Digging up old blogs...

I actually started blogging in Friendster but later
i found that it was limited only
to those who have frenster...which sucks actually...
so...i discover this site....but i guess there are other sites which are much better...
so...thing is i had not visited my frenster acc. on a
a regular basis...
when i did today...i dug up my 2nd blog entry...hahaha...
These are the 2 that especially love....


How are we supposed to react???^_^(April 2006)

How are we supposed to react…say…when someone

call us to inform that us that we have won something which we totally do not expect? Do we:

1. Jump up and shout, “Yeahhhhoooooo….I won….I won…I won…thank you…yesh….”
   And kiss whoever is beside u.
2. Come again? Are you sure it’s my name?
3. Cry and choke and lost for words because u are too happy.
4. Graciously say thank you and ask what is the prize that u have
   won.

How would I react if I received one of those
calls? Any guesses….??Is it A, B, C or D? Well….let me tell you….none of the above…this was how I reacted.

The hand phone rang….and the conversation went
like this:

Yours truly: What a strange number….(press
a button)…Hello..

The voice: Hello…may I speak to Martina
Bong please?

Yours truly: Yes…speaking…

The voice: Hello Martina. I call to inform
you that you have won the Pringles King Kong SMS
competition.

Yours truly: Yes…right…

The voice: Do you still keep the Pringles can?

Yours truly: No…I threw it away already…it
was so long ago…does it matter?

The voice: It’s ok. I’ll get back to you
again about the can.

Yours truly: Ok…bye then.

Hung up and wondered…oh yea…I forgot to ask
what did I win…aargh…silly me….nevermind…he said he would call back.

A few days later….RING…..

Yours truly: Hello….

The voice: Hello…Martina?

Yours truly: (thinking…oh it’s him)…Yes…

The voice: I’m calling about the sms
competition…it’s ok if you don’t have the can.

Yours truly: Ok…oh…may I know what do I win?

The voice: A trip to New Zealand for two. Now I want to ask you, who is the other person that you
want to bring?

Yours truly: (A string of names…ran through
her mind…then it registered..) Right….Ok …so I

won…er….Mr
Chin Kok Voon…yeah…it spells…C…H…I…N…K…O…K…V…O…O…N…

IC no…bla..bla..bal…yeah….my
IC no…ok…bla..bla..bla…

The voice: Ok..we’ll be in touch again at
the end of this month…

Yours truly: Ok…thanks.

Hung up…and wondered…NZ..??To be happy or not
to be happy? To jump and shout or not? To tell or not to tell? Such dilemma..and
sat there quietly pondering over the reaction.

Now..the question is…is that a NORMAL reaction?

When I told the person I’m bringing with
me, the reaction went:

Yours truly: Hey…pek…I just got a phone
call saying I won a trip to NZ.

Him: What…true or not…u said NZ? I think it’s
a hoax….(and stared at me)

Yours truly: I don’t know. He said he’ll
inform me at the end of the month.

Him: Where’s the letter?

Yours truly: It was a phone call. No
letter.

Him: What competition? Did you take part?

Yours truly: Yeah..pringles…last year..

Him: Where is it?

Yours truly: Your mum finished it…but yeah I
did…

Him: No proof..how to believe?

Yours truly: Well…just wait and see la…

Now…my second question: Is that Normal?

How are we
supposed to react? How would you react? Well….when everything was confirmed…finally….we
still did not jump and shout…we still wonder if that is the rite way to react…OR
rather…HOW TO REACT….Ended up we just GRINNED STUPIDLY AT EACH OTHER….and said….HEHEHE….CAN
YOU BELIEVE IT?….WE ARE GOING NZ….

Sigh….gone were the days when people trusted each other and the phone calls you received were not prank calls….gone were the days when people used to leave their doors open wide to welcome friends to their home…gone were the days when we could simply…..TRUST….sigh….* head shaking from side to side…*

Truth be told…when IT happens to you…you
simply don’t know what’s the appropriate way to react……hahahhahahahaaaa…..

