Greed; nothing is free

Lotus flower-a beauty

People will say that it's just greed that interest the wolf to trap its prey. The truth in us, we are motivated by anything that is free which is sometimes quite logical. As there is a saying “Things that come free usually there is an ulterior motive”. If there are things that are free or so easy to obtain certainly there is a catch.

Pointers to ponder;

• Don’t trust people who give us gifts

• Don’t trust stories that sound too good to be true.
  (Sometimes it’s hard not to believe certain stories that can affect our lives, silly me)

• Don’t be motivated by greed

• Don’t do things just because it is easy or convenient

To grasp the above statements are easy.The most important is" Don’t be greedy"and you will not fall into this trap of “freebies”. There are many times sales persons came to my house and told me that my family has been given certain freebies or we have won a prize.( pots and pants, cookery items, electrical items, etc) But before you can receive any of the freebies you need to pay for the freight charges of the freebies which sometimes can be double the price of it. What a joke. If one’s is not careful certainly he/she will fall for this trap of techniques create by these professional sales persons.

It’s because of greed that at one time or another we will purchase things that we really don’t need. I bet it happened to everyone of us. The attraction of something free moves our heart rather than our mind making us thinking illogically. Thus we end up buying the unnecessary and hurting our budget.

My principle is: if the sales persons want to give me freebies I will surely deny it. A lesson learnt is "greed kills" or you will end up poorer. Generally there is nothing free in this world maybe except air.

On another note:
The air condition in Penang is fast improving due to the shattered showers. It has been hazy for the past week and the air condition was really bad. Phew..

Alcohol - Good And Bad For Your Health (Mature readers only)

My collection.

Is drinking alcohol harming my health now, or will it be harmful to me later in life? Should I stop drinking alcohol? Am I a binge drinker? Most adults who drink alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, or liquor) consume safe and healthy amounts. For others, unsafe drinking patterns increase their risk for injury, illness or future alcohol problems.

Drinking too much causes serious problems, while drinking a little may help many people's health. I am no expert in this but drinking moderately should be good according to health digest.

Well , I do drink occasionally and hopefully it would benefit my health. Most of the alcohol drinks are Guinness Stout, wines and whiskey. I think that if we drink moderately (one or two drinks) there is nothing to worry and there is a growing evidence it has a positive health effect.

There are other reasons we want to limit our alcohol intake:

1. Alcohol is high in calories (the table below)

2. Alcohol slows fat burning - the body uses fat for energy. Alcohol blocks this ability to burn fat for energy,

3. Control your alcohol quantity- I still don't suggest having more than two beers. If you want to control your weight. (Ai yah saying is easy but when you are with a group of buddies drinking, sometimes it can goes way above the limit and you are really drunk)

5. Accompanied by fat snacks -the food served with drinks at a bar or pre-dinner cocktail often consists of nuts, nachos and chips - fat fixes!

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE	CALORIES
1 bottle (12 oz.) beer - 5% alcohol	135 - 150
1 1/5 bottles (14.4 oz.) "light" beer - 4%	120
1 bottle "extra light" beer - 2%	60
1 bottle (12 oz.) wine cooler	215
1 glass wine (5 oz.), 11%	100
1 shot (1 1/2 oz.) liquor - rye, gin, rum, scotch	100
Gin and tonic (7 1/2 oz. cocktail)	170
Liqueurs (1 1/2 oz.)	185

Consuming smaller amounts several times a week _ one or two daily or every other day _ is most heart-protective. It apparently takes low, regular alcohol exposure to help raise levels of the body's so-called good cholesterol, the HDL type, and to thin blood.

Some researchers have suggested that red wine is good for the heart with moderate consumption. Yet to be proven, maybe a myth. Anyway I still like red wine; favourites are Shiraz and Merlot.

There is a lot of debate on the good and the bad of alcohol but if we drink moderately I hope at least some benefit will derive for our health. Having said this alcoholism still remains a major health problem. Everything we eat or drink , if we do it moderately there will be more good than bad. Cheers and bottoms up!!!

