2011, in Summary

January – The Peak of all peaks
The year started like any other normal year – the peak period. The only thing I didn’t foreseen then, was prolly just the fact that this could be the hardest, and possibly longest peak I would ever had. The new regulations, the new disclosures, the lack of resources, the new software.
It was challenging…that goes without saying..
One good news, and I could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

February – The missing member
The family had a scare, when Bailey went missing on one fine day, and we knew something must have gone wrong when she didn’t return by dinnertime.
Luckily for us, fate was rather kind to us, and dad found her a couple of days later, “kidnapped” by some random people in the neighbourhood, whom didn’t have the guts to come out of the house when dad went knocking on the door upon seeing Bailey at the porch.

April – The extraordinaries
Extraordinary 1: I was invited to go to watch F1, live, in Sepang by a friend of mine. Honestly, as much as I follow the sport, I have never been to the watch it ‘live’. The experience, was pretty amazing, seeing those cars from so so near. Unfortunately for me, it was a relatively accident free race, and drama free too.. sigh..the disappointment
Extraordinary 2: The tickets were also valid for Rain Bi’s concert at Sepang, which took place after the race. And so, we went there…only to realise that there were no seats. Stand and watch kinda concert, which didn’t appeal to us very much. So, we walked around, took our goodies (a Rain concert tee), and got ourselves some drinks, and we left. Before the concert even started. Didn’t even bother to see how good he looks in person.
Extraordinary 3: We were subsequently stuck in massively horrendous jam for 3+ hours..from Sepang to KL. Epic jam.
Extraordinary 4: 2 weeks later, I actually went back to the F1 Sepang Circuit paddock, but this time, for a marathon. Yes. Me, running. 11km. Unbelievable? Believe it! And I actually completed the race (Surprise!), within the qualifying time (Surprise Surprise!)
Extraordinary 5: After so long, I’m no longer single. We officially started.

May – The break
After what seems like infinity, I finally took one week off work, for a family trip to Hanoi, Vietnam.
A much needed break, except that I somehow ended up having to wake up earlier than when I had to head to work. Tour Agents..tsk tsk. They really maximise everything!
And oh, it was also one helluva holiday. On the final day (luckily, the day we were flying home), all 3 of us had minor food poisoning.
(>.<)
It was also a time of frustration, because honestly, I felt victimised. First, the half year promotion was abolished, and unfortunately, I was one of the affected one. I take that as normal change that the company takes. Now, there's such thing called "exception" promotion? Perhaps, that was an indication enough.
And it also turns out, that Bailey was perhaps, fated to leave us when the time comes…as she went missing again…and was never found….

June – The insanity
One fine Friday, I decided that it is time to catch up with a friend which I have not seen since another’s friend’s wedding earlier in the year. So, I asked her out for a meal.
And then we decided to go for a movie. Upon checking out what’s showing, I realised I really have not been watching any movies, except 1 in the year. And there really are a number of movies I’d like to watch. A suggestion to catch 2 movies, out of jest, turned out to a pretty good idea with my friend.
But then, a lil later, we took it one step further. Make that 3.
And so, we had a movie marathon. Fast 5 at 11am, X-Men first class at 2.45pm, and then KungFu Panda 2 at 7pm.
And that, broke both my friend’s and my own record of most movies watched in a day, in the cinema.
It was also the month where my annual diving trip took place. This time, to one of the most beautiful dive site in the world – Sipadan.
I was in awe…seriously. Not by the school of barracudas, not by the gigantic turtles, not even by the leopard shark. But rather, at my inability to actually swim forward when the undercurrent was strong.
It was so bad, that despite me putting in all my energy, I was actually moving backwards~!
Then, my buddy came to my rescue, and pushed me..and after another 10 secs of swimming…we were still at the same spot~!! (T.T)
Luckily, yet another friend came to my rescue, and I was finally able to move forward, and hung on to some rocks, which is why I’m still here, alive, blogging. *pats the faithful rock*
An experience alright!

July – The challenge
A month that was full of the expected…and the unexpected.
The expected – I finally got my promotion…the delayed promotion at the end of July. I’ve finally obtained what I promised myself to achieve.
Strangely, it didn’t bring that much happiness to me than I thought it would…
A realisation perhaps, that I’ve been searching at the wrong place for peace, and happiness.
The unexpected – The Company actually nominated me for TRYLA (Tun Razak Youth Leadership Award [Programme]).
The unexpected x2 – I actually got in. A week of surprises, a week of doing a lot of things that I wouldn’t have done otherwise..some, I would never had the opportunity to.
A week of torture, a week of fun, a week of learning. I’ve truly learnt a lot. About perseverance. About perspective. About empathy. About understanding.
One of the probably more unforgettable event was the visit to Juvenile prison, as well as the Women prison.
It was eye opening, really.

