Jeffrey’s Personal Reflection!

Friends and relatives! I have decided to “pindah rumah” - please visit my new blog at

http://spaces.msn.com/members/jeffreychew/

615 am - Jefferson wakes up after he hears his alarm clock rings. I have been awake since 6 am trying to get things done - boil the water, get his toothpaste and toothbrush ready.

705 am - leaves the house. Before he went, he took a nice picture with his lovely trusted kindergarten companion Cornelius - his kid brother. Cornelius is definitely going to miss his hero for a year. Next year, Cornelius will join big brother at Hun Min Primary School! Cornelius is very close to his brother although they have their rivalry at times. We love them most and this is one of the defining moments when you can really see them caring and loving for each other.

Today is an eventful day for Jefferson but I will leave that till tomorrow….anyway, it’s rather amusing to start off 2006 with a reflection of a neighbour who actually pissed off Carol and I in a major way sometime back in 2005. To put the story short, the neighbour came over to introduce herself and wanted to know if we were okay to share some cost with the services of her Indonesian maid. She claimed that she wanted to have some privacy on Sundays and we could use her maid to clean up the place … etc etc.

Being a naive neighbour and also a friendly one, we gladly accepted the services and also agreed to pay her maid for her time and effort at our lovely apartment. She started well and we paid the money to our neighbour directly. However, the maid was not too happy as she was not duly informed by her boss that her services at our place was paid for. She started to show her extra strength by kicking pails and banging doors till kingdom come.

Of course, we were not happy and we confronted the “friendly” neighbour to ask her if she has informed the maid that we actually paid for the services. She said YES very clearly. Guess what - after a year - the maid confronted us and demanded her year’s salary from us in a stern way….well…that’s when things got bloody and nasty.The neighbour actually came up one night and told us off for telling the maid that we paid the money. Now - wasn’t that an agreed upon thingy that we had with her in the beginning to tell her maid? Well…there goes a friendly neighbour!

The worst of all, she went around the block and informed everyone that she did a good deed for Chew’s Family by lending us the maid once a week without any payment. Darn! This is a total lie - she was lying from ear to ear and god knows what the hell she has been cocking up stories to look like Mother Theresa.

The reasonsI am writing is because the following:

1. Love thy neighbour but if they screw up - we have the right to put them back in line.
2. Don’t expect everyone to be Mother Theresa - there is only one and god bless her soul !
3. Apartment living encourages friendship and good bonding - not lies and deception!
4. Neighbours who are concerned never spent her time looking out from her window each time someone gets into the lift. She kept count on every movement such as how many times Carol goes to the market; how often our parents come over; maybe even keeping track of how many times her neighbours make love!

I am totally pissed with her attitude and thank god our next door neighbour as well as the other family who lives on the 5th floor are totally friendly and down to earth. By the way - love thy neighbour lady is living on the first floor. If you know where I live, I suggest when you come into my lift, press the lift button and you will see her peering eyes staring at you from her window- maybe some fetish thoughts on her mind - so I suggest you get ready your MIDDLE FINGER and show it HAPPILY!

2006 is here and the f***ed up neighbour needs to be ignored at all times. Causing Carol lots of stress and me blowing my top on a neighbour when she came barging in and made serious accusations - are never forgiving.

So - thought of the day - would you want to borrow someone else’s maid even for a few hours? Think about it. We have - and we will never walk that path again !

Take care!

Hi! Sometimes a date in a calendar means different things to different people. However, on 26 Dec 2004, many felt the pain, shock and despair when Tsunami hit Malaysia, Thailand and many other countries around this region.

Jefferson, Cornelius, myself and Carol - we were in Phuket visiting Grandma. We do that every other year with the family. On that faithful day, we were just reeling over a good reunion dinner at Phuket Country Club where we had almost everyone from the family there. Granny is a total gem and we will never missed it for the world. On the eve of arriving at Phuket on 24 Dec, there was a major crowd at the airport but thanks to Aunt Tooky, she got us off from the airport very quickly.

It was a great Christimas eve dinner with all the family members being there and of course catching up.

