Anniversary: Retirement from Full-time Employment

Today 18 January 2013 marks my first anniversary of retirement from full time employment. It has been a year since I decided to stop working on a full time job. For the last ten years since my compulsory retirement from government service, I had been working on a 8.30 am to 5.00 pm job. And driving 64 km to office and back home five days a week, often through massive traffic jams!. Oh, I am glad that I do not have to endure that anymore. 

Though it was a tough decision to make, I thought it was time to let go and have more leisure time for myself, doing things that I enjoy. There was the fear with what am I going to do to keep my day fully occupied. Actually during the past year, I had kept myself busy working as an independent consultant. I have also been engaged by an United Nations' organization to provide my services in Laos. Was in that lovely country for 3 times, with each mission lasting for about one month. That took up 3 months. There were also two local consultancies that kept me occupied. These two working activities kept me mentally challenged!

I must say that I have enjoyed my past year. I now spent more time working from my small home office. While working in my own office, I could also listen to my music. This was something I missed when working full-time.  I could go for my regular morning exercises. Spent time reading and working for a few hours a day on my consultancy work. And whenever I feel lazy, I could just relax or take a nap without feeling guilty! And of course I am now more regular in posting on my Face Book and blog. And more importantly, I am spending more time with my family. My wife and I took a holiday touring Dubai, Moscow and St. Petersburg. We hope to go on more overseas holidays.

Life is a bliss in retirement, while working on a part-time basis!
I pray that all the coming years will be as equally blessed as this past year.

With the office secretary on my last working day

My Small Office, Home Office (SOHO)

Good bye 2012, Welcome 2013

Wishing all my readers and followers "A Very Happy New Year".
May the New Year bring you Happiness, Peace and Good Health.
The fire-works are already starting to fill the skies in bidding farewell to 2012 and welcoming the New Year 2013.

With each coming New Year, people tend to make some resolutions to guide and motivate them through the year. I am not one who makes resolutions. I had always live each day as it comes and make the best use of it. I believe that to feel alive, just choose to do something that makes my day!

Reflecting on the old year 2012, I made one major decision. I decided in January 2012 not to extend my work contract. Its been 10 years working full time since my retirement from government service. I learn to "let go" and "to smell the roses". It wasn't too hard a decision. And its been almost a year now. I am enjoying my present situation, working as a free lance consultant. Taking on overseas assignments and a few local consultancies kept me active during the year and yet having free time on my hands to do whatever I fancy. Enjoyed my three trips to Vientiane, Laos on a project there. Spent three productive and exciting months there. And looking forward to be there again in 2013.

2012 is also a memorable year as I became a grand-father. Having a grandson is a fulfillment. 

In 2012, my wife and I also visited Moscow and St. Petersburg in Russia. On the way we also visited Dubai and spent a day at the Desert Safari.

The past year also saw me being more active in blogging. Intend to do more in 2013.

2012 had been a wonderful year and I look forward to another great year in 2013!

The Winter of My Life

Sometimes I received emails with very interesting contents.
This particular poem was sent to me by a friend, who like me are in our twilight years.
It reminds us of how we have lived our lives.

The poem is by an unknown author.

"The Winter of My Life"

You know .....Time has a way of moving quickly

And catching you unaware of the passing years.

It seems just yesterday I was young.

Just married and embarking on my new life with my mate.

And yet in a way, it seems like eons ago,

And I wonder where all the years went.

I know that I lived them all ..............

And I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams .....

But, here it is ... The winter of my life and it catches my by surprise ....

How did I get here so fast?

Where did the years go and where did my youth go?

I remember well .....

Seeing older people through the years and thinking that those

Older people were years away from me and that winter was so far off

That I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like ....

But, here it is ...

My friends are retired and getting grey ...

They move slower and I see an older person now.

Some are better and some worse shape than me .....

But, I see the great change .....

Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant ....

But, like me, their age is begining to show and we are now those

Older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd be.

Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day!

And taking a nap is not a treat anymore ... it's mandatory!

'Cause if I don't on my own free will .. I just fall asleep where I sit!

And so, now I enter into a new season of my life unprepared

For all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability

To go and do things that I wish I had done but never did!

But, at least I know, that though the winter has come,

And I'm not sure how long it will last ....

This I know, that when it's over ... It's over

Yes, I have regrets.

There are things I wish I hadn't done ....

Things that I should have done, but indeed,

There are many things I'm happy to have done.

It's all in a lifetime ...

So, if you've not in the winter yet ....

Let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think.

Whatever you would like to accomplish in your life, please do it quickly!

Don't put things off too long!

Life goes by quickly. So, do what you can today,

As you can never be sure whether this is your winter or not!

You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life ....

So, live for today and say all the things you want your loved ones to remember ....

And hope they appreciate and love you for all the things

You have done for them in all the years past!

Life is a gift to you

 The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after.

Make it a fantastic one.

~ And, Remember ~

"It is health that is real wealth

And not pieces of gold or silver."

"May You always have Love to Share, Health to Spare and Friends that Care!"

Returning to My Blog

It has been 2 years since I last post anything in my blog.

Just cannot find any excuses for not doing so.

Not that I do not have any "Sweet Moments" to reflect on.

Sweet Moments there are plenty of them.

Each day just pass me by.

Procrastination is my biggest enemy.

There is always tomorrow ......

Now why did I decide tonight to just post something here?

I have the same feelings I had 2 and half years ago, to be exact on 2 Oct 2009.

That was night when I posted my leaving Vientiane, Laos after spending slightly more than a month here.

Tonight I have the same nostalgic feelings like that night.

I am leaving Vientiane in a day's time.

I have been here for one month.

This is my 4th trip here, working on an International Consultancy.

I just wanted to record my "Sweet Moments" here on my blog.

I had made some new good friends here and renewed fond friendship with the people I worked with in 2009.

Maybe from now on, I shall post more regularly.

For now, its a great feeling to return to my blog.