Out with the Old, In with the New

A new milestone calls for a new blog!

http://littlemisswrite.wordpress.com/

Update your links, everyone :)

The Last Day Of The Year: 2008

I don't know about you, but, for me, the past year has zipped by quicker than I could possibly imagine. It was as though God had my life on fast-forward. I've been barely able to catch my breath; or really, fully, appreciate each moment that comes by. Its been a whirlwind of year; its Aly on hyper-drive mode and all systems go-go-GO! To say its been a mad rush, is truly an understatement.

Yet, though this warp-time/speed hullabaloo of a year, I think I've grown the most, learnt the most, experienced the most. Its been a year of jammed-packed emotions and motions, of [semi] big decisions and life moments and of great lessons and greater blessings.

The year started on shaky terms, immense emotional distress and far too much uncertainty.
But as Dickens would say, it was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

The will of God will never send you where the grace of God cannot keep you.
Its an easy line to quote, really, but a tough one to live by.

I had hoped that 2008 would have been a time of spiritual renewal for me, of going back to God and revisiting who I was, what I stood for. But I shamelessly never actually took the effort to do so. But it never stopped Him in stepping in to clean up my mess and sending me my family and good friends who stood by me, held my hand, and kept me sane.

It was a crash course in learning, in growing and in humility all rolled into one action-packed year. Someone asked me one time, "Alyson, how do you know you've finally grown up?" I didn't know the answer then, but I do now: You know you're a grown up when you can admit you don't know a lot of things... and its ok.

Pre-grown up time, ( I say "pre-grown up" rather than "teenage years" cos some teens are grown ups and some adults are not), you have the impression that you know everything, can handle anything, you're invinsible. The fact is, at least in my experience, there's way too much I don't yet know; far too many things I've still to learn and its alright to say "I don't know" and ask silly questions.

There has been much laughter, some tears; often a mix of both, really. There's been good times, some not so good ones and moments of absolute mundaneness its almost laughable. There has been personal acheivements and personal bests; and personal hurdles, grave lessons and humbled moments. Its been a time of renewal, renewed friendships and revived purposefulness; it has also been a time of questioning, farewells and the letting go of kites that have been tettered for far too long. It has been opening of chapters, closing of some and the continued writing of others. Its been a year of taking sides, closing ranks, about turns and standing ground.

Thanks to you all who have been such a blessing: I love you loads.

The clock is ticking and soon 2009 will be here and in will come a new year of much much more.

I can hardly wait.... :)

And now, I'm gonna head out with Rohai for a drive, (watching the countdown on telly is an absolute torture) with our windows down and the sunroof open, to welcome the new year and hopefully able to catch a glimpse of fireworks :)

Have a happy new year everyone.
May 2009 bring all of you lots of opportunities, smiles and plenty of laughter.

Christmas Pressies

My Christmas stash gets smaller and smaller each year to be honest, not that I'm complaining really. Pretty much, cos, the pile I give out these days is significantly less than the lot I haul about previously.

Then again, compared to my Mum who used to give presents to half the known world my Christmas thingamajig is child's play.

All I can say is that I am rather overdosed in wrapping tons and tons of presents and I think I pretty much can puke wrapping paper and sneeze sticky tape.

Now I have about 11 months or so to recover till Christmas 2009 *grin*.

I think for next year, I'll give out sticky tape for Christmas.

Hmm...now there's a thought! :)

I knew I could always count on funnies for inspiration.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Have an extremely Merry *hic* Christmas everyone!
.....and Happy Holidays!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

Dear God,

You know how much I love Christmas and all that it represents. Thank you so very much for all that you have given me this past year- its been a topsy-turvy year to say the least and its good to know that at through it all you've been faithful when I've so often been faithless; that you have been the Constant in the constant chaos I find myself perceptually in; that you have been gracious when I have was not deserving. That you have loved unwaveringly when I have faltered and doubted.

I want to say a really big THANK YOU for all the very many amazing people you have sent my way this past year. Some I've known for a long time, others not quite so very long, but Time is all relative anyway. People like my dearest family, Sheila, Sanjeev, Delaney, Victor, Eileen, Harlyn, Eve, Spider, Natalie, Sangeeta, Paula, Jeremy, Sharon, Yati, Henry, Karita, Peter, Jim, Aaron, Jerome, Brian, Mike, amongst the many more I'm bound to have forgotten but so deserve to belong in the list...

