[ What's your Hobbies ? ]

“So Mr Anntonii, can you tell me what’s your hobby?”
The interviewer smiled when he saw my shocked look.

I was certainly taken aback when he asked me this question.

Here I was, being interviewed for a potential post in a well known company but I have never prepared the question he had just posted.

“ I erm…. I read… some books you know, and I club a little when I wanna destress…”

Personally, I don’t know how much truth came out of that sentence but I guess I never looked good when I supposed to.

“So what’s my hobby?”

I asked myself after the interview on my way home.

“Is hobby something you do to pass time?” “If so, that would be easy, my hobby would be to sleep through the day without having to worry about the world”

I remembered I wasn’t taught this way.

A Hobby, as much as I recalled when I first understand this word, means doing an activity which you really like and feel happy about it.

“Hobby is an activity or interest pursued outside one's regular occupation and engaged in primarily for pleasure.”

I tried to think hard, trying to recall what was the last activity which I did out of my regular occupation and engaged for pleasure..

I used to play arcade a lot.. that was a long time ago when the fundamentals of entertainment was revolving coins and characters beating up each other in the screen.

I used to party a lot and I guess I really enjoyed it. The quick rhythm at the dance floor, the friends that surround you, the spirit of togetherness.

I used to play mahjong a lot. The four of us would entertain each other even though we played through the wee hours and sometimes losing a lot of money.

I used to drink coffee with my friends a lot. We would just sit there and talk about everything under the sun, the scandals, the conspiracies, the hidden truth and the facts of life.

Of all the pleasures I had, I realized that I wasn’t doing it anymore. I didn’t play arcade for a long time, mahjong was only a Chinese New year thingy. I don’t club as much as I want to and the coffee sessions are countable.

Maybe the things that gives me the slightest pleasure is to be able to enjoy the moments with friends, family or love ones.

We can be doing nothing, yet time is well spent and pleasures find its place in you.

I finally understand what my hobby is.

“My Hobby is to spend time with my friends, my family members and my wife. We can be doing absolutely nothing but it is the time that is we spent together that reap in the moments of pleasures in life”

That’s my hobby… so what’s yours?

Anntonii Zenix Lim

September 7, 2006

[ People Whom I’ll never forget - 2 ]

Name :- Xie Rou Han
Last saw :- Around Mid 2000..
Venue :- Millenia Walk - Sins Chocolate
Expected to be :- Shanghai Louis Vutton Boutique

Sometimes its funny that you’ve last seen a person and you wonder how you and the person can lose contact over and again.

Rouhan was a junior in my secondary school where she was introduced to the whole group of us. She’s from Taiwan and speaks fluent mandarin which sounds like a news anchor to me. It was someone in our group who fancy her that actually made me closer to her. Well I was merely trying to dig out information for my buddy.

However, they didn’t got along so that chapter was closed rather quickly. But we remain contact with each other and would often chat unknowingly long hours over the phone. Maybe it was her fluent mandarin which attracts my attention that I like to listen to her speak. Oh well.. different people have taste for likeness I supposed.

The year was 1994 where we completed our O levels and venturing into different aspect of education life. It was then when we began to talk less, as we were quite a world apart.

Finally, we’ve lost contact… in 1995…

I know she went to Australia to study in RMIT after her O levels as she sent a postcard to me with her email address. Added her in ICQ but rarely see her online.

The last time I saw her was the time when she came back for holidays where she was working part-time at Sins Chocolate at mid 2000.
She aged as I saw her from far.. it took me to walk past the shop 4 times before I walked in. When she saw me, she was rather surprised that I pay her a visit as I promised I would. We talked about 5mins then it was it, I left because she was busy.

That was the last time I’ve seen her..

Well, sometimes I asked myself. Do I ever develop a liking in her? I don’t really know, maybe in 1993 yes.. or maybe not, nevertheless its no longer important anymore.

One thing for sure, Rouhan is someone who has left an imprint in my heart. Someone whom I would want to see again in my life, someone who I would like to listen to one more time.

Anntonii ZeniX

September 7, 2006

[ 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.