[ People Whom I’ll never forget ]

A lot of people passed through our lives each and everyday but often little made as much as some of them whom you have shared tears or blood with. They could be your friend, your family, your classmates, someone whom you loved or some whom you’ve only managed to know a little.

These are the people whom I’ll never forget.. & I hope you are one of them…

Name :- Eric Lim Zhi Hao
Last saw :- Around Late 1988..
Venue :- Min Xin Primary School
Expected to be :- Somewhere in Holland/Singapore

Eric Lim was one of my classmates in primary school, someone whom I’m quite close with. Someone who would joined me in the things I do when I was young.

We went for tuition classes together at our neighborhood and I started my first lesson with him. Somehow we clicked and became close friends who shared secrets with.

I remembered one day, before our usual tuition class, he asked me to go to one of the playgrounds behind the blocks. We were sitting at the swings and there were much silence, I sensed something wrong so I asked him what’s up.

He didn’t say anything. He just cried as there was no way to hold back tears from a 9yr old.

“My parents are going to Holland and I will be leaving with them soon”

I didn’t said much to him either, except to cheer him up telling him that Holland is a beautiful place and you can see windmills & Dutch ladies milking cows.

“Hey friend, gonna miss you man” he just said.
“Don’t worry, we can still contact each other through letters” I proposed.
“ And if we keep on contact, we will meet up one day” I continued.

“Really? We will?” he dried his tears.

“Yes, and when I grow up and earn enough money, I will go to Holland to visit you then you must bring me around!”

He left very soon after our last meeting at the playground.

We tried to keep contact through letters for the first year.. then the letters was exchanged on a longer period before we finally lost contact.

It’s strange for a 9 year old to be able to keep that kind of promise and this have always been one of the friends whom I hope to see.

I don’t know where is he or how is he doing now. Maybe he would have forgotten our friendship or that insignificant remarks we made 18years ago.

But as a friend, I know I would never forget this person.

And if I ever see him again I would simply wanna asked him “hey pal, how’s life?”


Anntonii Zenix Lin Shun Yi

September 6, 2006

[ Music heals thy soul ]

What is your favorite lesson when you were in school?

Well, mine was somewhat associated with music and choir singing. One of the reasons why I like it so much is maybe because you won’t feel so bad if you are not good at it. Unlike most other subjects which determines your “be soooooo damned” future in later stage of life.

Music is something which is felt within, I guess. It’s an art to a certain extend... because it’s either you are good or simply not! ~ It’s hard to get a mark, except certain grades which nobody bothers.

The good ones will usually entertain the rest of the class with their vocals whereas the bad ones also entertain the class with a somewhat different way, as most of the time we were all roared with laughter upon hearing something which is so alienate.

Do you still remember the songs you used to sing when you were young? I remembered liking a particular when I was young. I didn’t know who the singer was except that I find the lyrics very meaningful to some extend. Hey I was only 8 that time and recently, with the help of some rusty memories of the lyrics, I managed to trace to the original singer.

[ Today ]
Vocal: John Denver* Written by: Randy Sparks

CHORUS: Today while the blossoms still cling to the vine

I'll taste your strawberries,

I'll drink your sweet wine

A million tomorrows shall all pass away

Ere I forget all the joy that is mine today

I'll be a dandy and I'll be a rover

You'll know who I am by the song that I sing

I'll feast at your table, I'll sleep in your clover

Who cares what the morrow shall bring?

CHORUS I can't be contented with yesterday's glory

I can't live on promises winter to spring

Today is my moment and now is my story

I'll laugh and I'll cry and I'll sing

People have told me that music is the only common language around the world with so many races & religion. I guess that explains why people would go to the extend of “stealing” music not being afraid of getting caught.

Have you come across a song that is associated with you through a difficult time? It could be a slow song, an happy song.. a sad song which signifies your heartache?

Well I do….

and below are some songs which mean something to me in a way or another

Expose – I’ll never get over you, get it over me
A memory of the first person I liked, well the title said it all doesn’t it?

Tiffany – If Love is blind.
· Sometimes I really wished if Love is blind…

Mariah Carey – Hero.
· I guess I’ll never be able to be the hero to protect her…

XJapan – Tears
· To think I can actually cried when I hear this single.. and the story of us which was not meant to be.

