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.