HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009

Christmas had come and gone...and as usual, we, the Carvalho family, closed shop here in Malacca and hibernated at my sister Mitch's place in Sungai Buloh for a couple of days. And now year has gone by and the wheel of life continues on into 2009. Looking back, 2008 was not a bad year afterall. As with life, there were the ups and downs and the laughter and the tears...but on the whole, it was a good year for me and my family.

I may not know what may be in store for me in 2009 but one thing is for sure....getting older...sigh. And so the adage 'time is relative' means much more to me....and it helps me take comfort that I remain young at heart. (each passing year does not only add another digit to my age but also to my waistline...boo hoo hoo).

Well, on the subject of age. Sometimes I forget what and old foggy I am in terms of years...all 41 of it. It takes a particular event to knock some realization that I am such an old fart. To me, the 1980s seemed like yesterday. But upon consideration....the 1980s equates to a quarter of a century ago...darn...that seems like a long time ago ya.

It was like when we were kids in the 1980s where songs from the 1960s and shows like Happy Days were from an era belonging to our parents. All of a sudden, it is us who belong to that 'era'. Our generation belonged to Mc Donalds, Sony Walkman, Breakdancing and Michael Jackson (when he was still partly a man). Heck...the concept of mobile phones was something we watched on 'Six Million Dollar Man', 'Space 1999' and 'Buck Rogers in The 25th Century'. Computers were just begining to appear on the scene and there was no such thing as Windows where one could just click away with such ease.

Anyway, back to what hit me the other night on how old I seem to 'others' (the younger generation of Ipods, Skype and You Tube). Had some time to spare and decided to go to the playground where I live for my nightly dose of guitar and solo jamming. Its located on the first floor of where I live and offers the perfect acoustic.

I usually jam for about an hour and enjoy the solitude. However, owing to my guitar and singing skills ( ha, ha...it should be 'blowing my own trumpet' skills), an occasional passerby or neighbor would stop over and request a song or two. (much to my discomfort as I am more of a bathroom performer). So here I was banging away on my guitar and singing when this South African bloke named Martin Akalla Abraham stops by.

He said he heard music coming from the playground the other day when he was pasing and decided to investigate this time round to see who was behind the wonderful and alluring voice. (pa rum pa rum pam..lol). After some small talk, I asked him his music perference....his answer was.....'classic rock and ballads'....old school songs from the 1980s such as Phil Colins, Lionel Richie and etc.

'Dong'....then it hit me...those songs and singers are from my era...which he described as being 'old school'. (the operative key words here being '1980s and old'). Well, sucked up the deflated concept of my age and did two numbers for him 'Stuck on You' and 'Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word'. (from my era)

Didn't think much of it until New Year's Eve when I sent my collegue named Pelf (Its an ancient Korean-Hakka name that means "One whom the camera loves and One who loves the camera") to cover a countdown bash at Seafarers in Klebang. Told her to take her better half along and enjoy the night. At about 9.30pm, I get an sms from her saying....'the place is filled with old people listening to 1980s songs'. (once again operative key words here were '1980s and old'). 'Dong'...hit me again...and this time even harder.........I am being identified as one who is from the 1980s era...old school.

I guess, it means I have to be more mindful nowadays of my age. It also suppose to mean that I should be more wise.('wisdom comes with age' thingy). Lol....it really doesn't matter to me because I will continue to be who I am....a young mischevious 1980s kid trapped in a man's body. (whose waistline is getting not so manly lah)

Anyway, to all...may God in His infinte love, mercy and wisdom bless us with peace, happiness, good health and prosperity in 2009.

To None I Wish Ill But To All I Wish Peace and Love.

Ode To Joy

Like Mozart's Ode To Joy, there are certain things in life that touches my very soul. Be it through senses evoked through sight, sound, taste or smell, the emotion that is close to that of joy and love of life.

