It didn't seem too long ago that I had welcomed 2012 with a brighter outlook after having a not so good 2011. Going into 2012 with a positive outlook and sending out positive vibes made 2012 a very blessed year for me indeed. Thank God for all his blessings. As 2013 makes its way in, I look back at 2012 with great memories. Here's a roundup of my 2012.
I would like to wish all a great 2013 ahead. May we always cherish our love ones. Life itself is a cause for celebration. As I always say... LIVE.LAUGH.LOVE. God Bless Us All.
For the first time in 14 years, I didn't manage to put up a post on July 5 as I normally do every year since you first left us 14 years ago. I kept myself busy during this period. I only know that each time July approaches, I begin to get melancholy as usual. It's almost as if I didn't want July to come as each time it does, I always get hit with an ebb and flow of emotions. I can't imagine that I can still sit here in front of the computer, 14 years later and still get all teary eye thinking of you, Dad. I may be laughing around my friends, but when I get home, I think about you.
I know you are out there looking down on me; shocked at some of the things your "once" a little girl is doing now or have done (LOL!), smile approvingly when I do good, frown when I'm bad, hahaha... and happy with what I have done so far with my life. Dad, how are you? I often think about you. You know that I found your cassette tape a while back, the one of you singing "Love Me Tender". I manage to get it recorded into my mobile and when I really miss you, I listen to you sing. It's almost like you were still here, I feel the warmth surrounding me and my eyes starts welling up each and every time without fail. I'm such a big softy ... life is such, which is why I cherish and am thankful for each and every day the good Lord has given to me. I can still remember watching you singing/recording the song into the JVC cassette recorder like it was just yesterday ... but now, now you are gone. I hope you are still singing up there in heaven and sometimes I close my eyes and try to listen out for you, silly me. A case of watching "August Rush" too many times and believing that there's music all around us, that includes your singing.
I hope you haven't been playing pranks on the other folks up there and been behaving yourself :o), you were such a joker during the time you were on earth and use to either crack me up or scare the living daylights out of me. Hahaha..., you have brought us so much laughter while you were here...till you were unwell. You gave up on life and I watch you slowly fade away in time. Letting you go was so painful, but it was also what was best for you. Yes, Dad, I guess you are indeed singing (and whistling away, yup, I still sing and whistle now and then - thanks for the lessons) up there and entertaining your friends. I'll see you one day soon and I'll be sure that we will have our duet numbers just like old times when we are together once again. The way we were, the way the family were ... back when we were young.
Love You So Much Dad ...on this 14th year. Miss You Much ....
Far more abundantly beyond all,
BB
If you were still here, we'll be celebrating your 81st birthday this year
If you were still here, we'll be out eating all your favourite food
If you were still here, we'll be watching the new Hawaii Five-O series
If you were still here, we 'll be going for our weekly movie outing
If you were still here, we'll be enjoying ourselves on holidays
If you were still here, we'll be singing and recording our songs
If you were still here, we'll tell you constantly how much we love you
If you were still here....
It has been a crazy week - spring cleaning my place (still Work In Progress), Mrs Pitt's arrival, work ... but play must go on :o) Just before the madness went on again, I had a wonderful weekend break. I had done this in the past and enjoyed the experience but this time round was different. No competition but plain relaxation! Yes, it's back to the Royal Selangor Yacht Club, cruising aboard Baby Tonga.
Had a lovely weekend (mainly boosted by West End Stars Concert! It was really good...), so much so, that Monday looks good too, hahaha....I shall do a short post with some miscellaneous pics (taken with my handphone again) to greet the week ahead. Have a good one folks!
I Really Gotta Go!
Should have bought it! Since then, I use this line for food that I don't eat! Hahaha....
Oh well, it's time for me to call it a night....Till then...
Note : Yet another friend of mine has passed on yesterday morning. Maxine...rest in peace. We didn't get a chance to say goodbye before you left us so soon. I shall not remember that you died, but remember that you LIVED...and that, we will not forget!
2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith...
Here are things, food, events, places and people from my 2009 blog posts (and all which has stayed on my mind from the early days of blogging since 2006 till now are included too ... e.g my yummy Daniel Henney!) I had fun doing this and hope you have fun too trying to spot the keywords. Do you remember what were the key events that took place in your life in 2009? Let us all look forward to new and brighter things in the coming new year while never forgetting all the blessings from the past. It just keeps getting better!
