2013, in Summary

It has been a practice of mine to try to sum up a year that has just passed. 
Whether they were the best of times, or the worst of times.
2013, for me, has its ups and downs…and I would like to think, I grew with these experiences.

January – The Move
After living for almost a year like a nomad (Well, not exactly..just a couple of temporary places), nearly going crazy every weekend, inspecting more than 20 different places, a decent place was finally found, and secured.
Then came the madness of furniture purchase, the packing and unpacking, the clean ups, and assembling of various furnitures, and the move.
But finally, a place that I know wouldn’t be only for a few months.
A lil more settled, after nearly a year…

February – The Celebrations
The month of February marks a year since I came down under.
A year of uncertainties, a year of change.
It’s also the month where we celebrate Chinese New Year.
My first long holiday and celebration with family, since I started work (And under employment).
2012 was my first year of long CNY holidays, but that was because I was in the transition period, and was unemployed.
As it turns out, this will also go into history as the last Chinese New Year celebrated with you…
I remember, how you had trouble walking, and would hardly get out of the house, and yet after much persuasion, you came out for dinner, the night before my flight back to Melbourne.
And that night, I took what turned out to be our last picture together….

April – The Beginning
For those who know me. would’ve realised long ago that I’m a lazy person.
I will do what needs to be done in the most efficient manner so that I can laze.
*Then again, for those who hardly knows me would probably have figured it out from my blog address anyway..
And because I’m not fat (Thank god), I didn’t really have much need to do anything to “lose weight” or “maintain my weight”..
After years of bare minimal exercise, I know that something needs to change.
I am, unfortunately, getting older, and without any exercise, I can foresee where my health is heading…south.
So, I started doing something…Golf.
Most would have already burst out laughing by now, thinking…”WTF? That’s not exactly what comes to mind when one says exercise!”
I’m a realist. I can’t change overnight from being a couch potato to a health freak that goes to gym every other day..
I’ve tried that route, and it failed…terribly…
So what’s better than going to the driving range and hit a few balls? Not too strenuous, and I can still justify it is a form of exercise!
The first 2 few outings to the driving range was…well…not great. But that’s another post for another day.
More importantly, I took the first step..baby steps, but a step nonetheless for a healthier lifestyle.

Apr-May – The Work Trip
Parents also came over for holidays in April – May period.
Dad, worried about his precious doggies, stayed for 2 weeks, as otherwise “the doggies will miss me too much…”- Dad.
Mom, on the other hand, stayed for a month, and coincided with my business trip to Sydney..
So naturally, she came with me.
While I worked on the weekdays, she walked around and explore by herself.
What’s impressive? She managed to not take a bus/ train/ taxi the 2 days while she was exploring by herself, until she found out about the free shuttle bus!
What’s funny? She walked so much, and took so many wrong turns trying to get back to the hotel, that she got blisters by the 3rd day…
Still, I’m amazed at how much walking my mom is capable of.

June – The anniversary
My one year at work anniversary, that is.
It’s tradition in the firm that everyone gets a “birthday” card on their anniversary with the firm.
And oh, 2 free movie tickets too!

July – The free fall
A month that started off to be the beginning of my busy season for the year,
a month that has more downs than ups,
the month filled with grief, sorrow, and heartbreak.
A final farewell, a last good-bye.
We all knew you were hospitalised. What we didn’t know, was how severe your condition was.
Everyone went on with their ever busy schedule…until sis got a friend to check on you..
The last minute purchase of flight tickets, the even more last minute change of fight tickets…
The long flight home, the meeting the night I touched down, the pain on your face, the peaceful look you had the next morning as you slipped into coma..
The finger movement when we spoke to you, the toes movement when the fingers could no longer respond, our worried face as your warm hands slowly turning cold…
The lil whispers by your ears, the confession on the things we did when we were young..
That phone ringing at 3am, the dreaded news, the rush to the hospital, the wake, the final goodbye, the pain of losing a loved one..
Mentally, emotionally, it was a free fall..
You’ve showed me that it’s a matter of Mind over matter, and the power of will power when you held on, to keep to your words, that you’ll wait for us to get home…
And when I felt the most despair, when I felt hopeless, when I didn’t know how to face the truth, you showed me the way..again…
That without the rain, there would be no rainbow.

When I felt most vulnerable, you showed me hope…A double rainbow.
Not once, not twice, but 3 times within 3 months…

August – September: The pick up
Picking up where I left off.
Picking myself up…
Picking the memories of us, during the younger days, during the holidays, during out catch ups…
Remembering the better days, remembering what you taught me…
And picking up golf again…with beginners’ lessons.
I started running again as well, in preparation of the 10km run…
And the rest, went by in a daze…

October – The run
My second consecutive year of joining the Melbourne Medibank Marathon – 10km run.
By this time, I could actually feel my fitness level has gone up, not quite fit, but I know I’m doing better than I was a year ago..
I could run further, run longer without feeling I was about to drop dead.
Finished the race without feeling like my body’s gonna break apart the next day, and that’s significant improvement for me.

“Do not be afraid of going slow, as long as you are still going…”

I might not be there, but one day, I will be…

November – The wedding
When I was in Malaysia, especially in my final few years, I have attended, on average, 2 weddings each month…
Everyone was getting hitched, and weddings just became a monthly/ bi-monthly affair.
However, since I came to Melbourne, things have quieten down a fair bit..
A rather simple affair…
But it was a celebration, a union of 2 person, in love, making a legal vow to stay by each other’s side, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health…
And that, was all that matters…

December – Japan
A trip to the land of rising sun…
Japan as Japan is, peculiar, weird, and everything funny.
A country that operates at very high efficiency,
A country that is part of Asia, yet feels like it’s another world out there…
While most raved about how great Tokyo is, how fantastic the shopping is, it would probably not go down my memory as the most memorable part of the trip.
I recalled not the shopping areas, not how wonderful the sushis were, not how efficient they operate…
I recall,
On the first day when I touched down, tired after the full day flight, wet from the rain, and frustrated from going in circles, lost, a very kind man walked with me, shared with me his umbrella, to find a hotel even he doesn’t know where at..for nearly 30 minutes..my faith in humanity – restored.
I recall,
On Christmas eve, we went up to Koyasan, covered in snow..my first white Christmas…
The walk at the cemetery, to a temple, was one of the more peaceful walk I took..
The trees which were hundreds of years old, the pathway, the tombstones, covered in snow..the falling snow…

I felt a sense of calmness and peacefulness I have not felt for a while..

2013.
Not the best of years..
But definitely a year that will go down history as one to be remembered..
Not necessarily for the better…
I guess, sometimes, it is these life changing events that shape a person..
I guess, sometimes, it is these unhappiness, that make us appreciate things in life..
I guess, sometimes, it is these trials that defined our lives…