After months of merely taking auto shots with my G9, I decided to be a little more creative and adventurous and went on photo hunts with Alison (Nikon) and Pelfy (Sony and her boyfriend who was decent enough to act as her potter). The photos were taken over a three day period of scenes of the Holiday Inn jetty, Malacca River, Selat Mosque and Stadhuys. It was thoroughly enjoyable indeed.

There was also the added bonus of the unexpected blue sky day when I was in Kampung Baru Ayer Salak to get some shots of the 1886 St. Mary's Church. Lo and behold, there was even a half moon high above the vivid blue cloudless mid morning sky.

As Christmas and the New Year of 2009 approaches, I just want to express my thanks to God Almighty for the simple joys in life and the ability to appreciate the splendor and beauty of His creations.

To None I Wish Ill But To All I Wish Peace and Love.

Live Like You Were Dying

Had started off a post detailing what I went through slightly more than a year ago...decided to put it aside for now. However, the song by Tim Mcgraw 'Live Like You Were Dying' sums it all up for me last year. Well that's that and don't feel like dwelling on the past...a painful and traumatic part of my life that I thank God for the experience and strength given to overcome it.

Spend the weekend doing some spring cleaning before Christmas. It was kind of a full two days beginning with bowling on Friday between my fellow journalists and TM (Telekom) staff. Phew...did slightly better this time round and even brought Karen and Kyra along to watch me bowl. Besides the usual gutter balls, I did score a few strikes and spares. Jason and Alison (that explains Kyra's pose with Jason, the 'koko' that patah my doggy's ear) were on hand and Alison fared much better this time round. (except for the gutter ball she got when she decide style was better than pins when I took her photo)

Also had the opportunity to take a few photos with my G9 of the 'super moon' at about 4am on Saturday morning. The moon was the biggest for the year. Wished I had done better although the moist air and clouds were factors I had to contend with.

(see: ttp://www.space.com/spacewatch/081211-full-moon-biggest.html)

On a more serious note, Razak, the photographer attached with the daily Malay tabloid Kosmo, was involved in an accident. Bumped his face pretty bad and is currently warded. Though I don't know him that well, he strikes me a decent and soft spoken chap. I am glad and thank God that he is alright. Will visit him this Monday to see how he is recovering.

Enjoying my new flat screen monitor (an early Xmas present bought at Mahkota Parade's Pikom Fair) and Mozart's 'Ode to Joy' as I write. Have posted several photos that represented my weekend.

To None I Wish Ill But To All I Wish Peace and Love.

Rain Rain Go Away

Before I begin, its uncanny that first first two lines of this post and its heading was written two days ago before I decide to hit the sack. (Its that time of the year (by that I mean not Xmas) where the monsoon bring about the threats of floods in low lying areas in the country)

Since then, things did coem to pass and some 1,500 people had to be evacuated to temporary relief centres following continous rain begining Sunday night to Monday evening resulting in floods in several areas here.

By far it was a good day indeed, considering the fact that got myself and my G9 wet. Had the good fortune of not only covering a flood story but to actually help in the rescue of a mother and a four-day-old daughter who became trapped in their home in Kampung Tanjung Minyak owing to the flood. (Saturday was also a good day when had the opportunity to get up close with Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan who was down to receive his award from Governor here).

Coming back to the weather...besides the rain, there is also the possibility of more earth movement this mid December. We will be experiencing an extreme super moon this Dec 15. Just wondering whether that will have any effect on Earth and trigger greater than usual daily earthquakes around the globe?

To None I Wish Ill But To All I Wish Peace and Love.

Oops..I Think I May Have Spoken To Soon.

What can I say except I think I may have spoken to soon...about Kyra having my genes. (previous post). In less than a week, she proved my right. It was after a long while that Karen, Kyra and I took a trip up to Kuala Lumpur to see my mum-in-law and the two boys, Jeral, 9, and Jeremy, 8.
You can imagine Kyra excitement and the fun she had.


