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Welcome 2013!

By Evon on Monday, December 31st, 2012 | No Comments

First of all congratulations to all of us who survived end of the world in 2012!

(We indeed saw a very interesting sight in Kuala Lumpur on the night before the fateful day)

Twin Towers at Kuala Lumpur on 20 Dec 2012

Twin Towers at Kuala Lumpur on 20 Dec 2012, end of the world coming?!

Looking back, I realised we didn’t write much at all for 2012. In fact Andrew was suggesting we close down this blog when the bill for the hosting came in just a few days ago. I thought about it and decided maybe we could make it a little more like a personal journal here to keep up the writing momentum. Especially now we seems more or less have left the Livejournal community when a lot of friends are no longer writing there, and for me is very much due to that the website was banned at work. (Haha).

So here’s the looking back at year 2012. It was a big year of change, and a lot of happy things I guess. First of all the very big happening was our apartment was finally ready in March and we moved in together in mid May. Adjusting to staying together with another person and away from parents was really a big challenge. I have to say I felt “homesick” now and then in the earlier months and having to do our own chores was also quite taxing, though I was very glad, Andrew shared a big bulk of taking care of the household.

New home

New home when the furnitures were just in

We have learnt to be more independent, take more responsibility of our own lives. I’ve learnt to put in more efforts to spend time with my mum and tried to do so with my in-laws. There’s a lot more to do with the new home and new family, in fact I have not really packed up stuff at my mum’s place nor unpack my own stuff in our new home. But all will be well in due time.

Year 2012 was also a happy year for my friends who gotten married. My poly pal whom I wasn’t very much in contact with but he invited me to his wedding. Met with some old poly mates, I’m so glad everyone is doing well and successful. My good friend from Secondary School has also settled down, another who became a new mum and another gal has another son. My dearest god-brother has also ROM-ed with his girlfriend and it was a simple, yet fun affair that I was very honored to be part of.

Sometimes seeing these friends, I do feel a little disappointed with my achievements over the years. Guess I couldn’t focus enough to make it to somewhere? It’s a little too late to talk about this now. But I’m still glad to be where I am now, having enough for everything I need and I want.

We had a great traveling adventure this year too. Went to Japan in February winter. It was great fun, as I attended a doujin event of my favourite series, went to climb the mountain in winter and experienced nice walk arounds in parts of Tokyo we haven’t been to. We also did a weekend getaway at Malacca and spend many days in Kuala Lumpur just recently. Though I mourned the fact I didn’t shop enough!

Aside from all the fun, I was very happy I managed to slim down a good 4 kg! Went on a bet with a friend … though I didn’t managed to hit the target in the stipulated time, the weight did go down slowly with cutting down on carbs. I tried to go swimming with a colleague but we still couldn’t keep to a regular schedule so far.

Mt Fuji from Mt Takao peak

Mt Fuji from Mt Takao peak. It was a great achievement to climb up the peak during winter!

My booth and pals at CF 2012

My booth and pals at Comic Fiesta Malaysia 2012

Also volunteered in the Real Escape Game

Also volunteered in the Real Escape Game and made new friends!

In terms of my art and craft, I haven’t done much again! Rushed the artwork for event and felt really bad for substandard work. But I found a new craft hobby just around this end of the year which I would try to make good out of it. =D

Joined a terrarium class out of fun

Joined a terrarium class out of fun, but do hope to build a hobby out of it

Things are a bit slow in terms of my forex trading wise. I guess I’m really a slow learner in this area and I need to be more focus and very much patient. There’s a really big change in my workplace too, overhaul of manpower and projects, and now I’m back on the same project I had initially when I joined. Not a bad thing, as long as I’m not restricted within the organisation.

All in all it was a good year, a lot of growing up and learning and making new friends.

So coming year 2013, I haven’t got much to add to my resolutions but to maintain some of the good work started in 2012.

Firstly I want to keep up the exercising and dieting efforts to continue to slim down to my desired weight. Very much wish for a total change of wardrobe too! =P

Secondly to continue to work hard with my trading efforts. My problems have been patience and not focus enough. I will work hard on overcoming these 2 areas.

Thirdly of course is to continue to be constant in my writing, drawing and craft production. No more last minute work!! And I very much wish to start an online shop to sell my crafts.

Lastly I wish for Andrew and I to be financially and mentally ready to start anticipating new members to the family. Maternity instinct kicks in I guess.

To end, I thank all who have been with me for year 2012 and I Wish year 2013 will be a better year for the world and everyone!

Lots of Love,

Evon

Work is work, It doesn’t end!

By Evon on Thursday, February 9th, 2012 | No Comments

This post is dedicated to a friend, who has followed her spouse, moved from her homeland, Malaysia, to stay and work in Singapore a year odd ago.

