s conveyed to the tip of my nose

In the cold wind the feeling of your warm hand stays for a while
all your traces become tears and stay on my cheeks
After i go on for a trip for a short while
and wipe of my heart wrenching wound
after time passed by when I meet you
I will tell you that I missed you

Oh baby say goodbye, for a short while goodbye.
The talk about goodbye, I’ll put it aside for a short while.
When I open that door and take one step
your breath that’s conveyed to the tip of my nose

today when the sun sets and the moon rises again, it’s still the same
oh why is my heart changing this fast
your appearance that resembled the blue sky rains
when my body gets wet from this rain i’ll hide my running tears

Oh baby say goodbye, for a short while goodbye.
The talk about goodbye, I’ll put it aside for a short while.
When I open that door and take one step
your breath that’s conveyed to the tip of my nose

In the past when I did whatever I wanted and was foolish
you who embraces all of that are really precious

Oh baby say goodbye, for a short while goodbye.
The talk about goodbye, I’ll put it aside for a short while.
When I open that door and take one step
your breath that’s conveyed to the tip of my nose

Oh baby say goodbye, for a short while goodbye.
The talk about goodbye, I’ll put it aside for a short while.
I’ll go back to the place
When I once was

When I open that door and take one step
so that I can stand in front of you who i missed

My heart that loved you
my eyes that looked at you
I’ll wait.

Little Bit of Love...

It is 5 months today that you have left us... it is still raw and I don't think the void you have left can ever be filled... I told myself to not count the months but its not easy... somedays, its ok... other days, its not... I don't go shopping nowadays... coz every time I see a Star Wars, Marvel or DC Superhero figurine, I would think you will like it if I got it for you... then, realisation hits that you are no longer with us to enjoy it... I miss you so very much my brother... this is the way you left me... :(

This is the way you left me.
I’m not pretending.
No hope, no love, no glory,
No happy ending.
This is the way that we love,
Like its forever.
Then live the rest of our life,
But not together.

Wake up in the morning,
Stumble on my life.
Can’t get no love without sacrifice.
If anything should happen,
I guess I wish you well.
Mm A little bit of heaven,
With a little bit of hell.

This is the hardest story that I’ve ever told. (ooooo)
No hope, no love, no glory.
A happy ending gone forever more.
I feel as if I’m wasted,
And I’m wasted everyday.

This is the way you left me.
I’m not pretending.
No hope, no love, no glory,
No happy ending.
This is the way that we love,
Like its forever.
Then live the rest of our life,
But not together.

Two o’clock in the morning,
Something’s on my mind.
Can’t get no rest,
Keep walking around.
If I pretend that nothing ever went wrong
I can get to my sleep
I can think that we just carried on.

This is the hardest story that I’ve ever told. (ooooo)
No hope, no love, no glory.
A happy ending gone forever more.
I fell as if I’m wasted,
And I’m wasted everyday.

This is the way you left me, (Oh I fell as if I’m wasted)
I’m not pretending.
No hope, no love, no glory,
No happy ending.
This is the way that we love, (And I’m wasted everyday)
Like its forever.
Then live the rest of our life,
But not together.

Little bit of love

Little bit of love (25x)

Little bit of love (I fell as if I’m wasted)
Little bit of love
Little bit of love
Little bit of love
Little bit of love
Little bit of love
Little bit of love
Little bit of love
Little bit of love (And I’m wasted everyday)
Little bit of love
Little bit of love
Little bit of love
Little bit of love
Little bit of love
Little bit of love
Little bit of love

This is the way you left me.
(Little bit of love .. continues repeating)
I’m not pretending.
No hope, no love, no glory,
No happy ending.
This is the way that we love,
Like its forever.
Then live the rest of our life,
But not together.

This is the way you left me.
(Little bit of love .. continues repeating)
I’m not pretending.
No hope, no love, no glory,
No happy ending.
This is the way that we love,
Like its forever.
Then live the rest of our life,
But not together.

This is the way you left me.
I’m not pretending.
No hope, no love, no glory,
No happy ending

Happy Birthday: July Babies

Dirgahayu Kebawah Duli Tuan Patik...

Happy 64th Birthday to His Majesty...

Just realised I have a few friends who are July babies today... of all the days, why today? Coz 2 of my friends share their birthdays with HM... of coz they are way younger than HM... =p besides that, both Alice & Kat are the youngest of 3 sisters in their respective families...


Anyway, while surfing youtube, I came across this cool song "Love in July" by Sally Shapiro... never heard of her but I like her sound very much...