So much fun that she decided to slide down the slide near the Bukti Jalil home on Sunday not on her backside as any normal kid would do but on her tummy. Yup...that's my girl...most likely imagining herself to be flying with out stretched arms like Power Puff Girl's Buttercup. Result...dislocation of a joint on her left little pinky. It must have hurt like heck from the swelling.


Wanted to get it x-rayed on Monday as the swelling was turning a nice bluish black but the clinic near my home was closed. I had explained to her that there would be no needles involved during the visit to the doc, only a special photo taken to see if she had fractured her pinky. She really wanted her to be x-rayed.

Managed to take her to the doc on Tuesday morning and he didn't have an x-ray machine. (much to Kyra and my dismay). Well, the doc took a look and assured me that Kyra had merely dislocated one of her pinky joint. He promptly used half a tounge depressor and some bandage to fashion a splint to immobilize her finger. Wah...you could tell by the look on her face that it was a big deal getting her finger all bandaged up.

Well, sent her to school and reminded her that her splint was suppose to last for about two days to allow her finger to heal. Thank goodness, I had the foresight of taking a shot of her bandaged finger as her splint stayed on for less than half a day. Irene picked her up from school and the first thing I want to ask her when she got home was about her day in school. Then, I noticed her missing bandaged and before I could question her why it was off....she said,

"Old lah...I try to put back but come out...my hand no more pain also".

Yup...that's my girl........just hope she doesn't take too many more knocks in life. Either way, I will be there to catch her whe she falls...I hope.

p/s Anyway, may God welcome 11-year-old Brenden Foster into His loving arms and give him everlasting life in paradise. To understang my prayer, go to http://cbs11tv.com/health/Brenden.Foster.dying.2.867696.html

To None I Wish Ill But To All I Wish Peace And Love.

Its Definitely In The Genes

They say what goes around comes around and I am beginning to agree with the adage 100% with regard to Kyra, my five-year-old kid. In that respect, I am quite certain its due to the gene she had inherited from me.

To have a hyper kid is one thing but to have one that has a mischevious smirk on her face couple with a vivid imagination is another altogether. I have been told time and time again that I was not that different when I was her age (still am in fact...just a kid trapped in an almost gorgeous but stunted 40 year-old body). Dang, I was quite a dynamo, buzzing around as a kid and most of the time unable to sit still due to my over active imagination. A typical Calvin and Hobbes character. My poor, poor parents...including a neighbor who would usually offer my 20 cents (big money back in those days) just to sit still for a minute which I never manage to collect. A crushed right toe, an almost fatal hornet sting to the right eye, dislocated shoulder and an almost severed left thumb cuased by a sickle are testament of how it must have been like for them over the year.

Anyway, back to Kyra....my collegues had the unfortunate recent chance of seeing up close what I have to put up practically everyday. Decided to bring her along for a seafood dinner at Alai. (much to my wife Karen's happiness as this meant at least 2 hours of peace and quiet) Everything proceeded well for the first 5 minutes and then...bam...she spills her glass of ice pink syrup drink on Pelf, one of the most prim and proper girl I have come to know.

Things got a little better after a stern look from me and a round of apologies. The food arrived and Kyra was pretty much okay for about 10 minutes. Then.....bam again....Kyra's attention was diverted to some dumb stray cat and kittens which had to decided to scavange for food near our table. She spent the rest of the evening pinching pieces baked fish and calamari to feed the cats. Once again, Pelf was the one who seemed most disturbed by this as Kyra's cat feeding antics had lured them under our table. Pelf has this great aversion towards animals...practically all forms except for dead rats and frogs which she had dissected during her science classes. (Oh..and of course turtles and tortises...I suppose its because they don't bark, meow or growl, do not have any fur on them and that they don't move that much)

I suppose things evened out when I was sending Jason, Pelf and her buddy Yen to their respective cars after dinner. Jason, a huge burly chap who lives for good food and photography, decided to play tug with Kyra's new stuff pet dog Patrick. There was this audible crack sound and Kyra when 'you patah my dog'. She was still bouncing about in the back of the car much to the terror of Pelf and Yen. Things finally quieten down during the ride home. Found out later when 'bathing' Patrick (Kyra dropped it on the icky wet floor in Alai) that the 'patah' sound was from one of its ear being slightly torn.