Dear friends, in your course of career, have you ever felt that 24 hours a day is not enough? Have you ever have a time your in-tray/in-box is filled with so much things to do and you are tearing your hair out trying clear them? Have you ever work till you felt that there’s nothing call “weekend”?

I did. There were even times I was so swarmed with work, my brain started on work stuff the moment I woke up, and I had to force myself to blank out when it’s time to sleep. I even dreamt about working at nights! And when I was younger, I was so committed to work, I spent my weekends for company activities, on top of keeping my schedule packed with Japanese and music classes. Meeting with Andrew often ended up to be a quick dinner, dragging him along to company activities or napping in his house.

I was one person who couldn’t sit still then, and although stressful, I had enjoyed the fast-pace, packed lifestyle I built for myself. (Of course, Andrew wasn’t really happy about that) But there came a time I got tired and frustrated of unable to accomplish my work. Worse when they seemed never ending. That’s when I decided not to get bullied by work anymore.

Work is work, it will never end completely.

Nowadays I am very much a “my-pace” person. I would have my own set of prioritse over work and would work them at my own pace according to the urgency. One important thing I did was to set limitations regarding work for myself, which in turn would be reflected to people working with me. And I would expect them and myself to respect these limitations (exceptions only during dire times, or major projects):

1. Do not bring work home, dedicate over-time hours if need to clear the work

2. Do no entertain work calls/emails when I’m off-work, on-leave, on MC (I practically don’t care, especially when I’m on MC).

3. Do no entertain work during weekends, unless it’s pre-planned stuff.

4. Lunch hour is personal time, whether or not do I eat, I’ll step out/take break etc.

I expect myself to switch off on work and concentrate on my personal life and my loved ones when I’m officially “out of office”, whether or not is there work waiting to be done in my in-tray. Work stress stays in office.

Maybe you wouldn’t agree, maybe my attitude to many would be that that would cost you your career, but to me now, there’s a lot more in life than trying to clear my in-tray and piled up projects. And I do hope my friends who are stressed about life, could take a step back and reflect if they have been trying too hard with clearing their work.

 I’ll leave you an excerp from Richard Carlson’s Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff:

“Regardless who you are or what you do, however, remember that nothing is more important than your own sense of happiness and inner peace and that of our loved ones. If you’re obsessed with getting everything done, you’ll never have a sense of well-being! In reality, almost everything can wait. Very little in our work lives truly falls into the “emergency” category. If you stay focused on your work, it will all get done in due time.”

Lots of Love,
Evon


Good Bye 2011, Hello 2012

By Evon on Friday, December 30th, 2011 | No Comments

Hey, it’s my turn for the obigatory end of year review and setting resolutions for the coming year!

Year 2011, I believe this is a year many people would like to put behind them fast. A lot of unfortunate and sad things had happened — natural disasters, economy downturn, deaths and all. My heart goes out to all who suffered. On the personal level, year 2011 was very much a peaceful year for me. In fact it was a year of rest and re-aligning with myself, after a very much disastrous turn out of my job.

 As you may know, I suffered a mental breakdown at the end of 2010 due to stress issue dealing with the job environment then. Early part of 2011, I was fortunate to be able to return to the HQ to work, and even granted a one month break before that. Things have been good since then. I’ve enjoyed getting to know more people, better motivated and appreciated in where I am now.

I’ve also taken to pull back from a few of my usual events participation. In fact, I’ve decided to drop going to events as a booth owner totally (except for one in Malaysia). Well, besides feeling disappointed with my almost non-existing improvement in my drawings, I thought I would rather concentrate on enjoying my hobbies other ways. In fact, Andrew and I got back to a little of cosplaying at the invitation of a friend and I find myself more eager to do random drawings more nowadays without the pressure to draw better.

More time was given to enjoy ourselves in year 2011. I was very happy we had the chance to go to some places we havent been before. Visited KLCC Aquarium and went to Phuket to do rafting! I’ve also indulged myself with some good musicals such as The Lion King musical, concerts (orchestra) and exhibitions.

All in all I felt really enriched.

The best part of 2011 for me I guess is to have taken up the Forex trading classes with Terraseeds and getting to know the group of great mentors. Things made better when Andrew also took up the classes a little later and we are able to help each other. Although I’m still struggling and I have to admit it’s tiring trying to maintain day job and trading at night (which in fact has taken a lot of time out of my evening free hours), I am proud to say I’m still eagerly on for it and I’m going to succeed. =)

Of course, there were some unfulfilled parts of my previous resolution such as to declutter and to slim down and get healthier which I have to work on harder in 2012.

Year 2012 is going to a big change in our lives, with the coming of the new house and a shift in lifestyle when we finally come together to really learn what is “marriage”. I guess I shouldn’t load myself with too much to achieve.

