The Show Must Go On

2013

It's been a long time coming.

My backside is itching again.

Stay tuned people.

Time to change again.

This blog continues...

It's been almost one year since I posted anything here in this blog.

I need to write. I realise that without writing, my mind turns into mush and my heart gets clogged up with dark dirty matter.

This blog was initially set up to promote my clowning services. This blog was set up even before Blogger was taken over by Google.

I am getting too old to clown around.

This blog is a reminder to me of all the clowning that I have done and all the clowning that I have not done.

This blog is a reminder of who I am as a clown and WHAT i am as a clown.

Don't mistaken me, I love being a clown. I still do clowning now and then.

Being a clown gives me a time to make people laugh and smile, thus making me laugh and smile too.

Being a clown is not about gaining attention, but GIVING people attention.

The past year has been filled with many incidents both happy and sad. This year is still filled with incidents both happy and sad.

Who says that the next year will be better? Reality strikes!

Taking another big step towards who I am...

About Those You Love

The people closest to you.

Who are they?

What do they really mean to you?

Why are they so important to you?

Asian put a lot of emphasis on the importance of their family. We consider our family the closest human beings to us. Well, not only for Asians, maybe.

Then you find the love of your life and you get married. Your spouse becomes another person who is closest to you.

So now, you have your family and your spouse and your children.

Then you have your friends who has been through thick and thin with you. Those friends who will come rushing to your aid when you call and the ones who will laugh and cry with you. the friends who knows when to scold and lecture you and who knows when to shut up and just sit quietly.

With all these people around us - where does God come into the picture?

He was and is - in everything and everyone.

GREEN GENERATION

I LOVE HOW THE GOVERNMENT IS KILLING US AND FUTURE GENERATIONS WITH LACK OF POLICIES FOR ENVIRONMENTALISM




There is an Earth Day on 22 April. Where a Green Generation Campaign will start. So many 'green' campaigns have started and wilted.

It does make me wonder how this campaign will pull through.

It's not that we don't care. We think that the earth will not 'die' yet within our generation, so it's not our concern.

In Malaysia, the effort to stay 'green' is so minute that it's a wonder how we will fare in future.

I see large huge trees being cut down in Johor Bahru. I see their big long branches, that took them 50 years to grow, be sawed down within 50 minutes. I go to a new shopping area in Kuala Lumpur and wonder how they could build so many offices and shops into such a small space, with not one trace of tree taller than me.

(No, that wasn't the tree they cut. It's uglier than that. I borrowed that from a blog.)


I look at all the garbage we throw out and wonder how we dispose of it. I look at the thermometer on my watch and am amazed at how it can be 35 degrees celcius in the shade at 1pm.

We're committing suicide.

Even a small island like Singapore has more sense to put aside areas for jungle and parks.

Our cities are so dense and parks and large green areas so few, it's amazing that we're still breathing.

But we're not exactly breathing right. We have more and more children and adults having asthma, sinus problems and constant coughs. We are visiblly weaker and our immune system is slacking.

I just read their website, http://www.earthday.net , where they want this campaign to be one where globally, more governments start making policies for 'greener solutions'.

Little initiatives such as using your own shopping bags have been ongoing for a long time. But we're still ASKING for more plastic bags when we shop at Giant and Tesco because we want the bags for our rubbish. We think it's recycling. Well, think again.

Singapore makes the shoppers pay 5 cents for every plastic bag used.

Australia does not provide plastic bags anymore. You don't bring your own bag, you carry them individually in the cart, and unload them individually to your car.

We're still asking for MORE bags.

I shall try it one day, to go shopping and ask all of them not to give me a plastic bag.

What about you?

----------------------------------------

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME

It's my birthday and this blog needs a post.

So I wish myself all the best in this year after becoming 31 and hope that I will face this year with gusto and a greater love for God.

I love all of you!