Well I guess its in the genes ya. Had enrolled her for ballet classes to get he to be more lady like and gracefu....sigh. Everything said and done, its all more the joy Kyra being Kyra as she does add colour to my life.

To None I Wish Ill But To All I Wish Peace and Love.

Dang...Its Going In the Drain Again.

Another week gone by another week older. Work was work with bowling being the highlight of the week. Well, bowling may have been around for the longest time but it was something alien when growing up in Malacca in the 1980s. When the game made its intorduction here in the early 1980s, most us were either involved in other sporting activities such as football, hockey or swimming.

I was, for the most part of my schooling days, blowing my trumpet (excuse the pun but I still do it till today) in the cadet band and had little time left except for a little hockey and cricket. There were of course also time for playing in mud at the mangrove swamp near my home or alone by the seawall with my guitar during the nights. Life was much simpler and innocent then with most things were done without a fee, of course.

So in essence, I would say that I would be aptly termed, as the Chinese would say, a 'Sua Ku' or country bumpkin. What a laugh...because I still am in many respect, in particular where the world of cyberspace is concerned.

Back to the bowling. It was organized by my journalist buddies here. Managed to skip the last two outings but decided to have a crack this time round. It had been years (no kidding) that I last bowled or should I correctly say 'bounced' the ball along the lane. All I remembered about the game was that the balls were f#*king heavy. It was even harder for me with me having thick and broad fingers (proud to day that's not all that is broad and thick on my body). This forced me to opt for the 13 to 14 pounders. But alas, it never helped, those bigger balls. (proud to say that I would aptly fit the the pun 'you got big balls'). I remember well the excruxiating pain each time I tried to get the balls of my fingers only to see them roll into the gutter.

Well, back to the present game on Saturday. I was paired off with my ever gusty colleague Alison, a tough but big hearted person. And what a pair we made. Anyway, thought to myself...'Dang...how hard can it be to roll and bounce a f#*king heavy ball at nine dick shaped looking bottles?' Answer....f#*king hard. Wearing a tight pair of jeans and not being able to bend for 'style' due to a bad spine didn't help either.

For the better part of the game, I kept the gutter along the lanes clean with my big balls although managing a couple of strikes and spares. To added insult to injury, there was a prize giving ceremony later including one for the pair with the lowest pinfalls. Needless to say, I was so relieved when it was the pair next to us that got the prestigious title. Phew....

Now I know why I will remain a 'Sua Ku' where bowling in concerned. Will still go for a game or two once in a while just for laughs though. So, I think I''ll stick to my guitar and G9 instead of bouncing some heavy balls instead. (except mine of course)

To None I Wish Ill But To All I Wish Peace and Love.

One of Life's Mysteries Solved

It was a hilarious episode that I feel warrants a post. My mum, Irene, 66, who is typical Nyonya from Heeren Street, usually does Karen and me a big favour by babysitting Kyra, my five-year-old whose energy seems boundless.

It was another usual day at work and was on my way home when I recieved a call from Irene. (if you've had the pleasure of talking to a Baba-Nyonya, you'd realise that they are well known for being very expressive) She ranting and raving about some blackish mark that had developed around Kyra's upper lip.

The conversation went soemthing like this..."Boy (another typical Baba-Nyonya termed used for a male heir) there's some kind of mark on Kyra's lips. I don't know what caused it. Maybe its the Batman ice-cream I bought for her. I tried to wipe and wash it off but the mark cannot come out. How, how...huh....I am so worried lah."

When I reached home, Kyra was as usual was blase about the whole thing. She did looked a little confused which was most likely caused by Irene's incessant worry and attempts to 'wash' off the mark on her lips. Kyra had this perfect half halo blue-black mark on her upper lips and lok pretty unusual.Upon closer examination, I realised it was not a ice-cream stain but more of a mark or impression when one sucks hard on an object.