Old frenship mends up...(19/11/07)

2 nites ago, out of the blue my phone rang and the caller ID was not displayed. So i thought it was my friend who preferred to have his number undisclosed. The conversation went as such:
Me: Hello….?
Fren: …….
Me: Hello…? (cough)…Yes?
Fren: Bong!!! APa polah ko?
Me: *Stumped*….(Thimking to self - this friend does not speak Sarawakian Malay - and a few seconds later - thought went - could it be who i thought it is?) Sapa tok?
Fren: Kau di sine? Kau sik tau sapa tok ka?
Me: errr…Gabe? Gabe? Is that u?
Fren: Yeah it’s me…listen, do you have a house no? i’ll call u….
Me: Yeah…sure….

And just like that, in the middle of the nite, a friendship is mended….

He is an old friend of mine, who has gone estranged because of place and also a stupid argument. We have know each other for let see….8 or 9 years now…just that out of the 8 or 9, we were not on talking term for 3 or 4 of those…hehehe…

See….he’s a brother of my bestest of friend…by bestest i mean we have been friends for like 17 or 18 years now…and i got to know her brother later..and we just clicked…like brother and sister…..
A few years after being good friends, one day we argued over the sms….something about cleo magazine which i have forgotten now….and since then we just sort of stopped talking….
My friend used to make fun of us and point out how childish we were…but i said i’m ok…if only he’s talking to me….
Then 3 years later, i saw him in the kampung for a brief moment but we just said hi casually…no laughter etc….
And out of no where, he called me from Australia….hahahhaa….
I met his sister about a week ago and asked about him and i guess…over the long phone call with his sister, she must have mentioned me which prompted him to calll…
Boy, am i glad that the friendship is mended for good….for i really miss him…hahha…not that i want to admit it…..
This is a lucky situation because most of the time, broken friendships do not mend so easily and usually, it’ll still be awkward after the mending but for us…i think it’ll be ok….
You see, i’m growing older and my friends are trickling away….as we grow older,the number of our good friends can be counted with our 10 fingers and to lose one of those is like losing a part of our body….some ppl may not agree as they say they accumulate more friends as they grow older….but what i meant here is one who will stick through thick and thin with us….so my friends that i have now are my precious gems….

Well, old friend, if you happen to read this…..i want you to know that BOY AM I GLAD TO HAVE FOUND YOU AGAIN….you know who u are…

Mary Kay....so called facial function in Royale Bintang...

Bed's friend, Azian or Yan invited us to join
her at the Royale Bintang for the
Mary Kay Fun Facial Function this afternoon...
we got goodies form the function...
anyway...it was an interesting presentation though it is too
American for me...
But the product seems not bad...
i'm not sure of the price though...but if it's affordable...
well...should be ok...
i got a 120rm perfume from the lucky draw...
Not bad eh???
YAn promised to have a make up session at her house
in June...
Making up is not a problem for me....i can simply storm up
something by looking at magazine pictures...but well...
a life show is not a bad idea....
One can always update on one's skills and talent...
I'm looking forward to it actually...

Doc's appointment in HUKM...