Child Kidnap Trick in Carrefour, JB

My nephews and niece (brothers' toddler sitting)

Just received an email from a friend, could this be true. Eventhough if this is not true just be careful and take care of our kids. Don't want this to happen to us. Right.

If this happen it would be a Good idea to request Departmental store/shopping malls to close main/side gates for detailed search in case some child is missing.

Update: This is a myth only(urban legend).So sorry for the alert.Anyway it's good to be cautious with our kids in any environment. Sorry once again and my sincere apology.
Thanks blogger andy for the pointer.


Subject: Child Kidnap Trick in Carrefour, JB

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL PARENTS!
Even if you do not have little kids, pass this one on to everyone you can think of. You never know who you might save by sending this e-mail!

Please, take the time and forward this to any friend who has children & grandchildren! Thanks!

Wanted to share something that happened today while shopping at Carrefour. A mother was leaning over looking for meat and turned around to find her 4 years old daughter was missing. I was standing there right beside her, and she was calling her daughter with no luck.

I asked a man who worked at Carrefour to announce it over the loud-speaker. He did, and left me , he immediately walked right past me when I asked and went to a pole where there was a phone. He made an announcement for all the doors and gates to be locked, a code something. So
they locked all the doors at once.

This took all of 3 minutes after I asked the guy to do this. They found the little girl 5 minutes later in a bathroom stall drugged. Her headways half shaved, and she was dressed in her underwear with a bag of clothes, a razor, and wig sitting on the floor beside her, to make her look different.

Whoever this person was, took the little girl, brought her into the bathroom, shaved half her head, and undressed her in a matter of less than 10 minutes. This makes me shake to no end.

Please keep a close eye on your kids when in big places where it's easy for you to get separated like Shopping Malls. It only took a few minutes to do all of that. Another 5 minutes and she would have been out the door.

I am still in shock that some sick person could do this, let alone in a matter of minutes. The days are over when our little ones could run rampant all over the place and nothing worse would happen then them annoying people.

The little girl is fine. Thank God for fast workers who didn't take any chances.

BE SURE TO FORWARD THIS TO EVERYONE, SO THEY REMEMBER JUST HOW SICK PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE!

Stick to your resolutions

Mum's cooking for Chinese New Year-delicious

How often have you set your intentions, only to fail due to the high standard you have set yourself? Now it's already half year through 2005 and some of our New Year's resolutions has not even starter or have already lapse.

Perhaps procrastination is the problem. What is procrastination? “I’ll will join the gym next month” or I’ll start eating better next week.” Those changes rarely become a routine of life. You may take one step forward but then take three backwards.

As US life coach Michael Angier says, “Doing what is necessary for a day or two isn’t hard. When most people fail to do is string those days together, creating progress and ultimately the accomplishment.”

Procrastination plagues people of all ages. But we do feel ever more aware that we don’t have time to do everything we want in life - important motivation to take steps to procrastinate less and achieve more.

I believe you can commit to your resolution by tricking yourself. Here’s how: make one tiny change in the way you live each week. You have seven days in which to get it right. Within four days, you will probably start feeling the benefits of the change. By end of the week it will be part of your routine.

Saying is easy than doing. But a little effort is always a good way to start, put it across and to maintain the spirit of wanting to carry on the task. Quote “When the going is tough, the tough gets going.”

As for me I try to change my life every week by tricking myself. Slowly but surely going to stick to those resolutions/ targets I have set for myself. Although all are simple resolutions only. Luckily I am not a perfectionist therefore I am not associated with procrastination.

Father's Day Card from my son

I have received a lovely card from my son for father's day. I really feel so good after reading the message he has written. I hope my son will grow up to become a fine young man. The small talk we always have is to tell him my experiences in life and hope he will not make silly mistakes in his life that he will regret. (smoking, drugs, unwanted pregnancy, safe sex, falling in love too young) These are some of the things that sometimes bother me after reading so many teenagers going through these situation.