Guang Liang – Shi Ni Bian Le Ma? >> ‘Are you the one that has changed ?’
· Do you know when I sang this song in the KTV, I shed a tear and sounded so much like Guang liang but you weren’t there to see.

Faye Wong / Chen Xiao Dong – Wo Yuan Yi >> ‘I Will’
· A song which I hope I will be able to sing on my wedding night.

The list of songs will continue as our story goes, every song means a different story with different people. What is more important is that the story that was told within the song. Somewhere out there, I guess there will be people whom might relate their songs with the ones which have hit me the deepest.

If you don’t believe me, think of a person, then think of a song which correlate the two of you together, then play the song. That person will appear in your dream.

And you will have a beautiful dream tonight. ......

Because Music not only heals your heart, it also heals your soul.....

Anntonii

August 23, 2006

[ I like it when it rains ]

I like it when it rains.. it gives me a feeling that the world is going through a cleaning process, some people would think the world is taking a bath, others would think its the heaven’s weeping over someone.

A lot of people I know like to sleep in when it rains, maybe they feel that the comfort of staying in a sheltered premises is a form of blessings compared to the millions that had lost their homes due to the thunderstorm and hurricane. I’ve never wished for rain to come at night, that’s when both my parents are out working.

I don’t like to sleep when it rains, although my piggish nature would probably allow me to sleep through any weather.

I like to look out the windows and just look at the view of the world drench in almost every bit of space. Children loves to play in the rain, maybe its because they feel strange that water can actually from the sky and not only from the hose in the house.

When I’m outside, I would love to sit back in cafeteria and look at people’s reaction whenever there’s a rain. Some would dash for cover, some would walk slowly, others will continue to wait for their love ones with an umbrella.

Will you share your umbrella with a stranger if you were waiting to cross a road? Well at least I’ve tried and the reaction I got was rather good as both of us were partially drenched but warm at heart.

Recently, I read up a book which talks about the first drop of rain, which is said that like love, the first drop of rain is fated to drop onto a person. The last drop of rain is always visible…

Who would have forgotten we used to sing this song?

"Rain, Rain go away
Come again another day…."

I wished it would rain now…

- Expiry Date On Life & Love -

You will realized its existence, following up closely to see if the date is near. Upon reaching, you will try your best to use it. All these effort, prevents it from being wasted. All these monitoring, prevents it from going bad. All these, are the effects of an expiry date on a certain food can.

If you can remember clearly, humans are very sensitive towards expiry date.
“ Hey, the milk you bought expired yesterday! ”
“ Better finish up the mixed fruit cans before it expires..”

Truth is, not only food comes with an expiry. Many things in life too comes with a special date where the end is the end. Things like product warranty, library books, video rental. Their sole purpose is of course, act as a painful reminder that some things just doesn’t belong to you.

Sometimes you wonder, does life has an expiry date? Does love has? Well it all depends on your availability to secure. Every organs in our body will spoil one day if we do not maintain it. Every relationship will part its way if they never maintain it. Life deteriorates through time.

The expiry date for love often seems infinite when a relationship starts. Couples will do the lovely things together, experience for the first time hope in living. Then with time, practical things begin to creep in. Time, money, work, family… slowly begs for attention. Friends soon becomes a factor for lesser meetings, credit debts mount the letterbox and outings became less grand. The lengthy meetings and long working hours soon caught up with your youthful mentality. With every aspect… life soon becomes very tiring.

You yearn for a holiday, yet end up arguing over where to go. Arguing will become part of your life together. Maybe it will lead to the last chapter of your love story. The love has expired…

And you ask yourself what happens after a certain thing expires? Do we always discard it away or do we neglect it’s existence? I believe there’s an expiry date in everything for if there’s a beginning, there will be an end.

What matter most is the times that were spent among this period. Love will expired one day but memories will not. Hopefully it is this that keeps us going on till the day when we are all expired.

[Life @ Work]

I guess many of us work not because we want to, but because we have to. I'm like almost every other workers who refuse to accept the fact that we are not born with a silver spoon, if not a gold one.

Just changed my job coming to 5 months as a Manufacturing Supervisor in a MNC. Life is hectic for me as I'm not a person who know how to refuse my workload. Everday we live, breath & talk about the 4M & 1E in Production.

[ Man - Material - Machine - Method - Environment ]

Legend had it said that anyone who can master the 5 elements will be able to turn the waves of Production. Then there's something about

[ Plan - Lead - Organize - Staffing - Control ]

which is self-explaining in the means of running the production line.
Then there's the 3 Es.

