What You are Now is the Result of your Actions

Would agree with this? Think back. What did you do to become what you are now?
How did you end up in this position?

If you are now in poor health, what caused it? Can you recall? Was it the food you ate, the lack of exercise, the late nights, the feelings of “nothing can affect me, I’m healthy and strong…” which led you to more indulgences? After many years down that road, you are now where you are, perhaps looking back with regrets.

If you are in the prime of your life with a good career path and a bright future to look forward to, you are reaping what you had sown in the earlier years. Do you remember the parable of the ant and the grasshopper?

If you are in happy retirement, you have earned it so enjoy the years still to come. If you are enjoying good health, continue to do what you are doing to maintain as good health is true wealth. Once it’s gone, all the money in the world will not help you to get it back.

However, whatever the position we are in, we should be grateful for each day as it dawns. It is up to us to make the most of whatever we have and to be happy.

We make our own happiness and we can choose to live in joy or despair. Better the former than the latter.

Happy Teachers' Day

May 16 has been set aside to honor teachers in Malaysia. The Deputy Prime Minister has been reported to say that he has a surprise for all teachers and that he will announce this only tomorrow, on Teachers' Day.

I'm sure it will be another perk. During the time when I was still in service, teachers didn't have it as good as they do now. They draw better salaries and they begin with a much higher salary scale. There are many incentives to motivate them and they also receive allowances for teaching what is known as critical subjects.

There is also a golden handshake. So it is good to be a teacher these days. Chances of promotion are also much better.

The only drawback is that there are more female teachers than male teachers these days. Such an imbalance is not good because the boys need good role models. Many schools have more women teachers than men teachers. I think this is something that should be addressed by the Education Ministry.

Teaching is an honorable profession and good teachers are highly respected not only by their students but also by parents. They not only impart knowledge but also help to mould the characters of their students. They have a strong impact on the lives of their students.

I would like to think that the majority of teachers in our country are dedicated and hardworking. Let them play a positive role in upholding the integrity of the profession and by example, change the attitudes of the few black sheep.


Happy Teachers' Day to all teachers!

Simple but Delicious Malaysian Food

Last night we dined out, a prelude to Mother's Day. Dinner was a simple 6 course meal, a standard menu offered by a cafe lounge in celebration of Mother's Day.


The first course was soup, sharksfin soup which my grandchildren refused to partake on grounds of principle. They are staunch supporters of "No sharksfins on the menu". So their grandfather had to finish their soup. We subscribe to "Waste not, want not".


Rice came with the rest of the dishes.

There was a salad comprising one prawn, 2 slices of fish roll on a bed of shredded lettuce, drenched in mayonnaise plus a minute scallop and 2 mini slices of crabstick.


The steamed herbal chicken was a hit with the grandchildren
while we adults enjoyed the spicy fish slices cooked in tamarind sauce.

The deep-fried Japanese taufu was cooked with salted Chinese vegetable (hum choi) and mushroom plus black fungus with a few stalks of boiled baby bak choi topped with fried garlic.

Dessert was supposed to be bird's nest in rock sugar and red dates. All I saw were 2 small red dates in a bowl of sweet syrup and perhaps 2 strands of bird's nest. Ah well, bird's nest is an expensive delicacy and one cannot expect more than a couple of strands!

Still, it was very filling and certainly a change from my home-cooked meals, the range of which is very limited. It was a good night out for all of us as we rarely dine out.