It has been quite a year, not only on the homefront (and the world!) but also on a personal level too for me. Now, it's time to usher in 2010 - I can't believe that it's been 10 years since the big hoo ha over 2000's millenium bug! Do you all remember what were you doing 10 years ago on New Year's Eve back in 2000? :o)
Let's look forward to an even bigger, brighter and better year ahead. Thanks for dropping by, see you next year!
As Pea turned 6 on April 20, Jojo gave birth to 7 puppies on the same day - 5 males, 2 female. I was fortunate enough to be around to take photos of the little fellas :o). Congrats Glorious Jade! You're a grandma!
Happy Parents - Rex & JoJo (Dad in front, Mom at the back). Look at that big smile on Rex's face, so handsome! This was a day before JoJo gave birth. Look at how she crosses her front legs, looking so elegant.
A pic of the puppies!!! Jojo had only given birth to 5 puppies at this point.
I call this one Pinky, - actually all of them were pink! :p So cute! This was when Pinky was about 2 hour plus old!
From having a happy weekend...memories from the past lingered in my mind today, sweet sorrow.
It's now been 3 years since you left us...seems like not too long ago. I remember the times we hung out together and partied away. I guess it is really hard to say goodbye...so, I shall not. Instead, I will say "See you one day"!
Gosh, it's been 10 years Dad! When I think of today's date, I will always feel sad at first but then when I remind myself that you have had 10 wonderful years so far in your new paradise, I'm happy for you. You must be having quite a celebration yourself up there! :o)
I've never stopped wondering how it would have been, had you stayed on till present though. I remember that time when I honestly told you that I tried smoking a cigarette for fun (I was 17) and you calmly looked at me and said "I appreciate your honesty but I would appreciate it even more if you didn't try it again". Hehehe! I did really treat you like my best friend. You weren't only my father but my best friend too...I learned this during a seminar today; "When you are your children's best friend, that means you did a great job as a parent". Dad, you did great indeed. Dad, I could not ask for more but rather wished I would have given you more in return, I wished you were still here...
Wishing You Were Here
Though it's been years
Missing You Dearly Keeping You In My Memory - wmw
Everything I Own - Bread
You sheltered me from harm Kept me warm, kept me warm You gave my life to me Set me free, set me free The finest years I ever knew Were all the years I had with you And...
(Chorus:) I would give anything I own Give up my life, my heart, my home I would give ev'rything I own Just to have you back again
You taught me how to love What it's of, what it's of You never said too much But still you showed the way And I knew from watching you Nobody else could ever know The part of me that can't let go And...
(Repeat chorus)
(Bridge:) Is there someone you know You're loving them so But taking them all for granted? You may lose them one day Someone takes them away And they don't hear The words you long to say
I loved it whenever you held my hand as we strolled along in our outings.
I loved it whenever I stood on your feet and danced along with you as we "waltzed" together.
I loved it whenever we have whistling duels; you were the one who taught me how to whistle.
I loved it whenever you sang and I would record your singing sessions.
I loved it whenever I placed my head on your stomach and you playfully inhaled and exhaled, bobbing my head up and down repeatedly.
I loved it whenever you towel dried my hair whenever I washed it.
I loved it whenever you shampooed your hair; sculptured it into funny shapes then stuck your head out of the bathroom door and made me laugh.
I loved it whenever you scooped me up each time you found me fast asleep in the living room in front of the TV and then tucked me into bed. At times, you woke me up when you did that but I would still pretend to be asleep just so that I would feel the comfort of being in your arms.
Dad, I love you....
Remembering you on this day and always....HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!
"It doesn't matter who my Father was; it matters who I remember he was" - Anne Sexton
P.S. Happy Father's Day to all Daddies out there! Have a good weekend...
