It's Official...

It's official...
It's New Year's Eve!..
So how did 2008 go for you?..
Time to take stock and look forward to 2009..

But keep these wise words attributed to Albert Einstein in mind:

"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
Have a great 2009...

--Ginseng Tonic Maker-- Do things differently.. Expect better!

Happy Birthday!!

Happy Birthday!!!

Not like my mum will ever read this.. But Happy Birthday I'd like to wish her!...

We went for a family dinner at the Jap place above.
Ala-carte buffet dinner. Many selections available.
Frankly, the food is nothing to shout about.
But hey.. The company is the most important thing isn't it..
The best description about the place?
"Value-for-money"


That's the birthday "gal".. With the birthday gift she's proudly displaying.. A bag from Charles and Keith..
Has given up trying to give her Ang Pao..
She will reject or return to me eventually.. Always insisting that makan can already..

So together with Baby Mich.. I arranged for us to go earlier before my Sis and brother-in-law join us for dinner..
To do a little shopping..
Jewellery?.. Aiya.. Mai lah (don't want).. Already have what..
Watch?.. Aiya.. Mian lah (don't need).. The exisiting one change battery can already..

Only after much persuasion and coaxing that she finally decide to choose a bag..
All the while worrying about how much it will cost me..
And only choosing one that she think is reasonably priced..

That's my mum..
And perhaps that's where I get most of any easy-going and good nature personality that I may have from..

And that's why.. Whoever has her as mother-in-law..
is soooooo LUCKY!! haha...

--Ginseng Tonic Maker-- Great Health above all else...

Enlighten Me.. Please...

Sometime I scratch my head and wonder..
Am I remembering it wrongly?..
Or are most people remembering it wrongly.. like I am...

When public transport fares increased..
The price of oil was the reason given..
Oil price goes up >> Oil is needed for fuel and basically everything else>> And so fares went up... or so we were told...
Understand?
Orrhhhh.... Ok ok.. Understood.. Understandable lah.. got link mah.. ok ok...

Hmm.. THEN...
Prices of oil started dropping...
*we tapped our feet and waited*...
and dropping...
*we continued tapping our feet and waiting*....
And finally the golden question..
"Eh.. Excuse me ah.. Oil price went up.. fares increased rite.. that one after explanation, I understood.. Now oil price came down already.. How come no reductions ah?"

Orrhh.. Don't be mistaken.. Oil price got no direct link to fares one.. We link to many other things.. like wages lah.. inflation lah.. Also hor.. Many costs involved in running a company.. Everybody also know one mah.. Oil is just a small part leh.. Still got manpower costs leh.. Still got rentals leh.. Shareholders invest also need returns on their money right..

Orrrhhhhh.....

Either the message has been misintepreted somewhere.. or the message has been lost in there somewhere..
Maybe better PR campaign is needed so people can have a better and clearer picture?..
Anybody can help me solve the mystery?

Coz now that inflation and wages probably will start to fall in the coming months... SURELY the fares have to fall rite?..
*Tapping feet and waiting*

Not that I'm taking the public transport a lot..
but then again.. the same goes for petrol companies!

--Ginseng Tonic Maker-- Convince me once more...

What it means to be a Leader

It's wonderful to write a book,

Or paint an amber sky.

You give the world those deathless things

That never fad, that never die.

But more wonderful it is to build a life,

And play the leader's part.

You fan the hopes, you build the dreams

That lie in every agent's heart.

And when they win, through stress and strain,

More wonderful it is to thee,

Those effective Leaders who can say,

"They came, they stayed, they succeeded.

Why? Because they followed me."

-- Ginseng Tonic Maker-- Read this and trying to keep this in mind...