Anyway this is the card he sent me and I will always cherish it.




A vErY HApPy FatheRz Day to YoU~

HopE yOu aRe AlwAyz HaPpY~
Don'T takE thinGz t0 HArD~

L0ve
youR s0n~
b3n jo0N ;p
19/6/2005

I took my family for a cheap and good dinner on Father's Day, at least I belanja them.

Terri Schiavo: If I am in her shoes.

Lovely vegetables one of the shops in Fremantle

Brain-damaged Terri Schiavo dies on 31st March 2005

Do you think if you are in her situation you still want to live?

Mrs Schiavo collapsed after her heart stopped beating temporarily in 1990.

Court-appointed doctors had said she was in a permanent vegetative state and would not recover, but her parents had said she could.

The parents are not even doctors but maybe they think they still have faith in her. But to let her suffer like this is for years (Bed ridden). Is it humane? I wouldn't want to suffer like this and also let my loved ones suffer seeing me in a vegetative state.

Her husband Michael Schiavo's had said his wife would not have wanted to live in her current condition. Mr Schiavo's overriding concern was to give his wife "a peaceful death with dignity",

Many people will not agree with me on euthanasia "a peaceful death with dignity". But I can assure you that if you have experience an event like this in your life then you will want to ponder again. Is euthanasia/mercy killing really that "heartless cruelty"? I don't think so. You see a person really suffering (vegetable state) and even the best doctors (specialist) can't do much to help, it's a crying shame. Everyone will be like living in hell condition. Euthanasia; This is in some cases legal.

As for me I will state in my living will that if I am confirm by a pool of doctors (specialist) that I am a permanent vegetative state and would not recover I will have them pull the plug. "To suffer alone rather than to let others suffer". Imagine day in day out your loved ones seeing you in such a vegetative state. Sooner or later they will get fed up; they too have a life to live. Wouldn't it be better to go, if the time for you to go has arrive.

This is my thoughts on my life as I grow older, maybe not wiser but that life's.

My Perth trip

Sandalford Vineyard

Day- 5/6/2005.
We arrived at Perth International airport on the 5/6/2005 Sunday at 6.00am .Clearing the immigration and the custom was a breeze, they are friendly and asked questions regarding our visit to Perth. (Not so like our immigration and custom here who just take your passport stamp it without even utter a single word)
We went for the Sandalford Vineyard Cruise (full day cruise tour) 10am-4.30pm. As the cruise departs and we were served with coffee and cookies follow by the sampling of 4 premium wines matched with gourmet cheeses. We were guided by how to appreciate the wines as we enjoy the commentary of the history of the Swan River and its surroundings.
On the arrival at Sandalford we were taken for "a behind the scenes" tour of the winery, including the red and white fermentation areas, crushing, pressing and the barrel room. After all these, a sumptuous three course lunch was served matched with premium wines in the restaurant. Following lunch, we head to the Cellar Shop where we try Port wine and browse through the wine products and giftware. We had drunk lots of wines and were feeling kind of tipsy by this time. Luckily it was time to depart back to the hotel.
Arrived at the hotel check in and had a nap until dinner time. Later we headed to the Burswood Casino. We were there just watching the crowd and people and had a simple bite at the casino restaurant. Headed back to our hotel at around 11.30pm.

Day- 6/6/2005
The weather was cold around 14 deg. We took a stroll along the shopping mall in early morning. Then took the Hip and Hop Tram that goes around Perth city. Stop at King's Park spent an hour and half there. Around noon took the Perth train to Fremantle spent the whole afternoon there. Lunch at Cicerello's Fish n Chips, walk the mall, supermarkets,visit a few historic site and Fremantle market (Mrs. did a little shopping)
Head back to Perth hotel at around 6pm. as it starter to rain.