Coffee or Tee or Me

DIAGNOSIS:

Possible lack of coffee resulted in headaches and heightened anger manisfestations.

- - - - - - - - - -

A cup of coffee a day keeps the sleepiness away.

Its taste is bitter and its aroma is strong.

Its colour is black and its preparation is fussy.

I love coffee.

You have the gourmet coffee. The kopitiam kopi-o. 3-in-1 instant mix coffee in sachets. You can find coffee beans in a bag in a cup. You can mix coffee with milk , with sugar, with liqueur or with tea.

I just love coffee.

- - - - - - - - - -

Chef Charlotte

THAT, up there, is something I cooked at Hosanna's new house.

Menu:

Chicken Chop with black pepper, mushroom and Hosie's home-grown rosemary sauce

Buttery Baked Mashed Potatoes (made from scratch)

Pasta in olive oil and garlic and more of Hosie's home-grown rosemary with a whle CHUNK of smoked salmon

Fresh vegetables (not the frozen ones - namely broccoli, cauliflower and carrots)

----------

I love cooking. The food turned out good. The chicken was a little too salty for my taste. The mashed potatoes were great. And the fresh vegetables tasted like vegetables.

But, I had people adding both pepper and salt to their food. Now I know why chefs don't like people ADDING anything to their food. Makes it look as if the food is not nice enough, so you had to add a whole lump of pepper or salt to it.

Yet again, I know some people love it salty and some love it spicy. So I should not complain and thank God that I can cook.

So... WHO NEEDS A CHEF?

Chef for Hire - email me!

Taking on 2009

There are many things that people want to do in a year. Goals are set. Visions are re-thought. Plans are made.

I was just thinking what to post here and I thought about how it's already one month past into 2009 and I realised that there has not been any plans made for myself this year.

There was a man I met who told me, "Set goals, no matter how small or how big they are, and achieve them one by one within the year."

It makes sense to give yourself a goal. It gives you a sense of satisfaction to be able to look back and see how it all came in place.

So I shall set a few small goals here, print it out and look back by December, how i have fared.

1. To buy a new PDA phone - Samsung Omnia 16Mb or HTC Touch Pro.
2. To get extra income of at least RM500 per month.
3. To go to either Melbourne or London by end of the year.
4. To get old classmates from BPGHS together for 15th year anniversary.

All small items. Nothing too big. I may or may not have many more years to plan things out. So I shall see how I feel about it by end of the year.

Just for those who has not seen me in a long time - I look like this now.



Looks the same, huh?

In Hanoi, Vietnam

There is a difference when you go to someone else's country and you see the sights of the country and how people live here.

we're tourists and regarded as rich - because we can afford to go overseas and see their country.

it is a different place, with time pushed back to about 20 years ago - compared to malaysia.

this place has roads and people and houses that are so backward, yet, here i am, online with connection that is so fast that i don't even need to count to 5 for the page to load fully.

tour's are not exactly the best way of seeing the country, but it does give a certain sight of the place. you only need to open your eyes and ears to listen and see.

i will be posting pictures up soon.

i know i have not been updating this page for a long time...

since the beginning of the year.

So till my next post...

Wishing all of you a Happy Chinese New Year and hope that you will have a good NIU year.

---------------------

End of Another Year

In just a short while, we've come to the end of another year.

When you're a teenager, you find a new year exciting. Maybe it's because you are having school holidays and the new year means a new class and new lessons and new everything.

Now, after working for 8 years, you find the new years coming too soon and the usual question of what have i done for the past year that has been meaningful and successful.

We're looking at the years ahead and wondering if 2009 will pass by as fast as 2008 has been.

We're wondering if 2009 will be as good as 2008 and wondering if our problems will be solved by then - or will we carry forward all our problems to 2010.

We're always hoping that a new year will be better.

Will it?

------------------

I have written about all the blessings I received in 2008.

I do not really hope for anything in 2009 - because it is of no use to hope for things that you do not know about.