On the 26 Dec, we decided to visit Patong Beach. Somehow, we never knew how close we were to the most horrifying tragedy on that faithful morning. Thanks to my 2 sons, we ended up looking for Baskin and Robbins at Phuket Central and we missed the Tsunami by 20 minutes. Till today, I must say that we were very lucky to be alive.

Again, to all family members who may have lost loved ones during that time, we hope the healing power of time will bring solace and peace to your broken hearts. May god bless those who perish in this tragedy.

I am glad to have the boys and a lovely wife with me still.

What better ways to start off a new year by predicting what is the major thingy happening in 2006

1. Major court battles between politicians - one to watch (Tun Dr. M vs Anwar)
2. Dell finally selling machines wth AMD due to market share crunch!
3. Mohd Abbas of PLO President resigns! A moderate Hamas leader takes over and make peace with Israel with Malaysia’s assistance.
4. North Korea launches pre-emptive attacks on South Korea’s capital. US and UN invades North Korea.
5. Saddam Hussien sentenced to death by firing squad.
6. Osama caught in Syria! Brought to secret location in India for trial.
7. Nichol David hangs on to Number 1 Woman Squash Player!
8. England wins the World Cup! Yahoooooo!
9. KLSE bull run starts!
10. Burmese Military junta collapses. Civil War emerges!

Alamak! What a way to start off a good holiday season! I think Malaysian’s are now infected with a new culture of sue, sue, sue! I guess if you have read the papers today, one big gun is threatening to sue the Govt! Well, sure reminds me what my late father use to say - it will not be long when we start seeing the American culture of suing in this country!

How true he is! I am very sad to see this as a norm in the culture where we hold true to many good things!

Aiya……coolllll it lah!

The smell of celebrations is in the air! Jefferson and Cornelius are so excited to find out what they have in store for presents under the Xmas tree. Although we are not Christians, we celebrate Christmas like many others across the world. What we hope for is peace and harmony throughout the world.

I have had a rough 3 months in FY2005 but I guess with good friends and family members, I sailed through it like a breeze. Wishing all of you Merry Xmas and Happy New Year for a good 2006.

My personal wish is peace and harmony in our beautiful land known as Malaysia!

To all relatives reading in, Merry Xmas and Happy New Year.

Hello

The sun finally came back with a vengance. For the past few days, it has been freezing at night with rain coming down throughout the entire night for 3 days. Anyway, glad to see the glorious sun back in action! At least some swimming can be done - yahoo!

Well, some interesting story to share. Some major changes in Lenovo and Dell in Asia Pacific region.

Anyway, apart from that, got word that my office car park operator is also changing its car park tag. Well - $$$$ again. Guess, heard some rumours that some big MNC company is taking up 700 lots within the car park area. So much for the petition thingy. No wonder they act so bloody cocky! Dammit!

I have received quite a number of emails from various friends and relatives ever since the blog was up. Anyway, one of which is a friend that sent me his personal view about a play he was fortunate enough to catch on the weekend. Here what he has to say. I kinda agree to what he has said……this world is really full of biggots!

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I had an interesting experience last weekend. I went to a play at the Dewan Sri Pinang. A Christmas play that included lots of singing and very nice backdrops. Suitably impressed with the professionalism of the cast who must have put in a lot of time and effort to perfect their roles. Basically, the play was set in the heyday of the baba and nyonya culture in Penang, a time when the matriarch wielded real power in a domestic household and the sinkeks marry into the family and their eccentricities and excesses are tolerated. It was a nostalgic joy to see the baba and nyonya garbs again. Remembered seeing my grandparents dressed up in their own togs when I was a wee lad.

Anyway, the performance aside, I had my disappointments during the evening too. Preceding the play, there was this talk by the pastor of the church that organised this function. Okay, I respect this man for his right to say what he had to say but my respect for him as person for what he said during his sermon quickly plummeted to zero. I consider myself to be quite open to the environment around me but I felt offended by his opinions.

