Be Positive

Alfie: I believe no matter how strong the storm is and how long it lasts, for sure one day it will gone. After the storm, we will see the golden sunlight and a beautiful rainbow.

CIO: You're right. Keep this positive attitude it warms the heart of the people you like !

The Side Effect

According to statistic, since the economy downturn till now, more and more people has psychological problem. Easy to be worry, get angry, sensitive, offensive, piss off, panic, suspicion, don’t trust others, sleeping problem and so on.

I see these kind of people everyday. Some how for some people I didn’t expect they also get this side effect. However, they do. It surprises me.

Alfie's standard no value added joke: "You are so free and have nothing to do”. Just because of this sentence, the person feedback to me:

“I was so angry because in this kind of economy situation and you commented me like that. If some1 heard that and takes it seriously, then I may be retrenched. Even thought the company doesn't retrenched me but the company may thinks people in my team also have nothing to do then retrench any of them. If it really happened, will you be happy? It is going to be all your faults.

Actually I wanted to report to the senor management about what you have commented me because it was seriously a bad comment in this kind of economy situation. Anyway, I know you didn’t have bad intention when you said that, so I didn’t report it to the management.”

When I heard that, I almost fainted. The person is a happy and nothing to worry person. Somehow I have been joking with the person with some other more serious topics but the person never felt offended . Now just because an economy downturn and the person has so much pressure.

I didn’t blame the person but feel sorry for the over pressure that the person is facing now.

For me, I still jumping and running without wearing shoes (I know, it is unprofessional), making joke, talking nonsense and laughing laugh in the office. My food bar is still full of foods and welcome any1 to come and enjoy the foods.

I always believe: Life is full of UP and DOWN. God put you to it and he will see you thought it. So, why being so worry?

當煩惱現前，不要對抗，要用慚愧心、懺悔心、感恩心來消融
<<聖嚴法師 法語>>

My Family Recipes (7) - Bo Bo Cha Cha

Preparation for Ingredients
1 orange color sweet potato 1 purple color sweet potato
1 yam

2 coconuts’ milk

Some sugar
Half bowl of sago rice

Method
Cut the sweet potatoes and yam to small pieces. Boil half pot of water. Put in the sweet potatoes and yam Cook for about 30 minutes, put in the coconut milk and sugar

My Family Recipes (6) - Yam Rice

Preparation for Ingredients
Rice (must use the “old” rice)
1 yam (cut into small pieces)

4 pieces of garlic and 1 small red onion. Chopped.
8-10 eggs (boil the eggs till completely cooked. Remove the shells)
Some dried prawns (about 2 soup spoons)

Preparation for seasonings
1 soup spoon of dark Soya Sauce
1 soup spoon of light Soya Sauce
Adequate of salt
½ team spoon (or adequate) of pepper powder

Method

Heat up some oil, deep fry onion, garlic & dry prawns till fragrant.Put in the rice and all the seasonings. Fry for 5 minutesPut the rice into the rice cooker and mix with the yam. Cook them.

My Family Recipes (5) - Stew Duck (Dark Soya Sauce Duck)

Preparation for Ingredients
1 fresh duck (2 to 2.5 KG)
6 Star anises
2 Cinnamon sticks
2 1st fingers size of Lang Ginger
5-8 pieces of garlic
5 small red onions
8-10 eggs (boil the eggs till completely cooked. Remove the shells)

Preparation for seasonings
1 tea spoon (or adequate) of 5 spices powder
8-10 soup spoons of dark Soya Sauce
8-10 soup spoons of light Soya SauceAdequate of sugarAdequate of salt
4 soup spoon of Chinese cooking wine

Method

Boil a 1/3 pot of water.Put in all the ingredients and the seasonings except for the duck. When the water is boiling, put in the duck.Need to push or move the duck once in every 2-3 minutes. Also need to “watering” the duck on the part where doesn’t cover by the water/sauce.Turn the duck once in every 20 minutes until the duck is cooked. It takes about 1 hour or 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Preparation for the eggs
Put the eggs into the sauce and cook for 1-2 hours. Use min fire.

V-Day 2009

This year V-Day had 3 special points to highlight.

1. Morning Trekking
Went to Bukit Timah Hill. Some people's responses were: Trekking in V-day? So unromantic. For me, so what? I really enjoyed it.

2 hearts are linking together. Good sign in a V-Day.We were lost and went into the Mountain Biking Track. End up walked for another few KMs.
2. Celebrated it in group
After so many years, celebrated the V-Day again and 1st time celebrated it with a group of friends. Very reunion feeling.

3. Special Gift
Every year received those common gifts like card, email or SMS V-Day kiss & hug and some cute stuffs. This year receipted a box of chocolate from oversea. Very nice chocolate and also a surprise.

When The Storm Is Coming

The black cloud is getting bigger, thicker and darker. A bad and terrible storm is covering more and more areas. Look at it, I hope it is not going to last too long and the damage is not “kill” too many people.

Life is full of up and down. It is always depends on how we look at the half glass of water. Is it half full or half empty? It is judging by youself.

I always tell others, any change is a good change. Reason is because I believe in 危机 (Danger and Opportunity).

In the past years, this scenario does apply to me few times. Therefore, I also remind myself to if I always be positive, I can handle any kind of challenge. Just like the signature I put in my email:

Thanks and Regards,
Alfie Wong
Asia Pacific - Business Intelligence
Positive attitude produces positive results

Oh Please, It’s Just A Kiss Goodbye

Taxi Driver: She is your girlfriend?

