X'mas 2003...

Hi guys,

Time sure flies... its another X'mas again... and yeah... in 4 months time, I'll be 40... Every year, at X'mas, I've looked back at each year and how it had been for that year..

This year, the biggest event was me getting registered for marriage recently... For a man that had done that 3 times already (this is the 4th), u would assume that it can be a drag... well, I'm telling u... it can STILL be exciting...

Besides getting married, the next most memorable event must be my son's graduation... he'll be going to St Stephen's next year, so his pre-school held a graduation concert for the departing classes... It was the proudest moment for me, a father watching my boy up on stage.. I've got video of that and I'm in the process of posting it in here...

Oh yes, did I tell you guys that I had applied for a 4-rm flat under HDB's Nov 2003 Balloting Exercise?? Anyway, we're just trying our luck. The location of the flats offered was superb (right next to Tiong Bahru Plaza) and it attracted more than 900 applications for the 90 flats offered... so the chances of anyone getting the flat would be 1 out of 10 or 11... Being a First-Time Applicant & with my folks living within 2km of the flat offered, the HDB said my chances of getting the flat is high but I'm not counting on it... who knows? there's a chance that the majority of the other applicants whom are also first-timers & living near their parents... so we'll wait and see if I'd get lucky...

The second pay-cut my company recently had was painful.. a lot of adjustments had to be made to my spending... It was sad that the first pay-cut didn't save the company... and now, we're going for a major merger... There are lots of uncertainties with this merger... uncertainties like.. if we can keep our jobs... if we can cope with the new corporate culture, management, etc... The overall morale had hit rock bottom... we're just hanging on and hoping for the best...

Taking stock of how I had progressed this year, I've found that I've grown a lot wiser each year... In the past, I would have long lists of things to write about.. And trust me, most of the times, they weren't pleasant things... The scale is often weighted towards those unpleasant times... But now, the scale somehow tilts more to the blessings I've had... It didn't mean that my share of unpleasant events had diminished, its just that I've chosen not to record them for its passed.. its history.. and most importantly so... its forgotten.. In a way, I've learnt to count my blessings more than my misfortunes.. and I'm a happier man now...

At this point, I'd like to share with you guys here... when in any situation, there's always 2 ways of reacting to it... you can either stay positive and make the best of what are in... OR.... sit there and feel sorry for yourself and let all the negative thoughts destoy you gradually... The choice is ours.. Choose to have a MERRY X'MAS...
(KPNN-Gossips)

PS: For photos of our X'mas party, check out KPNN's Photo Gallery...