Downtown Perth


Day- 7/6/2005
Woke up early, went to pick up the car we rented from AVIS. Checked out off Perth hotel and headed south of Perth. Stop at Rockingham, proceed to Mandurah, Busselton and reached Margaret River late afternoon.
Mandurah town-walk around the town for an hour. Busselton stroll on the jetty that goes out to the ocean (2km long) very nice. Margaret River had a cozy Italian dinner .Checked into one of those cottage type lodges for the night.

Day-8/6/2005
Had breakfast at the cabin. At 8am drove to Augusta (Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse). After the nice view from the top of the lighthouse where we could see a couple of whales in a far distance. Next we drove to visit the cave (Lake cave), scenery along the journey was spectacular (the forest). At times we felt like we were lost in the middle of no where but everything turns out fine. Drove up north along the coastal road stopping at various small towns. We had lunch at Flute (a famous restaurant that what was recommended by some friends) which was situated in vineyard. Food was pretty nice. Stop at MadFish wines at Howard Park just look around did not dare to drink as I was driving.
Proceed up north reach Yallingup ,Dunsborough and reach Busselton. Check into Ammaro motel for the night. Had Chinese food for dinner. It was raining and the weather was 10 deg. really cold. Just drove around the town for some sightseeing.


Saw this sign where they sell cigarettes

Day- 9/6/2005
Depart Busselton around 10am heading for Fremantle before returning the car at the airport and flying off. Deroute into Bunbury ,the town was very beautiful by the coast with many colonial buildings. Then proceed back to the freeway, along the way there was a major accident on the freeway and we had to be diverted into Warooma, Pinjara and Armanda (these towns are situated towards the inlands) before heading to Fremantle. Did the prison tour had Fish n Chips again and some last minutes shopping. Before driving to the airport at around 8pm.

Day- 10/6/2005
Arrived at Singapore airport early morning. Transit back to Penang arriving back to my home sweet home. It was truly and enjoyable and wonderful gateway for both of us. Cheers ):

Back to home sweet home

Well it was indeed a good holiday, driving all the way from Perth to the furthest south - Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse (where the two ocean meets).
I will just share some of the photos I have taken in Perth and South West of Australia during our trip . I hope you folks will enjoy it.

Swan at the Swan River

View from King's Park

View from King's Park, Swan Brewery(the brown building)

Wine and cheese we had on the cruise to Sandalford Winery

Clock Tower in Perth Town

Famous Fish & Chips since 1903(Cicerello's)-Fremantle

Busselton Jetty (2km out to the sea)

Took us 30 minutes to walk to the end

End of the world(Cape Leeuwin-Lighthouse)

Where the Two Ocean Meets,saw some whales here

40 meters high, gone all the way up

Lake Caves A Beauty- Margaret River

Fremantle Prison

The gallows in the Prison

Holidays!!!

Driving routes to the south.

Phew.... these last few days have been really busy for me. Looking forward for my Perth trip with full of excitement. I have received a few good suggestions on what to do in Perth and would like to thank all those who have sent me the suggestions.

Lrong has been teasing me about "honeymoon number what"? I was thinking honeymoon? It would be nice, yea. Then to me everyday is also honeymoon if you set your mind into it. LoL. But going on a holiday like this is refreshing for the partnership. (No kids to disturb)

I have to arrange the transportation for kid’s tuition over the coming week. Lucky for me, my mum is always ready to help and the wonderful part is she can drive her own Kancil to ferry the kids for tuition. My mum has been helping me a lot looking after the house and her grandchildren. Thanks mum, couldn't ask for more.

We will be leaving on 4/6 Sat night from Pg/Spore and on transit for an early Sun morning flight to Perth arriving on 5/6 Sun. 7.30am. My mrs. has drawn out an itinerary on what to do and see. Mrs. has also planned out what routes to take because we will be driving to south of Perth. I know we will be having lots of fun and an enjoyable holidays. I will be trying to capture as many photos as possible. We will be back in Pg 10/6 Fri. Cheers!!!