[ Efficiency - Effectivity - Economical ]

Then there's the 5 method of solving problems, 4W1H

[ What - Where - Who - Why - How ]

Its surprising, as I write... I realize how much I've learned from my 2 mentors. Everyday they are showing me how to handle the line, not really teaching but allowing my free play to adapt my knowledge to put into good use.

They've never actually train me in practical sense.. just plainly "whacked" me with things which they find fault in. People who don't understand their intention would think they are trying to make my life difficult with their demands.

Anyway I've developed my 5 'A's

Ambitious + Aggressiveness + Advantage + Assurance = Achievements

1) Have an ambitious mindset that you are going to lead your colleagues one day, for now it's up to you to convince them.

2) You need to be more aggressive than your Boss. He says 1 week, you give him within 3 days.

3) Know your advantages/disadvantages over your peers, work on them to overtake their capability & job scope.

4) Always give people a sense of assurance that you will do a good job. Not only give but also ensure the quality of your work.

With all that in mind, achievements will not be far away...

I've never wanted to climb in this company, more of taking it as a learning ground with mentor coaching. But people find me too ambitious that I'm aiming the manager's seat everyday. Not that they don't believe I can, but whether will I do a good job if given the oppournity is more important.

For now, I don't even want to think about climbing as I've not even learned how to walk...but I will not give up... not because I'm determined to succeed but I'm commited to...

Lastly, I've come to understand a quote about leadership.. well its quoted by me... maybe you've hear/see similarities.

" A Good Leader is not someone who shows how good he is but make the team realize how much potential each & other has "

[ * Binding & Bonding Love *]

People always say finding love is very difficult. Often they have spend countless of attempts to seek the lost souls of their counterparts. Many past attempts had failed me, leading me thinking that finding love is tough and would propably never go into a relationship.

Then without a speed warning, love hit me as I start my first relationship 4 years ago... on this day.. rather on this night.. with someone I barely know enough.

Then I thought, finding love is already so hard.. keeping it shouldn't be anything harder I guess.

Times passed, I have to live in 2 person's shoe now.. as so to speak.

I must know certain dates, I must know her likeness, hateness, fear, rage, feelings, emotions, goals.. every little things which I don't even cared for myself.

I must know what to say.. what not to.. How to react, how not to.. when to there for her.. when not to.. The things which I like but she don't.., the things I dread but she loves..

I've never paid so much attention to myself for almost 20 over years.. but there I was, keeping every little things about her..

I never give up.. because I knew she too was doing the same things that I'm doing for her. From there on.. I view love as more realistic feeling than romantic soap operas.

Loving someone doesn't mean you go up to the sky and pluck the moon to please her.

Loving someone means you have to understand her, her needs, her feelings to please her.

Understanding people isn't that hard...? well think again.. when most of the time we are complaining people don't understand us..

Over the years in a relationship.. I begin to fall into the trap like every attached male adults in Singapore.. working headlessly towards the fundings for future marriage, for house, for car..

I’m probably too busy or too drained out over my work.. and my studies.. All these to work towards the goal a good life towards the future.. I’m a calculative person & will do what my means to have a balanced life.

Time flows as little did I know I've already lost the little things that we used to do together..

Things like going to Bras Basah or the park behind my camp to just sit down and talk... our movies sessions have decrease & we don't meet as much as we do in the past.. I'm a simple person when it comes to relationship.. as walking with her in a park would have be enough..

I guess people would just say the relationship have matured or saturated.. What's already happened will not change.. I can only blame myself for putting too much commitment in my studies & job that I may have neglected her.. her needs, her feelings, her emotions..

Looking back.. I can't say I've done alot for her as her boyfriend.. I can't ask for much to be pleased...

Looking back, I finally understand the meaning of binding & bonding of a relationship. Time will pass, Things will change but the memory of love will remain as both of us walk together towards the future.. 4 years is not a very long time to understand one totally.. but it's enough to let you know that the person is very special to you.. deep within your hearts...

I find a part of Collin Raye's "Love me" very meaningful...

""If you get there before I do

Don't give up on me I'll meet you when my chores are through

I don't know how long I'll be But I'm not gonna let you down

Darling wait and see

And between now and then Til I see you again I'll be loving you Love, Me."

Anntonii Lim