Dilemmas and decisions

I don't remember that I have so many dilemmas when I was younger..

Seems like there are more dilemmas as I get older.
The magnitude and impact of the issues faced are much higher and larger now, whether on personal or professional decisions that need to be made.

Some decisions do not further allow a reverse course of decision, and some require constant monitoring to adjust quickly to the changing circumstances. Some allow win-win outcomes. Most do not allow the best of both worlds and can only have a mutually exclusive outcome.
Some decisions can only be made with scarce critical information. Some decisions can only be made based on gut feel. The constant thing to keep in mind is probably to keep an unbiased perspective. There are also occasions in which adopting the game theory is the best way to solve an issue.

There are decisions that I have made, yet not sure if I have made the right choices and only time will tell. I just hope that my judgements will be for the good for all as far as possible. Nevertheless, there are many things , really many things, that are beyond my control. I can only pray for the best.

I do not know how to appreciate Chinese Tea previously, now I do. I am a Type A person. Chinese Tea certainly helps to calm my nerves and probably helps in decision making too ;)
Thanks to a good friend who has recommended Oolong Tea to me.

I am thankful for what I have now and I have learnt to be contented.
Because life is transient and we do not possess anything in this world.
Yet I believe we can all make a positive difference to this world :)

I am back from New Zealand!

I went for my first holiday trip for the year to New Zealand.

I went to the South Island of New Zealand from 21st Sep – 28th Sep 2008, together with William.

Though it’s a short trip, it was nevertheless a wonderful trip. The Southern Alps is simply awesome with its snow capped mountains. The West Coast has magnificent glaciers, lakes and mountains, and lots of rainfall.

NZ has just turned spring when we reached, nevertheless it was still cold. The temperature could drop to as low as below 5 degree Celsius at night. It was fun experiencing the coldness though I cannot really withstand cold very well.

At Christchurch, the flowers bloom beautifully, especially at Mona Vale and Botanic Garden. They are really beautiful.

I took train for the first time when I took the TranzAlpine Train from Christchurch to Arthur’s Pass National Park. The TrainzAlpine Train route is rated as one of the great train journeys of the world and indeed it was. The train crosses Canterbury Plains and climbed through Alpine foothills and Waimakariri Gorge.

We took a helicopter ride to Fox Glacier. It was my first time taking helicopter. It’s so fun! Due to the weather condition, we almost could not take the helicopter ride. Upon landing on Fox Glacier, I could not wait to get out of the helicopter to see the Fox Glacier! Walking on the beautiful snow covered Fox Glacier is simply breathtaking and awesome…

I saw beautiful rainbows at Thunder Creek Waterfall and Doubtful Sound. The Thunder Creek Waterfall is a 28 metres high waterfall that tumbles into the Haast River. Doubtful Sound is actually a fiond, a sea-filled valley carved by glacier ice (whereas sounds are inlets of the sea formed by rivers). It is the second largest of Fiondland National Park’s 14 sounds. The journey to Doubtful Sound started at 7.10am and we reached there at almost noon. It took us a cruise across the Lake Manapouri and a coach trip across Wilmot Pass to Deep Cove. The underground Manpouri Power Station is impressive. We boarded the Navigator to cruise the Doubtful Sound. The Doubtful Sound gives me a mysterious feeling with its mist-shrouded waterfalls and mountain chains when I first reached. Perhaps the mysterious feeling is amplified with the rainfall. I had wished to be able to catch glimpses of New Zealand Fur Seals and Bottlenose Dolphins, but they have perhaps decided to seek retreat from the heavy downpour.

I saw snow for my first time at Lindis Pass, the main inland link between Otago and the Waitaki Basin. Wow…. the feeling is great! I had fun playing with the snow after lunch at Observation Bay.

Oh I tried out the TSS Earnslaw to reach Walter Peak High Country Farm. The TSS (Twin Screw Steamer) Earnslaw is powered by its original twin 500-hp coal-fired steam engines, with wood and brass interior. It was launched in 1912, and known as ‘the lady of the lake”. At Walter Peak High Country Farm, we had lunch at the Colonel’s Homestead Restaurant and experienced country life such as sheep shearing and sheep dogs in action.