I leave it to God's hands to pave the way for me in 2009.

I know it will be a good year and no matter what disastrous incidents may happen, I will give thanks to God for all the good AND bad that will and may happen.

Wishing all of you who still read my blog or have chanced upon it:

HAPPY NEW YEAR and MAY GOD BLESS ALL THAT YOU DO!!

Food for Thought

trying to think of something to cook from a cookbook is not as easy as it seems.

What to cook? You've never done it before. Will it turn out the way you want it to be?

We cook what we're familiar with and then the pictures in the cookbook SCREAM out to you - "COOK ME"

What do you do? Go to the supermarket and buy all the ingredients written in the book.

You wonder with the few ingredients mentioned, will it turn out the way the picture shows?

if you don't try, you don't know.

-----------

So what will be the menu for the day?

We cook to escape the mundane food we eat outside. But with the amount of work in cutting and chopping and frying and cleaning, is it ever worth the effort to cook at home?

We eat out, pay the guy some money, eat our fill and go home. Simple. Easy. no fuss.

-----------

I love to cook. Not much chance to cook much nowadays but there is a satisfaction and quiet contentment in cutting, chopping, frying and cleaning.

To have your food turn out delicious and mouth-watering and appreciated and EDIBLE.

It's a lot of satisfaction to see your dish cleared up and eaten and have people say, "THIS IS GOOD!!"

-------------

We're chinese. We're food people. We've got an expansive tastebud.

I think I will cook the kunyit chicken.

Tell you another day how it turns out, if i survive my own cooking...

a little bit of JOY

Let's write about something happy.

I was about to write about how busy I was and how tired I've been, but I thought, let's try to turn this around and write about something good and happy.

-----------

The Joy of the Lord is my Strength.

Joy is repeated often in the Bible. To be happy is to be contented.

To be able to laugh and smile in times of pain and suffering is the ultimate "YOU MUST BE CRAZY".

Our human emotions will follow what our circumstances are. If we're facing all forms of challenges, our faces will automatically show the stress and strain.

It would take a person who either 1. doesn't care (indifferent) or 2. knows how to handle the situation - to be able to laugh and smile while others are complaining and having their blood pressure shooting up.

I look at adverse situations from various angles:

1. God knows what He's doing.

2. I have something to learn out of all these awful happenings.

3. This will not be forever.

4. It's no use worrying about it because I will be blinded by my worries, such that I can't find the solution.

5. The joy of the Lord will strengthen me to go through it.

6. The people around me who are stressed need someone who is calm and level-headed to bring some 'balance' to the whole atmosphere.

---------

The last one sound really 'new age'. But it's true how in every situation or company or group, you need a balance of characters to bring the best out of the team.

So, I hope this short note will give us something to think about and not WORRY about our current situation.

You're not ALONE in this problem. And it's really NO USE TO WORRY since you don't have a solution yet.

Might as well find the answer instead of wasting time and worrying about what you cannot solve.

With that, I wish you all happy SHOPPING for Christmas Presents and please remember mine!

God Bless...

Feels Like Yesterday

It is time to reflect and recount all the blessings God has given me in this year of 2008.

--------------

Having had found a new job in JB, with a good pay (for JB standards), good colleagues and good work - it has been an upwards learning curve for me in HDBS.

Work is moderate and although routine, but there are the occasional shocks and excitement to keep me on my toes.

Colleagues are great. Understanding people who would go out of their way to help me out of a tight spot.

---

Service in church after being a PCC member has been a blessing, yet tough. To see the young adults cell grow to what we are today has been nothing short of a miracle.

To be able to have a hand at doing something more in the church. But I must admit that I have not been putting as much effort in church activities as I hope i would.

---

Because I was rather free during the middle of the year, i joined two clubs:

A fitness centre - Clark Hatch

and

Toastmasters Club

---

The gym has been an interesting experience. Although at this moment, I have not been for the last one month - but I have lost a few kgs since I went.