I would suspect that this guy cannot rationalise properly between religion and culture. You are a Chinese Malaysian first and a Christian second. And as a Chinese Malaysian, you have chosen to run down your own culture heritage. I know I will not and many people will not do so too. But here you were, condemning a culture you grew up with.

Fengshui, as a harmless Chinese culture, had existed for more than 3,000 years. It is only recently that it has become a fad because of our exposure to the likes of Lillian Too and Joey Yap. But it is all harmless, in my opinion. I read books and articles about fengshui, I surf the Internet for interesting fengshui stories and my wife buys fengshui trinkets to place in strategic places around the house. All in the name of good clean fun. I tolerate her indulgences and she, mine.

But here was this guy who equated fengshui with the work of the devil. That, I could not agree. Mr Pastor, you do not have my support. Common, there are better examples for you to choose from. If you regard the little aeroplane graphics in the fengshui calendar as a threat to your religion, then all I can say to you is that I am very sorry for you. At the end of the day, any level-minded person will be able to see through all the smoke and expose you for what you really are: a bigot.

Finally, I understand how rabble rousers work. They play to the gallery and work their willing audience to a frenzy through mass participation. But I’m not impressed. I gave the man a chance to hear what he has to say and I came away feeling disappointed. What a shame.

Anonymous

It’s always great to stand up to what you believe in and be having a good political punch into things. I guess my working place for one. Our so -called owner has decided to raise their parking fees by 33%. Many have stood up and say their piece but I guess what matters most is the comrade that we did by signing a petition of 50 people and sharing it with the person in charge. Strangely, he claims that expenses are on the increase …etc etc…

Well…I guess if they monopolize the damm parking area, they can always claim that although we know it goes into some revenue account and shows as an improvement on their topline numbers.

What I learn today is this :

1. Never be afraid to be a prick! Serious!
2. Always be assertive and be courteous in whatever we do.
3. Be humble but be sharp.

On a lighter note, Xmas is just 9 days away. Yahoo! This means holidays - time to spent with family and friends. I am very glad that it’s here. It brings about self -reflection and self - awareness in oneself.

Today - I lost my temper with a friend. He promised to send me some important document with some priceless value which could help me in my daily work. So much for a damm friend. Nevertheless, his promises continue to be empty. So world? Have you ever met this kinda person? Empty but always convincing - I really hope he doesn’t take me to Holland (literally)!

No offense, but I have a screwed up feeling whenever someone does that to me … always! Will take a deep breathe and say my prayers that Monday comes - I will get that priceless document. Otherwise, his words “it’s coming” will just be “it’s coming” after I fly on Mr Virgin’s space flight into the atmosphere!

That’s all for now!

Ladies and gents

Have you tried to head back from town and proceeded along the long stretch of Jalan Tanjong Tokong? Bet you will probably be stuck at the round about because…………..Gurney Drive Hawkers have been moved to a piece of land (temporary - not sure if that is true).

I really can’t imagine how the traffic would be on 31 Dec 2005 (midnight)?

19 years ago, dad passed away so suddenly. Sometimes I do wonder how life would be with him around today. Not much I can remember about the faithful night of 15 Dec 1986. The world for me stopped then and life changed. Today, after 19 years, I still miss him terribly.

Last nite, boys were rather naughty and I was very unsettled. Nobody knows what goes through my head and heart. Each year this day comes and go. It sures feel like it was yesterday.

Nevertheless, I miss him very much. I woke up at 4 am this morning. Dad passed away - 15 Dec 1986 - 315 am. He has always been my inspiration - his policital beliefs of what a true Malaysian Malaysia should. The ceramahs he took me to. The political campaign he forged to secure Kebun Bungah with an underdog and won 55 votes. The whole family was cheering….celebrating the victory!

I have always had these kind of mornings every year. Just felt him being around whenever comes on this day. I love you dad….I miss you terribly…ah Pa

Ah Jeff

Sometimes you just need some reading material that wakes you up in the middle of the day………well this is a quote from Steve Jobs. Not sure if it brings any meaning to any of you. It’s Friday….what better ways to blog and quote something that makes sense

“Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith. I’m convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You’ve got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don’t settle!” - STEVE JOBS