Here’s a brief literary of our NZ trip:

Day 1: Christchurch
- International Antarctic Centre. We tried out the Hagglund Ride to experience Antarctic terrain. You should give this ride a try when you’re there. Be prepared for a thrilling ride!
- Christchurch City (Mona Vale, Canterbury Museum and Botanic Garden)
- Castle (where sign of the Tahake restaurant currently resides)
- Willowbank Wildlife Reserve and experienced Ko Tane (Maori cultural performance)

Day 2: Arthur’s Pass to Fox Glacier
- TransAlpine Scenic Train ride
- Hokitika – Lunch @ Porky Takeaway with a very large and piping hot fish and chips, and visited the glass blowing and jade factory
- Franz Joseh Visitor Centre (took a 10min forest walk to get a faraway view of Franz Josef Glacier and it was drizzling)
- Dinner at Glacier Country Hotel, Fox Glacier (the kiwi dessert is yummy…. )

Day 3: Fox Glacier – Cromwell – Queenstown
- Scenic flight to Fox Glacier
- Arnott Point (was not able to see the fur seals, probably due to the heavy downpour)
- Lunch at Fantail Café, HAAST (the minestrone soup was good when it was so cold)
- Thunder Creek Falls
- Makarora West
- Lake Wanaka
- Lake Hawea
- Gold Fields Mining Centre, Kawarau Gorge, Otago
- Mrs Jones’ Fruit Shop, Cromwell
- Dinner at Lakeside Palace Restaurant, Queenstown

Day 4: Doubtful Sound
- Doubtful Sound (7.10am to 7.15pm)
- Dinner at Memories of Hongkong, Strateen House, Queenstown
- Grocery shopping at City Express (convenience store) and Asia Mart. Bought the tasty Keri Cranberry juice

Day 5: Queenstown
- Arrowtown (Chinese Settlement)
-Gibbston Winery
- Bungy Jump Site (both of us gave our salute to those who tried out the bungy jump)
- Took the TSS Earnslaw to reach Walter Peak High Country Farm
- Tried out the skyline Gondola to catch a view of Queenstown on Bob’s Peak
- Shopping at Queenstown

Day 6: Mount Cook Region – Christchurch
- Lake Dunelin, Cromwell
- Lindis Pass – Both of us saw snow for the first time!!
- Lake Pukaki, next to the tallest mountain of NZ, Mount Cook
- Church of Good Shepherd at Lake Tekapo
- Lunch at Observation Café
- Farmer’s Corner, with a hot latte at a newly renovated café
- Supermarket shopping at Springfield Mall
- Dinner at Pagoda Restaurant, Christchurch

Along the coach journey throughout the trip, I saw many many snow-capped mountains, beautiful sunrise and sunset, and lots of sheeps, cows and Alpaca . New Zealand is a wonderful place with splendid sceneries, friendly folks, and a rich Maori culture.

Just some thoughts

I have not been writing my blog for a while.

There have been a few thoughts on my mind for the last few weeks, that I thought to pen them down.

1. Storerooms within ourselves.

Many a time, we have many things on our mind and keep things in our heart.
Things related to work, family and personal.
Things that we prefer to keep it to ourself.
Things that we choose to keep it aside and revisit later (that can be much much later at times).

It is very tiring to have a cluttered mind and heart.
At times, it may serves well to springclean our mind and heart.
Think through - what is really important? Focus our thought and energy to achieve what we want to do.

2. Importance of health

I am truly a person who will always find things to do. I just cannot keep still.
And I am always trying my best to do what I need to do.
But I think i am pushing myself too hard.
I had a very bad lower abdomen and lower back pain about a month ago.
I was very worried then esp the urine test results show high WBC contents and small amount of RBCs.
Worried that my mum will not be able to take another blow.
Worried that my sis will be extremely burdened.
Worried that I may disappoint my Significant Other (cos' I will not want him to be dragged down).

My lifestyle has changed a lot. I am no longer drinking coffee or at most 1 cup a day!! It just happens naturally. I am also drinking at least 1.5 litres of water each day. Might just as well.
I am also drinking and eating lots of cranberries, barley water (thanks to advice from friends, esp. Leonard).

The pain still comes back occasionally especially when I feel stress.
When it happens, I know it is time to take a neutral gear and breathe in and out.