The toastmasters club has also been interesting. Learning how to deliver a prepared speech is proving MORE difficult than thinking on your toes.

---

We had a dog this year too.

Bonnie is all grown up and naughty and irritating. But she's still lovable and fierce and full of energy. I get tired looking at her.

My first dog I ever had...

---

A new maid came too. Mimi is such a blessing and miracle compared to the previous maid. It's been so much better with someone who is fast with her hands and feet, although she tends to forget things sometimes. But it's still such a vast difference from the last maid who was so lazy and sly.

---

NATHAN WESLEY GOH was born on 4 October 2008 at 4:40pm and this aunty was standing outside the delivery room door hearing my big brother shouting encouraging 'PUSH! PUSH!'.

I waited and waited until I heard Nathan's first cry. Then i went for my music practice at church!

He is truly loved by God who gives him such sweet dreams (maybe of milk and honey) that he laughs and gurgles in his sleep. How adorable is that?!

---

Grandpa went to a nursing home. As much as we didn't want to do it, I think it is better for his health and well-being.

He is better now. at least his mind is more active and his health has improved.

I pray that God continues to strengthen him.

-----------------

I don't think i wrote all the major things that has happened this year. There should be more. But off my head, those are the things that I have been given this year.

I thank God for all that He has given and NOT given.

Have a good remaining of 2008...

Friends

Just a little collection of pictures.

Salad d'Clown

I was on New Straits Times on Saturday 15 November 2008.

(CLICK ON IMAGE FOR LARGER VIEW)


The link to the article above is found HERE:

Weekends End

It's going to be a very tiring year end.

I have a full year end coming. But I'm lazing around, not wanting to do much. a contradiction.

I know I have to do some things, but I can't seem to be able to make myself do them.

Things I Have To Do But Have Not Done

1. Children Outing Games
2. Children Christmas Drama
3. Study for Exam (3rd retake!)
4. Christmas Caroling
5. Zin Vi & Hooi Ping's Wedding Program
6. Christmas Dinner Program

Doesn't seem like much... But I think I took on more than I can chew.

-------------

We have 9 weekends more to the end of 2008.

Already 5 out of the 9 weekends are booked with programs.

I started off the year with a positive note. Now, I'm all deflated. I think my life is directly influenced by the country's economy.


Some flowers to cheer me up...


Sweet smell of roses
Soft petals to touch
Simple beauty for sight
Warm feelings of love

~cgyp~

The Adorable One

Nathan's Many Faces

Kacau-ing Nathan in his beauty sleep...

Another Wilson Tale

Once upon a time, Wilson went to the beach. It was a beautiful beach with a resort nearby with full amenities such as a microwave, fax facilities and even a personal computer to go online - all in his resort villa.

He walked on the beach at night because he is afraid people who see him may freak out at seeing a bear walking alone on the beach. He has had experiences where he had a craving for a McDonnies ice cream cone. He went out at 5pm, ran across the busy road and almost got his fluff squashed out of him by a car, and walked up to the ice cream counter.

"May I have a cone please?"

He saw someone's head popping out and the girl's eyes started to grow as big as saucers.

She started to scream a piercing scream which scared Wilson and he ran back across the road, hearing the screams getting even louder as she saw Wilson running.

So, with that sort of experience, Wilson has learned to appear only after it's dark.

While he walked, he saw a shadow rush past him.

He froze.

What was that? It was in the middle of the night, with nobody around, and Wilson had to choose the darkest area to walk on the beach.

Another shadow rushed past him.

He took a step back.

Trying to listen past the waves on the beach, Wilson peered from side to side, his heart thumping fiercely in his cotton stuffing.

Another shadow. An another!

Wilson turned to run. He managed only five steps before he fell into a hole in the sand. He was too scared to scream and his foot was stuck in the sand.