15 April came and off again we went to HUKM
for our appointment with Prof Zainul Rashid...
We arrived early for our apointment but we still had to wait
until nearly 11 before we were called in...
and we didn't even get to meet the prof...
what a disappointment...for well....i was really
looking forward to it...
to the prof who operated on Bed....hahaha...
just curious actually...since Bed likes him pretty much...
ANyway...we were met by Doc Natasha...a pretty lady...
who's pretty friendly and with good eye contact...
and give you that confidence when met first time...
she explained to us the process involved in IVF..
well...i pretty much know about it through my online research and such...
just that...well...she took everything by faith...
like she couldn't view the CD we brought on the
diagnostic laparoscopy i did
in KPJ....(for a hospital that can do some
sophisticated procedures on conception....they really
need to update their computer system...hardware and software
alike...)
Well...she sent me for baseline scanning
and she said everything seemed ok...
so we can practically start the procedure when my
next period comes...
Hah...too early...scary....not mentally prepare for it...
neither is my wallet prepared for it...
but Chin wanted it in May...
(well...he never thinks thing through...so
i didn't really get mad at him...)
Am I the only rational one in this marriage???
One who think things meticulously before i make my
decision???
One who is most of the time logical...looking at everything from
all four dimension?
Hmmm....HUKM charges 10k for the procedure...roughly...
depending on the dosage of the medication and stuff...
much cheaper than KPJ...
but 10k at this moment???
oh well...if i really work it out...
i guess i can afford 10k...
i'll let the issue simmer first before i decide...
sit on it...sleep on it...
and well...pray for it???
so i'll be courageous enough hopefully
when the time come...
I guess this is the ONE bridge that GOD really wants
me to cross...
I'll cross it when the time comes...
but for now...i'll let it rest...

Lawatan MB, AGM PIBG and Bumi hijau...all mix into one...

Last Monday was a hectic day for all of the
UJian.....
The N9 MB came to our school on a work visit kinda stuff
we'll the skul was practically aBUZZ with activities
since early in the morning....
Saturday before that was no difference...
we got the tables prepared for the refreshment
- lunch and teatime...
the labeling was done on Monday...
so...early in the morning...Liew and I stuck the arrows
pointing to the refreshment areas all over school....
hoping that people would know how to read
and follow the so called direction...
a last minute table labeling was done when Sayani came to tell
me that the Tok Penghulu wanted the teatime tables labelled...
haih...i asked the exact same question on Friday so
i could prepare everything but somehow...
information got mix up and....yaiks...
Liew and i had to rush to do it...
Anyway....people are bad at following maps...
and direction arrows i guess...
not everyone can get their navigation right with a compass...
but well...obviously even with the arrows...people
still get them wrong...
Apparently sme of the IBUBAPA PENJAGA had lunch in the
VIP room...hahaha...
and PK1 came asking us to sort it out...
well....first and foremost...it was not our fault...
We only prepared the venues for Jamuan...
those who did jamuan only ensured that the food were
ready...
i guess that was the job of the protocol...
WHY???
For the one reason that we, the commoners do not
recognise the VIP - pengetuas, guru besars, dato2 lembaga etc...
Protocol had all the parents committee members that were just sitting
pretty while we teachers worked our beautiful, gorgeous
BUTT off to make the whole thing a success....
and not even once did it ever occur to them
to have students to usher these people in to the
correct room...
so...when the PK1 mentioned this in the meeting....
i thought she might be dellusional...
forgetting that she was part of protocol...

Anyway...the MB himself was an impressive man...though i'm not
a BIG fan of him...
He did mention that the English results for PMR and SPM
were not excellent....
(....:((( saya lagi yang kena)
Haih...but he was generous enough to donate 25k for the school...
so i hope that after paying off all the expenses
there will still be a big sum left for the school....
knowing how...sometimes people forget that expenses
should be lower that the profit....
in their eagerness to please...
The AGM was not bad too...
almost 3 quarter of the hall was filled....
better than the previous years...
but none of the Chinese parents bothered to stay back
and attended the meeting....
"Abg Shim " really has to do something about this...
The meeting ended quite early too...that was a first....
The snake was busy taking the teachers' attendance....
but i saw one particular teacher went back..
so...i don't know what action will be taken by the boss....
Surprisingly...Ravi was chosen as the MC with Mazni...
i guess...there really wasn't any other choice at all...
for the men teachers that is...
But he did a fantastic job....
Hahahaha....Macho voice....never thought that it was
a commercialised voice...haha....but well...
hidden talent....ya...someone......

A weekend to remember...