Me: No. Just good friend. (Was wondering why he said).

Taxi Driver: Are you sure is good friend only? She kissed your face.

Me: Oh, it’s only a kiss goodbye. Very common.

Taxi Driver: Nonsense. If a girl doesn’t like you, why she kisses you? If she doesn’t like you, why need to waste her time to be with you in Valentine’s Day?

Me: Oh really? Are you sure? Her her her her her. (Uncle, you’re seriously wrong. We are really just good friends.)

你可曾慢下脚步看看?

又见夕阳无限好，何愁只是近黄昏？

这夕阳的景色很美吧？它让我惊艳。也许你会惊讶，这是在JB市区拍的。也许你也会觉得奇怪，这破烂的城市，你路过了一百的遍，为什么从没看过如此迷人的夕阳。那可要问问自己，可曾慢下脚步看看四周的人与物?

每天的忙忙碌碌，你可曾注意到那蓝天白云？你可曾注意到那鸟语花香？都没有对吗？可能你会理直气壮的告诉我，你有多忙，那有闲情逸致去看这些有的没的。OK, 你有理.

你又有多久没打电话回家向父母亲问好？SMS 或 email 向老朋友问好？孩子生病了, 你知道吗？丈夫或太太有犹郁征, 你知道吗？可能你会理直气壮的告诉我，你有多忙，那有闲情逸致去理这些有的没的。OK, 你很有理. 你是对的.

有一天，当公司再也不需要你或是你病了或你是老了，倍着你的是公司，老板，同事？你问自己吧？我那有闲情逸致去理你这些有的没的. OK?

宝岛一村

宝岛一村讲诉的是一群从中国退入台弯的人所发生的故事。横跨五十年的三代人在一个眷村的故事。导演和剧作家王伟忠写的是他从小住在眷村所见所闻的事。为的是记念慢慢消失在眷村的人, 事, 情和爱。一剖非常出色的午台剧。创意大师赖声川与王伟忠再一次的精彩承现。

我的最爱:
1) 十块钱的棺材: 四十年前，他用十块钱为岳母订棺材。四十年后，他的儿子向同一个人订棺林。这次是为他所订的。 此时, 我哭了。

2) 四十五年后，他回到故里，向他的战友并且是情人上坟。他对他的坟说；当你走时，我并没有跟你走。原因是你告诉过我，活着要开心，尽情的开心。就算是剩下自己，必须开心的活下去。我觉得他的情人说的对，我们应该努力开心的活下去。No matter in what kind of situation.

导演和剧作家赖声川和王伟忠The outstanding performers

人人手中都拿著包。这是宝岛一村送的宝岛一村包。

约定? 守约? 算了吧!

这是另一首约定，我最爱的王菲唱的。这首歌我听了十二年。到了现在我还几乎每天都在听。

每一个人，每天都在给不同的承诺。定下不同的约定。但是，真真会守约定人，又有几个?

My Family Recipes (4) -1 Commodities Pot or 1 Pot Goods" 一品锅

Preparation for Ingredients
Some Ah Sam skins
Some dried chilies
1KG Chinese mustard. Cut it to 3 inches long.
Prepare some chicken/roasted duck/roasted pork

Preparation for seasonings
Adequate of oyster sauce
Adequate of light soya sauce

Adequate of dark soya sauce
Adequate of tomato sauce
Adequate of sugar
Adequate of salt

Method
Boil a 1/3 pot of water.
Put in all the ingredients and cook for 1.5 hour
Put in all the seasonings and cook for 10 minutes.

My Family Recipes (3) - Fried Chinese Sausage and Chinese 蒜

Prepare some garlic

Prepare some Chinese Sausages and cut slices

Prepare some Chinese 蒜 and cut slicesHeat up some oil, deep fry garlic till fragrant.Fry the Chinese Sausage till fragrantPut in the Chinese 蒜 and fry together with the Chinese Sausage.

Add some light soya sauce and some water, otherwise is going to be very dry.

My Family Recipes (2) - Black Moss and Dried Oysters好事发财

Preparation for sea cucumber (3 days)
1) Put the dry sea cucumbers to clear water for 12 hours
2) Change clear water. Boil the sea cucumber for 5 minutes
3) Leave the sea cucumbers there for one day (24 hours)
4) Change clear water. Boil the sea cucumber for 5 minutes (2nd time)
5) Leave the sea cucumbers there for one day (24 hours)
6) Cut the sea cucumbers’ stomach and clear the organs.
7) Cut the sea cucumbers to 2 inches long

Preparation for black moss发菜
1) Put the black moss into clear water for 1 hour2) Wash it (to clear the sand if any)

Preparation for dried oysters
1) Put the dried oysters into clear water for 1 hour
2) Wash it (to clear the sand if any)

Preparation for Ingredients
Some garlic (chopped)
Some roasted pork (cut to slice)

Preparation for seasonings

Adequate of dark soya sauce
Adequate of oyster sauce
Adequate of light soya sauce

Method
1) Heat up some oil, deep fry onions and garlic till fragrant. 2) Put one bowl of water and the seasonings. Put in the dried oysters and roasted pork and cook for 20 minutes till it soft. 3) Put in black moss and sea cucumbers. Cook for 5-7 minutes.