2023 - year of new travels

 August 2023 to Bangkok

and

November 2023 to Nha Trang (where we planned but scuttled by Covid many years ago)

First flight post Covid restriction

 Apr 15 - 19 2023

Flight to KK for short vacation @ Sabah.

Been under virtual house arrest with Covid, since ... March 2020

 Both Sam & I had our vaccination jab in May 2021 and scheduled for 2nd jab on 27th of July (about 9 days' time).

This has been a very unpleasant period for humanity, many had died from the disease, many had taken their lives and many more had lost their homes, their jobs and sources of income, living on assistance render by kind Samatarians.

When would we see light again?  Good question.  This is a very trying period, especially to the religious inclined, coz their prayers are yet to be answered and offer no basis to their continued faith.

2018

Another hard to believe story: Ernny is now 9 years old.  A fine young lady, with her own 'attitude', that needed to be moulded, to enable her to fit into today's society.

And she has a younger sibling, Bernny Chan, who is turning 5 this November.

and I am zooming into 'retirement' age, with months to go: though cannot retire until 75.

Zooming into the future

Hard to believe, it's been over 4 years since the blog was created (and left idle).

Now, little Ernny has done 42 months whereas her Papa had done 49 years.  Time flies.

Maybe someday when Papa has long gone and Ernny has grown up with offsprings of her own,  might get nostalgic reading this Blog to her kids (that is, my Ernny has my thread of being a sentimental, loving and a little foolish homo sapien.

While being with her Mama wasn't honeymoon (and honeymoon days ended right after the Sydney trip), Ernny is the most exciting and pleasant creation of our union.  Thank you Ernny for joining us and making my life complete

Challenging Days (and Night)

Half way through the 5th month, having surrendered the half of my bed, now getting acclimatised with parenthood.

Everything seems so challenging, somehow appears to me, life had taken a steep turn. A direction to boldly go where destiny lies ahead, with a prayer in the heart.

Blue Moon

A good month had almost passed for Cze Ern. She will finally be home tomorrow, 10th July.

Born on 12th June 2009, Beatrice arrived without much fanfare but in the presence of his Papa in the morning.

Almost got lost in transit to the Operational Theatre (OT) at H.UKM. Left at the 'waiting' lounge alone to await for the signal to enter, it was a moment worth remembering. A full 10 mins I guess.

What is more memorable was Papa while clearing the room for little Cze Ern on 31 May (Sun) Papa suddenly felt a weakness never felt before.

In the evening, while shopping at Jusco Belakong, it was then that Papa realised something is not right. Papa can't sign the credit card slip.

Next day, sensing a need to find out whether NPC strikes again, Papa went for a CT Scan at Damansara Medical Centre. Only to be asked to some again the next day. And so, on Tues (2 June), Papa found out nobody is starting a rebellion within, the Oncologist thinks Papa would most likely had a stroke, with the neurologist not available that evening, Papa went home to think.

Papa went to some Chinese physicians at Bukit Bintang that evening (courtesy of Happy Reader folks) to do a check and that cost over RM 250 plus a few puncture marks.

Papa checked online on stroke in Malaysia and found The Tole at Menara Promet (now Menara KH). Next day, with Mama (and a big tummy containing Cze Ern) made a visit and that costs RM 168 and a few more punture marks.

Since then (with some exceptions) it's daily about RM 155 and on a special occassion for complaining about tireness, that cost another RM 1,600 for ginseng. Now Papa probably has regained about 75% of funtionality.

How long more, history will tell.

A few days' ago, legendary pop singer Michael Jackson died. Only 50 years old. Life is fragile, as fragile as a newborn.

An old chap one says, to win we must play the game. I would say, not just play the game but finish the game.

2 days' more and little Cze Ern will have a party of her life (so far) when dozens of people will roll in to greet her.

The road ahead is long, she ain't heavy, she's my daughter.... along we go.

Beatrice - another 4 weeks or so to go

Today, 11th May 09, that makes Beatrice exactly one month to arrival date.

Both Samantha and I are waiting anxiously for our new family member.

10th May was Mother's day. Had our usual meal at an usual place called "PUP" near Tmn Minang.

Boy, the price was unusual, the Patin fish caused RM 66 and the dinner (for 3) whooped up nearly RM140. Strongly NOT recommended for future visits.

Beatrice with about 7 weeks to go

Hard to imagine that it was like only yesterday that Samantha and I started the journey of parenthood. Of course we have not started parenthood, not just yet (legally) as our kid is still 7 weeks more to arrival. Beatrice will be with us possibly 2 weeks ahead than Mother Nature would have planned for, to accommodate necessities.