Holy weekhas come and now gone....
but it has been a memorable ones for the two of us....
It has never been so special for me and Chin before but
this year...
it truly is a special week for us...
So many things have happened but so little time to write about
it...
The moment that Chin has been anticipating for a nearly a year
is finally here...at last...and well...
we both feel warm and glowing about it....
hahahaha....
I'll just describe it under its proper subtitle...

Holy Thursday/Maundy Thursday
9/04/09
i have not attended mass for holy thursday for so long...
but this year we made it a point to attend...
it is part of the RCIA programme for the catechumens...
Chin has a place booked for him but i have to fight my way in for
a good seat...
We arrived early on Thursday so i got a good seat up front near
where the catechumens sat...
It was a solemn service...remembering the last supper
and the night before Jesus was betrayed...
Chin for the first time experienced Holy Thursday service...
and i guess it touched him...
It did touch me...

Good Friday (The Lord's Passion)
10/04/09
It rained heavily just like last year...just before the service...
We were a bit late...arriving about half an hour
before...
soaking wet because of the rain...
Church was full by that time....i couldn't find a good seat
but Chin got his seat...
I squeezed in between a family and they were kind
enough to make room for me...
Good Friday service has always been a solemn service...
the altar was stripped bare of all cloth...
the cross was covered with purple cloth...
There was the veneration of the cross where
everyone went to kiss the cross at the end of the service...
then, there was the procession of the blessed sacrament to the
place of reposition....(i think)...
After the service...we decided to stay for the Tenebrae..
It was the first time ever for us to witness this...
so i changed place to sit at the front row to have
a good look...

Tenebrae service
Tenebrae is a latin word for 'shadow' or 'darkness'and the purpose
of the service is to recreate the emotional aspects of the passion story...
It is to reenact the betraya, abandonment and agony of the events...

A wooden cross was placed in front of the altar and
on the altar, there was 7 candles, the middle one
being the biggest candle..
around the cross there were bowls with nails and beside
the bowls were hammers...
The church was in darkness, illuminated only by the candles...
and the service started with the reading
from the bible...followed by a period of silence...
Then, the priest went to extinguish the candle after
each session of meditation and prayer...
After all the 6 candles were extinguished,
the priest went up to the cross and drove a nail into it...
It is an act of confession...
each nail symbolises our sinful act that put Christ on the cross...
Then, the congregation were invited to put a nail into the cross...
Chin and i went up to drive a nail into the cross too...
Finally...the last candle was extinguished and
the congregation departed silently...
It was really a new experience for us...and having the chance
to watch close up...
it was really a memorable and touching experience...

Easter vigil
11/04/09
This is the night that we had been waiting for...
Chin is so excited...
he would finally be part of the church now...
living a life guided by Christ and God...

we arrived early and Chin went in to get a good seat for me...
he got the seat next to his row...
so i could come out easily to take photos of his
baptism...
He looked dashing in his white silk shirt and black pants...
and i think the most good looking one in the
crowd of catechumens...hehehe..
The service started with the service of the light...
and after that the Easter Vigil mass...
The priest brought the Easter candle in and everyone lit
a candle from the Easter candle...
It was a sigh really...
the church illuminated by candles...
Then, it was the baptism...
The catechumens were called to the altar....
with their sponsor....Chin's sponsor is
Anderson, Helen's husband....
The holy water was blessed...the catechumens were asked
some questions by the priest and they had
to answer 'I do'
Then, the baptism....
Chin walked up to the fountain of holy water and
the priest poured the holy water on his
forehead...
It was a moment to behold...
It was the happiest moment in his life...
as he described it...'I was instantly awaken...
like the holy spirit entered me...'
Then, right after, it was his confirmation...their forehead
were anointed with the oil...
Oh...at the end of it...tears welled in my eyes
as he came down from the altar...
with the others...and he hugged me...
His first Easter....the beginning of all
other Easter celebration in his life...
Then, it was his first holy communion...where we ate the
bread of life...

Everybody was so excited after the mass...
wishing each other Happy Easter...
Along the journey of RCIA...
we have gotten to know some people who are
very helpful...and kind...
and these are the people who have helped Chin to understand and
reflect upon his journey in search of the light...
This is the Easter celebration that we will
never forget...