I want to say thanks for all these real-life angels you have sent my way.

Some, deserve special mention...


Thanks for my Mommy and Daddy- for their utmost faith, love and belief in me. The year has not always been easy for them with my insane moods and what not. But thank you for the comfort that you've always got open and ready arms to catch me should I fall and ready legs to walk the tough parts of life's journey with me.

Thanks for Rohai - he's been my sanity in the insane-ness of this world. For walking the tight rope with me, bearing life's brunts, whips and lashes with steadfastness and calmness. My stressed out nerves are grateful for his willingness to allow them space to ease out a little, and my frayed emotions are blessed for the outlet to rave, rant and be totally unreasonable at times.

Thanks for Valerie - she's been a source of solace and understanding though she's got her own set of issues to juggle, her own sanity to preserve and her own path to forge. I'm so blessed to have her ready ear, willing shoulder and big heart work overtime for me.

Thanks for Rina - she's been an absolute supportive friend. Its been a tough road for her as well in many ways and yet she's always found time to be there for me when I needed someone simply to be. She's so often been shalved in a tough place and she's been unwavering in her stands, in her convictions and in the path she's on.

Thanks for Jared - he's such a phenomenal friend whose friendship I've been blessed to have for almost 23 years now. He never fails to remind me about the small, yet powerful things in life; like the power of friendship, good conversations and good food. We've come a long way, and I feel so tremendously blessed.


Thanks for my best friend in the world, my Mommy - she's been possibly one of the fiercest best friend a person could have. Her phenomenal generosity, extraordinary patience and big heart where I'm concerned takes my breath away and truly makes me wonder what have I done to deserve all that.

In the precious name of your Son,

Amen

Finally Discharged!

My Nanny (grandmother ok, not babysitter / housekeeper) finally got discharged from Tan Tock Seng Hospital today after a whole week of being there.

Her pressure was sky high last week and thankfully my cousin felt that there was something wrong and rushed her to the hospital immedietly.

The doctor said that there is an infection which is causing her pressure to be high and all but can't really identify where, what and why. She was not in any pain whatsoever but was feeling very weak and was an absolute sleeping beauty throughout her stay at the hospital.

Look at her in this pic, even when she's deep in sleep, she can strike a pose!

That's my 94 year old super gran!

Useless Is Just Something Beginning With U

Some of us are horders, we like to collect and keep things like old birthday cards, souvenirs and too-small-clothing that we swear we'd work towards by signing up for the gym and stuff. Like magpies. I know some friends who horde their old university notes and essays, others that store mounds upon mounds of photographs in little shoe boxes - forever swearing to sort through them. Then there are others who have stacks and stacks of CDs (some even, alphabetized) and the list continues.

Over the last few years, I've pretty much trained myself to not get sentimental about these things: I've attempted to clean my mountain of old mail/cards/letters, my old clothes (its all very streamlined now) and even all the knick knacks that I've gathered over the years. But its been hard of getting a grip on "useless friends." You know the types: the kind that you can never count on to get your back, to be there, to at critical junctures put you first. There's always the fervent promises, the guarantees and the apologies; there's always the swearing that they'd make an effort and that they understand. And there's always that oh-so-faint glimmer of hope that they'd clean up and make good on their pretty words... but they'd be weighed and they'd be measured and they are always found wanting.

And then, once we cannot find anymore good reason, once the proverbial straw breaks the camel's back, its a bit too late to make amends. After all, all they can offer are fanciful thoughts and pretty words.

Those are just no longer enough.
Because your heart is tired.
From wanting to believe and from always being disappointed.

8 Things I Have Learnt in 48 Hours

1. I need to really consider important decisions which I need to make.
2. I'm not very happy with some people right now.
3. I need to stop being nice about some things and with some people.
4. I truly, really, desperately, need a break.
5. There are con artists and then there are CONARTISTS.
6. I'm getting tired of empty promises, seriously.
7. I seriously need to start my Christmas shopping.
8. There is nothing a good bitch fest cannot fix.

I Heart House