The baby room is still pending, now, I have one more week to May Day and that's the long weekend to whip up everything into place...... if only I had started that earlier, say X'mas 08.

Elsewhere posted back in the early days

Old blogs

Beatrice is 30 weeks today

How time flies, today my daughter-to-be turns 30 weeks.
Gynae thinks Beatrice will join my family earlier than planned, i.e. in about 8 weeks' time.

And it seems like only a few days' back when Samantha screamed out, "darling, two lines!!" and we began the journey, all three of us.

Tin Man's Heart

An old friend, Josephine Kang posted on FB, quoting the Tin Man "You want a hear? You don't know how lucky you are not to have one. Hearts will never be practical until they can be made unbreakable."

My thoughts are, as the good Chinese Sage had it, 'regardless whether eternity or not, the least, I had owned it for a moment".

We came with nothing and we leaving everything behind. Only memories live on, with those who still lives. That the way of the Tao.

A very confusing yet very clear concept, i.e. Tao. To fully understand Tao is by not trying to fully understand Tao. To have fully understood Tao, is to say one does not fully understand Tao. Howzat?

Beatrice - week 25

How time flies.... Beatrice (confirmed by 2 gynaes) will reach week 26th this weekend.

Soon, Samantha & I will be busy preparing for her arrival (yup, plenty to do and hectic during the working peak-period). Only 14 more weeks or so.

By all examinations, Beatrice is coming along just fine. All tests carried out shows excellent results.

Got the 'play-pen' and a pram/stroller a week ago. Now, that's just the beginning.....

Welcome Beatrice

Achilles' arrival has been deferred, so says the Gynae.

We are now anticipating Beatrice to be with us on 25 June 09. Long live my daughter Beatrice Chan.

How Achilles or Beatrice will look like today

Today marks the 13th week of Achilles/Beatrice's creation.

Here's how he or she would look like inside Darleng

Achilles @ Week 12

Not exactly clear on pix, but definitely active and kicking in the womb on LCD screen.

Another 28 weeks to go and we have a complete family on board.

Achilles @ Week #8

The clinical visit at Sunway Medical Centre shows a profile pix of Achilles (with little hand waiving to Samantha). He is about 17mm, that's double the size of what he was 2 weeks ago.

Progressing well, I reckon. Pix to be loaded when time permits

Sunset at Miri

The city of Miri's symbol, the statue of the Seahorse stands guard at the mouth of the river, as majestic as the Merlion of Singapore and the Cat statue from Kuching City.

This pix is taken just before sunset from the balcony of my hotel room at Parkcity Everlyotel, located adjacent to Marriott Miri. At USD61 / nite, it is a pleasant place to bunk in (4*). Circa 6 Nov 2008 (sunsets at 6.15pm)


A magnificient view of the sunset a the Luak Beach, where ParkCity Everly Hotel is located. Caught sunrise at Kuantan's Teluk Cempaka recently (where Hyatt Regency Hotel is located), the sunset here completes the saga.

The final minutes before the light vanishes across the South China Sea. Pix taken on wide angle using Panasonic TZ5 (pre-set on 'sunset' mode)

Dinner at nearby popular Taman Selera (equivalent to Medan Selera) food center. Located next to seaside, the sea breeze adds flavour to the ambience. Many stalls are located here, mostly with Chinese names. Popular in East Malaysia (particularly Sarawak) is the Paku vege dish (locally known as Midin). This cost an affordable RM 6.

This one kg plus of delicious crab only lightened my wallet by RM18. I think my wife enjoyed most of this 'crab' thingy.

The fish was rather small for RM 15. Taste wise rather blend. Nothing to shout about. But then, it's only one stall, at least a dozen there.

We visited the Boulevard Shopping Mall located about 5 km from the Hotel. Supposingly the largest (with a hypermart inside). Nothing extraordinary, except the usual cashiers we see in Klang Valley hypermarts are replaced by locals (and they are chinese). Also not seen are the hordes of populace with scarfs and unlike at the Peninsular, we have all races sitting together at the open air chinese restaurants enjoying dinner (much like Kuching).

Will be heading to Brunei tomorrow and take a gasp at Jerudong Park

Americans have chosen a new President

'Change has come to America'

Obama claims historic U.S. presidential win

Barack Obama has won the 2008 U.S. presidential election, defeating John McCain, and will be sworn in as the first African-American to hold the nation's highest office.

Achilles is now 6 weeks & 4 days

Achilles on 3 November 2008










Achilles on 20 October 2008