To conclude the post, here are my resolutions for 2012:

  • Achieve consistant profit in forex trading
  • Build a healthy and wealthy new home with my dear
  • Declutter current stuff and keep the new home clutter free
  • Exercise more
  • Master the Japanese language (Advance classes starting soon!)
  • Get back in shape with my guzheng (when there’s finally space in new home to play the instrument)
  • Draw more

So dear friends, have your 2011 been good? And what are your resolutions for 2012?

Lots of love,
Evon

It’s that time of the year again…

By Andrew on Tuesday, December 27th, 2011 | No Comments

You got that right, it’s THAT time of the year. That time where we say farewell to the old and welcome to the new. The period of much celebration and merrymaking. A period of new hope for some and reflection for others.

As for me, I was never into the habit of reflecting on what has happened in the year and setting new year resolutions. To me, it’s just an ordinary period of holidays where I get some time away from work to spend time with family and loved ones. A lot has happened in 2011, not just to the world but to me as well. It had been life-changing, so to say and that prompted this post.

This year, the world had seen umpteen number of incidents which has tested mankind. The March 11 Japan earthquake, the Euro zone crisis, the flooding in Thailand and the list goes on. Indeed it had been a trying period for many around the globe. My heart goes out to the people who are struggling in the affected countries.

In a more personal way, a lot had happened to me too during the course of the year. Some things that I have put off doing for years and it has come full circle. One of it is attending a forex course conducted by Binni over at Terraseeds. Nothing beats seeing a master at work teaching and guiding you through the basics than reading all the books on the shelves. It is also worthwhile to note that Evon had actually attended the course 1 batch earlier than me. Readers who have been with us from the start would have already knew that she is pretty resistive to money management in general and it really is a big step forward for her.

With the general state of the world economy in a bad state, my industry had been hit hard by it. Having been in the company for about 2 years, I have reached a point of stagnation and is feeling kind of lost on my future prospects. However that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy being in my current job. It has its perks like the freedom of time and mobility but lately a series of morale affecting incidents occurred which climaxed in a “token increment” that barely can cover a day’s worth of meals. I am okay if there is no increment as I understand that there is an economy crisis but giving this kind of what I call “pity money” really hits my pride in my work badly. Having little more than 2 years of experience and nothing more than a diploma I went on to seek new opportunities once again. As Lady Fate would have it, I met up with a job matching agency who caters to companies who seeks people with a command of the Japanese language. A language which I have put off learning for a good half a decade with the excuse “I need to go out to sea often and will miss classes” and “I have guard duties to do on weekends, I can’t make it”.

Life works in mysterious ways, isn’t it ?

With all that had happened in 2011, I think back to what I have done with my life so far. I have always been wondering around while life goes past me. Aimlessly searching for a goal but never seem to be able to find it. It is here and now that I should put into writing some aspirations that I hope to achieve in the coming year(s) before it is too late.

New Year(s) Resolution
1) Trade regularly and profitably
2) Obtain higher certification for my Japanese language
3) Learn a musical instrument

A short list but nonetheless it is something that I really wanted to achieve. Always better than a long list which I know I will procrastinate about later. With that I shall bring this post to a close and I bade you fair tidings for the years ahead.

Over and out,
Andrew

A Special Christmas Gift

By Evon on Wednesday, December 14th, 2011 | No Comments

Weeks back, Andrew had been telling me that he had found an interesting gift for me for Christmas and left me guessing the whole while before the gift arrived.

At some point, I got a little annoyed with guessing and his teasing, I asked if he had shipped back some foreign soil for me. Little did I know, I was half right.

My devious partner in life bought me a Title!

Deed of Title and introduction documents of Laird's Wood

 

Besides being able to address ourselves as Laird (Lord) and Lady, we now own a small plot of land on an estate in Lochaber, Scottish Highlands.

No we aren’t going to be able build any house there. What we have now is probably just a standing spot, it would even take a few years later before we can have the financial means to visit the place.

The land, Laird’s Wood, is a part of the ancient Caledonian Forest that once dominate the Scottish Highlands, and today just 1% of the forest remains. By subdivding the land into hundreds of small parcels and selling them, it can never be built on or developed, thus would allow the woodland and its biodiversity to regnerate again with time.

Maybe you would think it’s a pretty useless gift, maybe a new dress or a new gadget would be better. But when I held the documents in my hands, there’s the very sense of happiness and warmth that washed through me – This is a guy who truely understands me, understands my dreams and love for nature, even if sometimes I’m lost in this materialistic world myself.

And I know he never really concern himself with environment preservation or getting close to nature, but he appreciates and supports my interests.

To my dearest, I’m not sure if you’ve realised, what you have gotten for me has a way much more deeper meaning in the love I felt from you. Thank you.

For those who are interested in putting in a share to preserve Gaia’s gift or simply just want to get a kick out of able to address yourself as Lord or Lady, you may visit http://www.lochaberhighlandestates.com/ for more details.

Lots of Love,
Evon

PS: On another note, we have just picked up the keys to our new home! =)

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