August – The hole in the pocket
It seems like my wallet knew I got a promotion, and decided that it’s high time to spend.
My iMac died a premature death…barely one year odd….fortunately, I managed to back-up the most important information into my external harddisk.
Unfortunately, everything else…were gone.
And so, I got myself a new MacBook Pro instead, my first personal laptop..(I’ve always been a desktop person..don’t ask me why)
Went for a full body medical checkup as well, just to ensure everything is still working alright.
Surprisingly, besides the fact that I’m extremely underweight, everything is fine. No high cholesterol, no high blood pressure.

September – The quiet month
The most interesting thing that happened for the month? The 1 week Challenges of Management course. The reason – It was one of the more “fun” course, and part of it was in Penang~!

October – The happenings
While September was a quiet month, Oct was the other extreme. It even started with a bang.
The month started with me..being sick…So sick that I took the longest medical leave I have ever taken, in my life!
Somehow, I was down with a fever and sorethroat, that didn’t seem like going away…for 4 days.
And just as I was recovering, I was hit…again…Bigger..unfortunately not better.
The following week after I recover from fever, I developed a pain…stomach ache…abdominal pain..I don’t know what. The next thing I know, I was hospitalized, and had a surgery, for appendicitis.
That knocked me out for 2 weeks from work…
The silver lining: Luckily all that happened before my long leave, my holiday.
Followed by the trip to Melbourne for my sis’ wedding.
My one and only sis…
This also happened to be the month where the decision was made..and executed.

November – The multiple weddings
My sis’ Melbourne wedding took place on the 1st November 2011.
Then we came back, and another 2 weddings on the 5th November weekend.
Followed by another friend’s wedding on 11th November (Which I didn’t attend), my sis’ KL reception on 12th November, yet another friend’s wedding on 13th November.
And finally, my college mate’s wedding on the 19th November.
I just declared bankruptcy.

December – The break
For the first time during my stint with the current employer, I got a long break in December.
All previous years were spent working my heads off in the small town of Seremban, till the wee hours in the morning, rushing for deliverables…and only getting a few off from Christmas’ onwards.
A nice change.
As much as I was off work, though, I was actually rather busy.
Headed to Phuket, and had a few relaxing days there…not to mention, eye opening, as Patong beach, is, without a doubt, a separate world altogether.
Came back, and the very next day, went for the Handgun Shooting Course I bought off Groupon.
Apparently, I’m a pretty sharp shooter! Woots! Should the handgun be built smaller (due to my small hands), my shots could’ve been even more accurate, according to the facilitator~! *flexes non-existent muscles*
It was a rather interesting experience overall, for I thought I would have much difficulty holding the handgun in place, especially with the force from firing…but it turns out, I did alright.
The facilitator even went on to say that many people thinks that shooting is a game of strength. But it really is a mental game. A game of focus.
Headed to Penang for the 3rd time this quarter alone. A trip full of food, food and more food…what else? Food…
At the end of it, I’m not sure if I really had much of a break…mentally, physically, or even spiritually..

A rather challenging year, in more aspects than one, in both personal and professional front.
It has, nonetheless, been an exciting year, with ups and downs, tears and laughter, achievements, and disappointments.
I’ve learnt, and hopefully, grew. Not just a year older, but a year wiser.
And shall now welcome 2012, a year..of change…

The Speech

Just wanted to pen down the speech by the maid of honour, yours truly.

The brain is a wonderful thing. It never stops working from the time you are born, until the moment you are about to start to make a speech.

Good evening ladies and gentlemen,
For those of you who don’t know me, my name is Yin Fun, and I’ve known Mei my whole life, and most of hers.
There was a saying, that blood is thicker than water, and so, when Mei asked me to be the maid of honor, and give a speech, I felt delighted, and scared, all the same, for I’ve never been much of a public speaker…but because I’m her only sister, I couldn’t even turn her down~!
As a result, I’m standing here, in front of you….terrified~!

Before I begin, Mei, will you please place your left hand on the table. Jon, will you please place your right hand on top of hers.

