When Miss Wong became Mrs Kong

17 years ago, when I first shifted to my current house in Taman Midah, I saw a strange sight. I saw a girl, 9 years old, running around the neighbourhood with a Corgi dog on a leash and a bunch of house keys jangling in her hand. I saw her go to the slide in the playground next to my house and slide down with the dog behind her. I had 2 other dogs then and this little girl cameover to befriend my dogs and in the process, I ended up with my first God Daughter -Elaine W.

On 3rd June 2009, she became legally married through the registration of her marriage to Julian K at Charis Church in Cheras. And on 6th June, they had

- their traditional tea ceremony (which started around 4pm)

- the wedding ceremony. This is the Church ceremony to formalize the spiritual unity of the marriage

- the wedding dinner at Equatorial hotel in KL.

Yours truly was involved in almost every stage. As Godfather, I get to partake in the tea ceremony. In the photography sessions, I joined the family grouping, the Agilent's grouping and friends of the family groupings. Heh heh heh. I also did the video for the tea ceremony and the wedding ceremony.

And for the dinner I was also the Master of Ceremony (MC). Very long and tiring day.

The photos that I have taken can be viewed at my facebook http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=80882&id=754289412&l=0a6b377aae

More updates to follow once I get my hands on the official photos.

Congratulations Julian and Elaine

May your union be blessed with health, merriment and longetivity.

Bangkok in May

The SMT (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand) management team invited me to their management meeting in Bangkok from 24th to 27th May 2009. Miki Abe was also invited, making both of us the only non SMT personnel from an operational perspective.

I arrived on 23rd on an afternoon flight - with a face mask all the way from KLIA to Dusit Thani where I was to stay. You can never be too careful with the H1N1 (otherwise called influenza A) rapidly spreading around the world. For many of the confirmed infections in Asia, it looks like the primary source of infection is from the USA.

First thing on 24th morning was to take a cab with Miki to Novotel hotel in Siam Square as the rest of the team were there and the Sales and Support team had started their meetings a few days earlier. Both of us were to be briefed on some of the commitments of that meeting in preparation for the Support meeting in the office from Monday onwards. The meeting took up the whole morning and when it was over, we did a bit of team building by visiting Chatuchak market. All of us took the sky train, getting off at Mo Chit station.

Just as we arrived at the Chatuchak market entrance, it started raining cats and dogs. All I want to say is - NEVER visit Chatuchak market in the afternoon after a heavy downpour. It gets all humid, steamy, sticky and impossible to walk around comfortably. In short - it's a bloody SAUNA. I honestly can't see why the ladies go ga-ga over the market. It's like about a hundred shops selling more or less the same stuff for each section. For example, the pets corner (budgies, hamsters, guinea pigs, etc) are in one section. Then there are the fake flowers and all the accessories in another. Food is mainly found along the main pathways (not the narrow ones within the market complex). Another section would have jeans and yet another arty farty stuff.

I would just leave you with the sights of some of the stuff we saw. Didn't take any inside as it was hot, humid and really uncomfortable.

Besides all the foodstuff, there were also quite a number of buskers.

Most are just young kids and some are physically handicapped. Just out to make a few bahts.

After Chatuchak, we went for a spot of Thai massage - not the hanky panky stuff. This was the real bone cracking, muscle tearing stuff. I just cannot resist putting in this photo of a massage place that is next to Novotel hotel. We did not patronize them. I wonder if the name was intentional or accidentally on purpose?? All I know is that after 2 hours of genuine Thai massage, almost every muscle in my body was pinched, pulled, elbowed and generally tortured. My back was red and sore for 2 days. But by the third day, it felt good!

As I leave for home, I can't help thinking - after all these times, the problems facing the Support teams are still more or less the same

Baby in the house!!!

After taking 2 months of maternity leave, Madeline has to go back to work since last Monday. BB Justin was supposed to be cared for by a babysitter in the same apartment block that she stays in. At the last minute, it was discovered that the baby sitter was also caring for another 1 year old. Concerned that the 1 year old may inadvertently hurt BB Justin, Madeline asked if we can look after him.

My mum was hesitant coz her own mobility is suspect. She was supposed to have a knee operation this month but that has now been deferred because her heart was enlarged and her blood pressure was borderline. In the end, my wife reluctantly agreed. Reluctantly because it has been 11 years since we had a baby in the house. A lot of things needs to be re-learned!

One week's gone by and BB Justin is now a regular feature in our house.

Grow, young man, grow!!

Mother's Day 2009 and others

Friday night, I get a few SMS to both my mobile phones by Elaine C. Frantically looking for a sympathetic ear for some personal problems. Unfortunately, due to a late night teleconference, I had one phone on silent mode and forgot to put it back to normal. My other phone was charging and when it is charging, it has a habit of disconnecting from the network. So I did not see the messages until Saturday morning.

Managed to get a gist of Elaine C's problems by then. All I can do is advice her as she does not want me to approach one of the people who is pissing her off.

Then Teng's daughter had her pre-wedding dinner at home and we were invited. It was open air and buffet. With the hot spell we are currently having, we came away from the dinner all sticky and sweaty. I hope the wedding dinner next week is cooler.

Sunday was Mother's day and I had 4 mums for lunch at Purple Cane, The Gardens. Thanks to Elaine C for reminding me to reserve a table as most places were full due to families eating out for Mother's day. There was my mum, my mum-in-law, new mum Madeline and Alex's mum for the lunch, together with Vincent and yours truly.

Maybe it's the weather, but I really feel tired this weekend.

Another friend and colleague lost to cancer (Updated)

I have just been informed that Chong Soo Aun has passed away due to Lung Cancer!!. Been working with Soo Aun in HP/Agilent for many years. I hear that he had been misdiagnosed with Tuberculosis for a persistent cough. By the time they diagnosed him with lung cancer on Sunday morning (3rd May), it was too late. He passed away in the afternoon/evening.

Soo Aun - Rest in peace.

Soo Aun passed away at the prime of his life at 38. He leaves behind his wife, his son John (8) and daughter Jessy (4). The funeral services were held at his house on 5th May at 10.30am. Soo Aun had accepted Christ on Saturday 2nd May and the funeral services were in accordance with Christian practices.

After the funeral services that were conducted in his house, all of his relatives and friends who came to say their last farewell adjourned to Fairy Park in Klang where another service was conducted before his remains were placed in an incinerator for cremation.

We bid farewell to a likable and friendly colleague of many years. Khor Ah Key and Sam represented the company for the funeral.