So in line with the birthday theme of this entry, I am dedicating this song to my fabulous pals who are celebrating their bdays this month... Happy Birthday to Teresa, Shally, Jackie, Mezah, Moinul, Riggi, Audrey, Alice, Kat, Kula & Carmen... Hope its a good one filled with good food, laughter and memories... ^_^

Relax, Take It Easy - Mika

This past month has been quite stressful for not only me but also a number of my friends... for me, its coz I am still packing up my home of 20 years... for my friend May, she had a fall at work and broke her ankle which required surgery and metal plates to be inserted... for my friend Carol, the move to her new office resulted in her being cut off from the world wide web... a moo friend of mine sprained his ankle... the list just went on... I thought 2009 was a bad year but 2010 has been worse thus far... the biggest worry at the moment is my friend Adi who had been readmitted into hospital and its confirmed that he's got leukemia... and he is to undergo chemotherapy ASAP... he's due in for surgery this Saturday so that a tube can be inserted to his heart and under the skin... it sounds frightening, risks are high and I am worried... I hope he will be strong and beat this illness of his... I still want to hang out with him in Coffeebean when I get back to Brunei... in the meantime, we should all take Mika's advice... Relax and take things easy... ^_^

WIsh I have a Genie...

One of the things I will miss about Australia will be the beautiful Jacaranda tree with its purple flowers... its a beautiful sight but not when you are raking them up on the lawn... they are a pain... few summers ago, Bluebear was sitting in the middle of a pile of those purple flowers when I was raking them up on his lawn... he refused to move so in the end, I just left him there... when his mum came home, she was wondering about that circle of purple flowers on her lawn... I still miss him very much... Bluebear's gentle ways were therapy for me... especially when I was frustrated with my slow recuperating progress from the car crash I was in 6 years ago...

Right about now, I can really do with the help of a genie to help with the sorting and packing up of the house... not to mention to sell furniture and stuff... 1 person is definitely not enough to do all these... wish I have an extra pair of hands... my physical limitations is not helping either... challenges, challenges... please give me the strength and determination (note that I'm not using the word stubbornness) to get through all these... really need to finish up within a month... its already been too long... since end April... When I get back to Brunei, I am sure there's more there to test my patience... maybe I am procrastinating coz I am not looking forward to the trails that I am sure is waiting for me... there are times when I am so tired of everything... thats when the black dog threatens to rear its ugly head... everyday, its a constant battle to get out of bed, move and get things done...  

Jewel

I was going through CD's that I am packing away last week and came across Jewel's 1st album... I know I did not buy that album so its one of my late brother's... his taste in music was as diverse as mine I have to say... ^^

Uncle Hor... I Miss You...

A year ago today, I lost one of the most influential people in my life as well as my late brother's... during my formative years, he was our swimming coach as well as our tutor in English and Maths... he was also a much loved uncle... I can still remember the last conversation I had with him... It was Chinese New Year last year and I was in Sydney browsing in a Chinese book shop... ahh... the beauty of modern telecommunication tools... little did I know, that would be the last time I spoke to him... and I have yet to fulfill my promise to visit him in Penang... I made a pledge that paying my respects to him would be the first thing I would do when I get to Penang... My love and thoughts are always with Auntie Hor, Marjorie, Linda & Katherine... May he rest in peace...

Old Letters & Cards

I just spent the last 3 hours or more sorting through letters and cards I received from friends over the years when I was going to college and uni here in Perth... 1987 - 1992... it made me realised that we used to write a lot of letters, cards and postcards back then... reading through some of the letters made me realise that there are gaps in my memory that I took for granted... like why did a 10 year old friendship just suddenly died or what was the reason that I stopped being friends with someone and what prompted me to reconnect with them and then let the friendship fell away... questions, questions and more questions... most of the correspondences are kept... this exercise has yield one positive outcome, memories and the resolution to 'hunt' down some old friends I have lost touch with... ah... the benefit of hindsight and some form of maturity... =p

Rick Price - Heaven Knows

I was sorting through old letters from friends whom I went to uni with yesterday and came across a discussion about Rick Price who was popular in 1992 and it got me thinking that I have not heard his songs lately. Lo behold, this morning on telly, he appeared on The Morning Show hence, I decided to blog about it... =p

Besides the hair, I don't think he has changed much... which is a good thing... will try to source for his new album 'Revisited'... I got his album n cd singles of the 1990's... and found this mv on youtube...