He screamed only when he felt something tug at his foot. He tried to pull away when he heard his cloth tearing and stopped immediately. He didn't want to risk a big hole in his foot. Not while he was on a holiday.

Wilson tried to slowly lift his foot out. The THING was still grabbing his foot. But at least it wasn't pulling. So Wilson tenderly lifted his foot out of the hole.

He shook his foot a few times to try to dislodge the thing. But it seemed adamant to hold on.

Since it was too dark to see, Wilson dragged his foot with the thing and went into the light.

With the light, shining, the thing started to scramble and climbed up Wilson, who jumped up at the sight of it.

Want to know what Wilson found?

















crab...

Just when you thought...

Just when I have bought all the items for a diet meal, someone will call me for lunch.

So my cereal and milk has been sitting in the office patiently waiting for me to open them up and eating them.

However, I dug out one box of Banana Crunch Cereal, and its expiry is this month.

Should I eat it and hope that it has a detox effect on me too?

-------

However, I think I have lost about 1 - 2 kg. My pants are not AS tight anymore.

HOWEVER however...

My faithfully ailing right knee is faithfully giving my signals that I am pushing it on the treadmills and climber-machine-thing and the hip hop classes and even badminton sessions.

--------

Maybe I should go and change my kneecap. Like a bottle cap, you take a bottle opener, flick it open with it, and then find another cover and WHACK it down onto the mouth of the bottle.

Usually, it doesn't fit as well. :)

--------

So, how do you balance everything, taking into account the person's limitations, amount of exercise, type of exercise and intake of food?

So many things to be wary of. And all for the sake of???

Taking care of the temple of God.

Johor Bahru Unsafe?

I love it when people ask me, "Charlotte, is JB safe ah?"

-_-


My reply to them would be:

I'm still here isn't it?

----------

To me, if you're so afraid to come to JB, then don't come at all. Instead of walking around, looking scared and frightened, as if someone is going to stab you - then the likelihood of it happening is > 50%.

Why?

Because you're an easy target, already full of fear.

----------

If you're Singaporean and you're reading this because you googled for "JB unsafe", then don't come.

If you're wondering if we kill each other on the streets?

Let me tell you nobody has tried to kill me, yet.

What's it with all of you? I think it's the, you-read-too-many-local-chinese-newspaper-syndrome. Our JB chinese reporters are extremely gung-ho and they seem to be able to capture the most gruesome and frightening pictures for their column. AND chinese papers seem to have more full-coloured pages too.

---------

So let's set the record straight:

JB is a safe as any other town in Malaysia. We have our fair share of robberies, murders and snatch thieves as KL or Penang has.

I am living proof that JB is safe enough.

---------

Words of advice:

- DO NOT act scared.

- DO NOT dress in short shorts, slippers, spagetthi-strapped t shirts and a waist pouch or sling bag. That's branding yourself "SINGAPOREAN" across your forehead.

- DO NOT walk in alleys just for the sake of 'adventure' unless you know someone from the alley.

- ALWAYS look as if you know where you are going although you have NO idea where you are.

- Park you car in a well lit area. A foreign car or a nice big car will always be the first to spot. Even your sport-rimmed tyres can be removed easily, in exchange for several bricks.

- DO NOT keep saying "cheap cheap cheap" or show your wide eyed expression when the seafood bill comes. Practice in front of the mirror one week before your trip, on how to control your expressions. Malaysians are cool and collected people.

- Don't speak Mandarin in JB. It's a dead giveaway, unless your Mandarin has a very strong Hokkien influence.

- LEARN some BASIC malay. It doesn't hurt to learn a new language. Most chinese/indian Malaysians knows at least 3 languages - 1. chinese/indian dialects; 2.english; 3. malay.

We're all at risk of some crime. If it happens, it's like striking lottery. The odds are similar.

Johor Bahru has been my home for the past 30 years. I believe it will continue to be home for another 30 years.

:)