Chinese Lunar Year of the Rat

It's now just a little past midnight and those who celebrate the Chinese lunar year will usher in the Year of the Rat with family gathering, dining together and not forgetting lighting up loads of firecrackers as the clock strike 12 midnight.

Around my neighborhood, fireworks started as early as 10 pm this evening. At this very moment as I am typing away, the sounds of firecrackers are blasting away! The noises sounded just outside my bedroom windows and in the far distance. The sounds are loud and very deafening. It's like the sound of gun-shots, bombardments and cracking storms and would surely be frightening to any young little boys and girls who hear it.

My grandchildren are very afraid of any loud sounds like thunderstorms and heavy downpours and so too are they afraid of fire crackers. Like in previous years, instead of enjoying the beautiful display of fireworks, they would instead be crying and holding on tight to dear life! Poor little thing!

Today, I want them to stay away from my home and be with their other grandparents because many of my neighbors are mostly Chinese who celebrate the Lunar Year. I am sure there is also some Chinese living near to where their grandparent's house so not much to escape from for them both though. However, I do hope they are okay and be already being in bed at this time of the night.

As for myself, I always enjoy this time of the year celebration. In my younger days, I played a lot with firecrackers. I wasn't at all afraid of firecrackers and I would say it was because I was a little tomboy! What boys can do, I could do the same too! I even enjoyed doing boxing with some of them! Tee..he...he..., isn't that outrageous! Whatever, that type of sport had passed. :)

When my two sons were young teenage boys, we lighted up the firecrackers together and enjoyed the fun with our neighbors. It's just so wonderful to live with a community of different ethnics and cultures, especially at where I live and I have the privilege to participate in much kind of festivals all year round!

To every one born in the Year of the Rat

Here is wishing you prosperity, happiness and good health.

To dear little mouse, watch out for the cat. It's open mouse season for sniper kitty. Ha..ha.ha...

Gong Xi Fatt Chai!

Happy New Year 2008

Christmas joy is still sounding in the air and soon gone will be the year 2007. We gladly welcomed the new year which is just round the corner.

What is your new year's resolution? For me, nothing is better than leading a good and simple life where in every acts I do, it is pleasing to God. At this very moment as I am composing this blog, the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi rings in my head.

I got sentimental whenever our church choirs sang this hymn on Sunday Mass or any Holy Obligation days. My whole being will be filled with emotion and silent tears rolled down my cheeks. To say I am sad, I am not. It's just that the words written in the prayer touched my heart.

My new year wish to you and yours is have a Blessed and Happy moments all year round!

The Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.

O, Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console;
To be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it is in dying (to the self) that we are born to eternal life.

Amen

Oh Come All Ye Faithful

Let this Christmas season be a renewing of the mind of Christ in our thinking,

and a cleansing of our lives by His pure presence.

Let His joy come to our weary world through us.

~ Gerald Kennedy~

Wishing all dear friends and colleagues

A Very Merry and Blessed Christmas!

xxx

Family Purple Chocolate

Business-Cum-Holiday Trip to Brunei July 2007

The Oil and Gas Discovery Centre

At a recent course I attended which was held at Brunei Shell Petroleum's Learning and Development Training Centre Seria (the oil producing town), I took some interesting pictures of some of the oil and gas facilities structures erected within the vicinity of the Seria Disctrict.

A X-mas Tree on display at Brunei Shell Petroleum Training Centre.

One Billionth Barrel Monument

Production of the Billionth Barrel of Crude Oil July 1991 - Seria, Brunei

Along both sides of the walkway is a display of some awesome gallery of monument stone plagues showing the many past historical and current operations carried out at the oil and gas facilities at Brunei Shell Petroleum.

A close-up of one of the stone plagues.

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Camera Shots - More Pictures

These are a few of Nina’s favorite pictures taken at Lake Miramar.

From: NinaOA [mailto:ninaxxxx…com]Sent: 26 January 2007 01:05
Here are pictures taken yesterday at Lake Miramar. M..xx… went for a jog and I went for a walk, not with a dog but with my camera and these are my favourite shot especially for you and your blog . I have a filmstrip on it, will post it out soon. hugs, Nina

Picture of a woman walking her dog in silhouette tone.


Pictures in sepias tones.

Pictures taken in almost natural tones. Very beautiful images. :)

Nina dear, thank you for allowing me to share these pictures here. I am always impressed by your talent in handling your camera. Cool man! Like it so much that it almost tasted like vanilla ice cream?!! He..he...he... Well done and keep up the good job!

Camera Shots

“I left my heart in San Francisco.”

That is the theme my dear friend Nina used for sharing some beautiful pictures she took during her family trip to San Francisco, USA. A well thought theme for the awesome pictures taken by a beautiful friend!

I mentioned in one of my blogs about how I got interested in taking photographs with my Sony Digital Camera. Well, after looking at the pictures from the Internet, I was so impressed by how talented these photographers are. It doesn’t matter whether they are novice or professional photographers; their pictures are equally awesome!

Came Nina; she further inspired me to get my camera clicking and since then I make sure I carry my camera with me wherever I go.

Today I received an email from her and here I would like to show you some of the pictures that she took and shared with me.

What do you think?

~ The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it. ~ Psalm 24:1 NIV

Petronas Twin Tower KLCC Dec2006

During my recent holiday to Kuala Lumpur, I took many pictures and one is that of Petronas Twin Towers. These two-column structures is an awesome sight and a very famous attraction to many visitors.

Petronas Towers), in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, were once the world's tallest buildings when measured from the level of the main entrance to the structural or architectural top.
The Petronas Twin Towers are currently the tallest twin towers in the world, and they lay claim to being the world's tallest high-rise of the 20th century. Critics point out that this applies to only one of four height categories defined by the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat - although the three additional height categories were only introduced as the tower neared completion in 1996, as opposed to the original category, which had been in use since 1969. [1] Source:

Piasau Boat Club - Sailing

The club's spacious lobby area.

The Piasau Boat Club is Borneo's premier sports and leisure club by the South Chine Sea. The PBC is first of all a sport club with activities like sailing, diving, tennis, squash, hockey, volleyball and a-state-of-the-art fitness facility. But the PBC is also a unique social place for adults and children alike. An excellent setting to enjoy the sunset over the South China Sea, while the children are playing safely in the club's playground.

Beautiful sailing boats added an awesome sight over the horizon.

Sail boats basking on the beach on a sunny and breezy day.

Novice Photographer

I have got a new interest in me, that is, photography. No, is not a professional photographer but one who is doing her very bests at picture takings. The most interesting sights are those showing sceneries, landscapes and natures and people. I own an Olympus camera before Sony Digital. Ever since having this digital camera, I have been clicking away taking random pictures. My interests were increased when I surfed the Internet and saw many beautiful photos posted there. Just recently a girlfriend married to a foreigner and currently living in San Diego, California wrote to me and shared her interest in photography. I was so impressed by her expertise in handling her camera!

So, I have decided to convert this blog for posting pictures, which are either taken from my digital camera and/or shared by friends. Well, my dear buddy "Olympus" may take a break, for now. No, Olympus will never be left alone co's my other family members are all fighting over to have it! Haa..ha..ha..

To start the ball rolling, here is a picture of a beautiful sunset taken during my recent trip to Labuan Island Sabah.

I hope you enjoy your stay here and I will be more than happy to have you sharing your pictures too.

Another random shot - Blooming cactus flowers from my garden.

~Where your pleasure is, there is your treasure; where your treasure, there your heart; where your heart, there your happiness.~ Augustine