I never knew Jon before he dated my sister, so I can’t tell you horrible stories about him, but I can tell you that I think he fits my sister, perfectly. He’s easy going, soft-spoken guy…who ermm..loves golf. Truth be told, I dare not say I know him very well…and if any of you wondered how did I conclude that he fits my sister, perfectly, it’s the way he looks at her, and the way she speaks of him.

Mei, you look spectacular today, and I would like to thank you for giving me the true meaning of the word sister….or so I think, since I do not have another sister to make comparison with.

As children, Mei and I were pretty much inseparable. We fought over every tiny thing, including who gets to sit in the front seat of the car, every day, and more often than not, because we couldn’t reach an agreement, we’d both end up squeezing into the front seat~! That’s how inseparable we were!

As we grow up, we grew apart for a short while during our teenage years, but things quickly caught up when we headed here for our studies, and we actually grew closer in those years than we have ever been, sharing our ups and downs, cries and laughter.

I do have a lot of funny and embarrassing stories about her, but because today’s her special day, I would leave her alone now.

I’ve been thinking very hard about word of advice for the newlyweds, and could only come up with these:
Have a good sense of humor, have a very short memory- laugh at each other’s mistakes, forget the shortcomings – that’s the secret to a happy marriage.
If you’re clever, you’ll have the last say. If you’re very clever, you won’t use it.

This day ushers a new beginning of a wonderful phase of both my sis’, and Jon’s lives.

Separately, you are two special, remarkable people, but together you are complete. As you sit side by side through this roller coaster of life, remember to scream from the peaks, hold hands through the dips, laugh through the loops, and enjoy every twist and turn.
For the ride is much better when you share it together. Coming together is the beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.

And Jon, it is with great pleasure, that I have been able to give you the last 5 mins in which you’ll ever have the upper hand over Mei.

Please raise your glasses while I toast my sister, and her husband.
Here’s to love, laughter, and happily ever after. Cheers.

I’d have to admit that not everything that was said were originally from me.
So, credits to whoever that came out with them (I have no idea who)
But all that was said, were true, to my heart..and that’s all that matters.

Conclusion: I recall someone once told me “No matter how posh, how beautiful the wedding was, it’s only an event. Only for the day. Marriage, is everything that comes after. Both the ups, and downs. It wouldn’t be easy. It wouldn’t be just a bed of roses. But it could be rewarding”
And so, to my sis, and my new brother-in-law, I truly wish you a lifetime of happiness.

Small things in life

Sometimes, in the midst of all the happenings, in the midst of all the catch ups, we lose ourselves.
Sometimes, we get so caught up in chasing materials, we mistaken them as our dream.
Sometimes, we spend a lifetime chasing our dreams, only to realise that it doesn’t actually make us any happier.
Sometimes, we spend a lifetime chasing our goals, we forgot to actually enjoy life.
Sometimes, we get so engrossed in the rat race, we somehow overlooked the beauty of simple things in life: the blooming flower, the kindly smile, a hug, a “good morning =)” wish, the fluffy clouds, the clear blue skies.
Sometimes, we get so busy trying to chase perfection, we fail to remember that we aren’t meant to be perfect. We are only human.
Sometimes, we hang on to what we have so tightly, we fail to realise that at times, the way to move forward is to let go.
Sometimes, we give up our health for money, we fail to see that without health, nothing really matters.
Sometimes, we are all into me, myself and I, we forgot how insignificant we are as one.
Sometimes, we get so complacent, we take things, and people, for granted.
Sometimes, it happens so subtly, we are not even aware of it.

Tonight, I’m thankful.
I’m thankful that I could still see that while materials bring comfort, it may not bring happiness. Money could buy you a house, but not a home.
I’m thankful that I still have people who love me despite my flaws, my imperfections.
I’m thankful that my health has not totally given up on me, despite me giving lil attention to it past few years.
I’m thankful that it didn’t take me a lifetime to understand that things that matter most may not be something that can be bought with money.
I’m thankful that I can see, hear, taste, smell and feel.
For that means I could still see the cute fluffy clouds, I could hear the sound of waves, I could still smell the freshly cut grass, I could still taste the taste of life, and feel the emotions that we are supposed to be able to feel.
And I’m thankful that I could still understand that.
Perhaps it’s high time that I make a decision, a conscious decision, to make an effort, to enjoy the small things in life. To smile. To laugh.

*p/s: I am, in no way, implying that money isn’t important. Afterall, try being happy when u are cold, homeless, and hungry. What I am saying is, there is a point where money ceased to be the most important thing in life.
And that, itself, warrants another post, for another day.