During the last 4 weeks, i could not carry heavy things, overwork or not drinking enough water.
I have learnt the importance of health personally.

3. Our blindspots
Sometimes we have grown so acustomed to how we do our things and how we expect people to do things. Accept it or not, we will always have blindspots. Listen to others, and outcomes may be better with more than one brainy.

4. Attitude
Attitude is indeed linked to motivation.
Good attitude is something that all of us expect at the minimum.
It serves well to remember that good attitude is the thing that help to stand out amongst peers at work.

5. Elderly at work
I used to feel that elderly collecting dishes at foodcourt or at work are very pitiful.
I have a different perspective about it now.
It may be a good thing to work when old. It keeps the mind active and widens the social circle, though socioeconomic factors will somehow force most of us to be on this track.
Well, just keep a positive mindset and really slow down our pace when we are on this track.

Alright, going to sleep now...
A busy week ahead but its ok, I will breathe in and out along the way and I look forward to my NZ trip from 21st to 28th Sep!

Cheers :)

My Beloved Dad

It has been 2.5 months since the passing on of my beloved father.
Dad is constantly on my mind and that of my Mum and Sis.

A recent ad with a storyboard of a single father mending the heels of his one and only teenage daughter reminded me of my Dad mending the heels of both myself and my sis. I couldn't help it, my tears just rolled.

My Dad is not a cobbler. It is an interest that Dad has picked up in recent years.

I have kept all the heels that he has mended for me in the shoes rack. I can't bear to wear them.
Seeing the heels is like seeing Dad trying to mend our heels and happily telling us that "Your heels are fixed!" when we reached home.

I have finally completed my Masters with flying colours. Doing a Master has always being a dream of mine that Dad, Mum and Sis are aware and I have finally graduated. How I wish that Dad is around to see me receiving the certificate though he is aware that I have completed the course.

Whatever it is, I will continue to put the knowledge acquired to good use at work to benefit the patients in whatever small ways I can, and hopefully to pursue my dream of being a social entepreneur! I will 'jia you'! When there's a will, there's a way. This may sound cliche but I believe in it. I believe that Dad will know what I am doing too, and will lend me his support, as always.

Thinker vs clutter mind

Have you ever tried to do a random count of things that are on your mind, for the last one year, one month, one day, and a minute ago?

Is one considered a thinker by having things on mind every now and then (except sleeping time of course)?

My personal opinion is NO. A wiser thinker will allow time-off from thinking that will help one to have better clarity of thoughts.

What's your thought?

Cheers.

What is Leadership?

A good leader leads and inspires followers.

Unfortunately I do not see assumed leadership at work. There is a lack of strategic thinking, pettiness, power hunger fights, and scrambling to impress the bosses.

Deadlines are always last minute, internally imposed without long term strategic planning.

It’s disappointing.

Whatever it is, I maintain my professionalism.

Hopefully what I am doing truly will benefit patients seeking healthcare needs and some comforting moments.

Speedy recovery to my Dad

This CNY holds special significance for myself, sis and Mum.

Because my Dad is ill with end stage lung cancer. This is a very cruel news to my mum, sis and close family members when we knew about it about 3 weeks ago.

I treasure every moments with Dad, so do my sis and Mum.
It pains us deeply whenever we see him in pain or has poor appetite.
During reunion dinner yesterday, Dad could just eat a bit. When my mum said that we could have finished the food if Dad has eaten more, I said, "Ya lar, one of our football players is not well today". At the bottom of my heart, I am wishing that I wanna see Dad returns to the football field, all ready to conquer the feast, at next and subsequent years of reunion dinner.

Just before writing this blog, i was browsing through the photo album that we took together during our family trip to Taiwan last year around this time. I am glad that we have gone on the trip together. My parents are very simple folks. They do not spend money on frills. I wish that I can bring Dad for another (and many more) family trips.

Mum, sis and myself will be strong in front of Dad. We will try our best to help Dad to recover in whatever we can, regardless of how slim the chance is. Dad, be strong. We are all behind you!!!

My sincere thanks to my friends, colleagues, aunts and uncles and family friends for the help, concern and advice given. Thanks very much.

Speedy recovery to my Dad.