HAPPY FIRST EASTER TO YOU CHIN...
The name you have chosen when you were young
is now truly your own name...
and not just a name that you can change when you grow tired of...
I guess i should say...
HAPPY FIRST EASTER TO YOU DESMOND...

Thy will be done....

Good friday is a public holiday in Sarawak but not
so over here in the Peninsular...
I was tempted to take the day off since
i have no class on Friday but i decided not to
as my school is very busy at the moment
preparing for the visit of the MB on Monday, April 13th...

Anyway, this year's holy week is a special week for the both of
us as Chin will complete his RCIA and be baptised
on Easter vigil....and for the first time
he experience the four blessed days...and participating in the
holy events....and most importantly
understand the meaning of those
events as explian by his RCIA facilitators...
He also has gotten to know some people from the church and
over the 9 - 10 months of attending RCIA class...
has formed a bond with them...
and the journey has been very rewarding
spiritually for him...
He attended the RCIA retreat last weekend and it was
a spiritually rewarding journey of
getting to know God and Christ....
and it has helped him to reflect on a lot of things too...
concerning his relationship with God and other people around him...

Tonight's Holy Thursday mass is a very solemn mass
which made me reflect upon things that i have
and have not done in my life...

It helps me to understand the conflict that Christ went through
in fulfilling God's will...that he was torn between
his own will and God's will..
and in the end he obeyed and was willing to suffer for his people...

Many a time, i only think about my own self...
about what i want....and not what God wants me to do...
It makes me realised that everytime i -
talk bad about people, have ill-thoughts about someone,
feel envious, listen to other saying bad things about
someone else, surrender to temptation, forget to do something,
or slow in completing my duties (among others),
i crucify Christ again and again on the cross....

Haih...i pray that i will be a stronger individual
in resisting temptation and have the
courage to accept and obey God's will....
the faith to believe....and the willingness to sacrifice for others...
and i come to the conclusion that....
I'm still a long....long....long...long....long.....long.....looooooonnnngggg
way away from that....

Flown the coop....

We are hopeless against the passing of time....
instead we have to keep up with it....
stopping it is impossible.....
so in the end...we just flow along with it...trying to live every moment to the fullest...
savouring each seconds...and trying to treasure
as much as we can...

I'm talking about how time flies and how we never realise it
until a significant event that jolts us
out of our lullaby...
Last weekend...one such incident happened i guess....and i think
it makes one realise that we must treasure every moment of our life
together with our loved ones...

My sis-in-law eldest son brough his girlfriend back home...
it was a first....
he's studying in UNITAR in Kampar, Perak and we were all
very excited to meet her...
so we went to her house to have a look-see...
she looks like Jamie Lim, Chin's ex-colleague in SM Sains Miri...
except that her hair is very long and curly...
Her face shape and other features are exactly like Jamie...
she is a quiet person...but we can never judge a person
from the first meeting....
for all i know she is a talkative girl...

Chin's bro-in-law was seated next to me on the sofa...and while
the girl was talking to Chin's mother....
he looked at me and said...
"Chee Heng is already a big boy...(grown up)..."
(Tze Hen also tai kou tzai already...)
and he made a gesture towards the girl and he had that awkward smile
on his face like he still couldn't believe it....
or simply because he doesn't know how to react...

I guess there will be a time in a parent's/parents' life when they
will face this kind of situation...
when they realise that their children have finally grown up and
ready to stretch their wings and fly the coop....
i guess that would be a sad moment...when it really hits home
that you have to let go and let them see the world...make mistakes
and deal with life as an adult....
I feel for all parents out there....
I just wish that children cans tay children forever under parents' care....
or rather i just wish...my nephews and nieces will
not grow up and leave the coop too...for
when that moment hits me...
i know that i will feel sad as well as happy, not to mention
afraid...for them...