I wore a yellow t-shirt the other day and thought of you The fun we all had, the memories we created in school Though time has passed, and life goes on Your memories remain in my heart, vivid and strong
Birds flying high You know how I feel Sun in the sky You know how I feel Breeze driftin' on by You know how I feel It's a new dawn It's a new day It's a new life For me And I'm feeling good
Fish in the sea You know how I feel River running free You know how I feel Blossom on a tree You know how I feel It's a new dawn It's a new day It's a new life For me And I'm feeling good
Dragonfly out in the sun you know what I mean, don't you know Butterflies all havin' fun you know what I mean Sleep in peace when day is done That's what I mean And this old world is a new world And a bold world For me
Stars when you shine You know how I feel Scent of the pine You know how I feel Oh freedom is mine And I know how I feel It's a new dawn It's a new day It's a new life For me
After passing the one year mark, I wondered if I could make it to the 2nd and I did! I actually wrote my first post on Feb 22, 2006....Feb 22 has come and gone ( I didn't post about this due to some reasons then) and my blog is already over 2 years old! As I have mentioned a few times, it started out as a personal blog and I was taking photos with my little Samsung camera back then. As a matter of fact, the first time I posted pics of food in this blog was on Mar 20. It wasn't even a food review then though I mentioned a bit about it, but it was more on life (more so, when my good friend Jen who partly inspired me to start blogging, passed away). Then I had my Panasonic Lumix since July 2006 and my first post with it was Dim Sum at Chynna, KL Hilton, dated 30 July. So I guess my blog should have two birthdays! Let's see what happens on 30 July later ;o).
From posts with zero comments and now to having a comment box of lovely people, I smile as I think back. Comments from strangers turned into ones from friends as we got to know each other better through time and even gatherings. I look forward to having more strangers leaving comments in my blog so that in time, we'll be friends! I want to thank all my readers and friends for still visiting my blog after these couple of years! This blog has given me many new friends, here and everywhere of which I am thankful for. Here's to more good food, great company and new friends! Maybe another specific wish for good food that won't add on to my weight??? LOL!
A moment's pleasure on the lips, a lifetime burden on the hips!
Here's some thumbnail food or food related photos that I've captured throughout these two years.....and counting!
I sometimes imagine that you're still here with us and how I'll be going around with you on our usual food escapades! :o) I can just picture us, but instead of hopping onto a bus to go downtown, I'll be able to drive you around. You probably won't have the patience and will start eating your food before I can snap a pic of it though, ha ha ha...Oh, you missed out on your favourite and latest James Bond's adventure; Casino Royale was so good! (though you might not share my excitement, you know, the little squeals from me when Daniel Craig walked on the beach in his sexy trunks, showing off his sexy body). LOL! Oh, and you gave me a sign again while I was on the road earlier. There was this car in front of me with your initials...I haven't seen a car registration with your initials for quite a while now, till just now.
But I do know that you are glad to know and see that your kiddos are doing well in life. Living our lives well and happy, that would be how you want us to be and that is what we can be for you. It's hard at times, as I wish that you are here...I want to tell you how much I love you Dad and will always do. It was hard to let you go but in time, I understood that I had to as I truly love you and it was better for you to start your new life knowing that we were okay. All things happen for a reason...I knew that the day I let you go and that in return makes me happy as I know you've been smiling down at us ever since.
24 Dec 1930 - 5 July 1998
Your Smile Is On Our Minds Your Laughter Rings Through Our Hearts Your Love Remains In Us Even Though We Are Apart - wmw
Loving & Missing You, Always... Mom, Your Kiddos, Your Kiddos-In-Law & Your Kiddos' Kiddos
*****
Back when I was a child Before life removed all the innocence My father would lift me high And dance with my mother and me and then
Spin me around till I fell asleep Then up the stairs he would carry me And I knew for sure I was loved
If I could get another chance Another walk, another dance with him I’d play a song that would never, ever end How I’d love, love, love to dance with my father again
Ooh, ooh
When I and my mother would disagree To get my way I would run from her to him He’d make me laugh just to comfort me, yeah, yeah Then finally make me do just what my mama said
Later that night when I was asleep He left a dollar under my sheet Never dreamed that he Would be gone from me
If I could steal one final glance One final step, one final dance with him I’d play a song that would never, ever end ‘Cause I’d love, love, love to dance with my father again
Sometimes I’d listen outside her door And I’d hear her, mama cryin’ for him I pray for her even more than me I pray for her even more than me
I know I’m prayin’ for much too much But could You send back the only man she loved I know You don’t do it usually But Lord, she’s dyin’ to dance with my father again Every night I fall asleep And this is all I ever dream