Kyra looked hilarious...she looked like as though someone had given her a bad lipstick makeover. She reminded me of a clown or one of those old traditional Chinese ladies with lipstick extending over the boundries of their lips.

When I questioned Kyra, her reply was "I don't...all I do just now is to suck on my ice-cream grandma buy for me". Questioned my mum on whether Kyra suck on any circular object and she said no. Thus, the mystery only deepened and only added to Irene's guilt that she was responsible for Kyra's odd predicament as a result of the ice-cream she bought. She even called later that night to find out if the mark had gone away. I said it faded somewhat but still present. Had to assure her that I would have the doctor look at it the following day if Kyra still had the mark.

I noticed an empty Vitagen bottle by the table later that night but it did not dawn on my till the next morning when I recieved a call Irene. She had a sleepless night trying to figure out the mystery and finally remembered buying Kyra the Vitagen drink which lacked a straw. Being a typical kid, Kyra merely tore off the core and glupped the Vitagen down before continuing to use the empty plastic bottle as a 'vacuum' toy.

What a cartoon....I wasn't worried at all the night before as I knew that there was some simple and non threatening explanation for the mark. Alas, mystery solved....Kyra was just being Kyra. Posted a photo taken of the mystery halo before it was figured out the next day.

To None I Wish Ill But To All I Wish Peace and Love.

Ode To Joy

We, humans, are really a paradox wrapped in an egnima. Capable of the most sublime of expressions of our inner soul through love and art yet at the same time capable of the most grotesque of misdeeds and destruction.

With over six billion souls, I sometimes ponder the very reason of our existence. Do I see a glass half full or a glass half empty with regard to the fate of the humanrace? There are times when the awe and beauty of the soul makes me wish the life would perpetuate. Yet, there are times when human suffering and misery makes me long for the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven here on Earth.

Isaiah 65:17...

'For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered, nor come into mind'.

I take this opportunity to pay my last respects to an aquaintance and former collegues Zulkifly, a jovial guy who passed away recently. Excellent as a PR person, he was eventaully posted to Nanjing, China as Malacca's representative there, although some of us used to tease him as being Malacca's ambassador to China. May he find rest and peace in death.

On a more lighter side, I was glad at being able to go bee-chasing at the Malacca Botanical Garden. (Darn, I sound like Spongebob on one of his jelly fish hunt). Managed to get some shots but know that I can do better the next time round. Also caught the adaptation of Syalaman's Night 'The Happening' starring Mark Walberg. Interesting storyline movie and pretty intense scenes. (It only goes to show how fraile and insignificant humans are in the larger scheme of things)

Till He who is Truth and lives forever comes again....

To none I Wish Ill but To All I Wish Peace and Love.

I've Look At Love From Both Sides Now

Wow...its been quite a while since my last post. Loads had happened since then and the most significant and profound was inability of modern hi-tech science to assist my wife and me get another child.

Yup, after a month tests, hormones, earger waiting and more about RM14k, it all came to naught. We were not depressed as there was nothing lost rather more dissapointmented at not being able to have another little budle of joy. Ironically, when going through the process that I realised that I left things to science and not faith. The creation of life between two individual is the highest expression of love. This was the most important ingredient missing. So I have looked at 'love from both sides now' (title to a lovely 70s song)

And there's of course the little Tiger cub named Nicky who was saved from the cooking pot by a good samaritan three years ago. The tiger is now 3 years old and recently had a litter of 4 cubs at the Malacca Zoo. (unfortunately only 2 survived) I was lucky to get the chance of covering a story where the good samaritan decided to visit the zoo and take a look at the cubs. Man, the Malaysian tigers are such magnificient and beautiful creatures. Had the good fortune of holding a tiger cub.

Now that Kyra is old enough to appreciate more things in life, I shall take her to the zoo one of these days. I am sure we will have a ball of a time there.

To none I Wish Ill But To All I Wish Peace and Love.