Archive for March, 2009

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The Impending Move

31/03/2009

The downturn has brought many changes for many. My friend, J is no exception.

I sat down for tea with her today, listening to her woes.  She works two jobs, and both jobs are quiet. The lack of customers is causing her to re-think, and to look at ways of saving costs. Downsizing is the last resort as her staff are close to her.

One thing she will definitely look into is her venue for operations. She needs to find a cheaper place to base herself.

As she talked, it occurred to me that she would need the services of good moving trucks. Her office furnishings are her own. When relocating, she will take them with her. There are some good companies – ones that only charge you for the space you use, rather than the entire truck regardless. She needs to scout around, and she was grateful for the tip as she would need to make the move soon.

I do hope things work out well for her, and for many of my friends in similar situations.

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A New Look!

30/03/2009

For those of you who haven’t visited my house, there is, on the top floor, one whole wing dedicated to moi! As you enter my bedroom, turn left and you will see all the way to my library and office space. From there, my office has an adjoining door to my daugher’s bedroom.

“Wow,” you might say.

However, whilst it looks nice and spacious overall, my problem starts with this close proximity.

You see, I sometimes like to work late. But I don’t want to disturb my daughter, especially if she has school early the next morning. So I had been pondering on and off – what should I do to minimize noise with minimal cost, especially during this downturn time?

Then I discovered area rugs! They are amazingly beautiful and functional rugs which do not need to cost an arm and a leg! Furthermore, they help to cut down noise – a big plus for a heavy walker like myself! Because they come in all shapes, shades and sizes, it is easy to furnish and change the appearance of any room or space. What’s more, because these rugs are made from many types of materials, I need not fear that Hubby’s sensitive nose will react to the fibers used – just choose the right Hubby’s-Nose-Friendly type!

So I have been doing a bit of scouting around. Much to my delight, I found good sites for quality and yet cheap rugs easily available, with lots of pictures to give me ideas what colour scheme and design I ought to put into the office. There are presently some good and discounted offers online too!

I can just imagine it – walk into my bedroom, look left, and see a nice area marked out as my office space by this nice matching rug. An outstanding idea for a new look! I am going rug-buying soon!

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Posted in Home, House | 2 Comments »

Fresh and Right Starts

26/03/2009

It’s happening all over the world. With the downturn of economy, people are having to find other ways to make a living. Where I live is no exception.

Recently, I was invited to visit a friend’s new business venture. He decided to open an eatery – the second of my friends to do such a thing. Whilst they seem to be doing all right, extra effort seems to be necessary because their name is not yet established.

It makes me wonder whether this was the right way to go. Would it be better if they had instead got into a business with a name? Like getting a franchise instead? franchises are names which people recognise and that would make it easier for them, and there are so many out there that they could have signed up with….

Perhaps this is something to bear in mind the next time I hear of another friend who needs to go into new business venture.

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A Monkey Story

24/03/2009

This is a silly old but fun story. Enjoy….

A hat-seller who was passing by a forest decided to take a nap under the trees, and left his basket of hats by his side.

A few hours later, he woke up and realized that all his hats were gone. He looked up and to his surprise, the tree was full of monkeys and they had taken his hats. He sat down and thought of how he could get his hats down. While thinking he started to scratch his right arm.

To his surprise, he noticed the monkeys doing the same thing.

So he took off his own hat (which was still on his head), the monkeys did exactly the same thing.

An idea came to him – he took his hat and threw it on the ground! And yes the monkeys did so too! Thus he finally managed to get all his hats back.

But the story does not end here.

Fifty years later, his grandson also became a hat-seller. He had this monkey story from his father when one day, just like his grandfather, he passed by the same forest. It was very hot, and he too, took a nap under a tree and left the hats on the grass. He woke up and suddenly realized that all his hats were taken by the monkeys on the tree.

He remembered his grandfather’ s story, so he decided to check it out.

He scratched his head and the monkeys did likewise.

He took down his hat and fanned himself and again the monkeys did the same.

Now, very convinced of his grandfather’ s method, he threw his hat on the floor!

But to his surprise, the monkeys still held on to their hats!!!

Then one monkey climbed down the tree, grabbed the hat on the floor, gave him a slap and said.”Do you think only you had a grandfather?”

(I did say it was silly didn’t I? Did you chuckle?)

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Posted in Fun | 5 Comments »

Unconditional

23/03/2009

This morn, Hubby and I sent our youngest off to school, blessing her as we usually did so. Then we went for breakfast and did some grocery shopping.

During our journey, the car radio happened to be on. The topic was to ask women to call in and express what they liked their husbands to do, or how wonderful their husbands were.

Listening to some of the callers made me consider how difficult it can be to express unconditional love. I remember thinking those same things which the callers expressed – that Hubby would do this and that for me, would express this and that to me, etc. That was a long time ago…..

But I have to say that Hubby didn’t do similarly towards me. His love for me was UNCONDITIONAL. No strings attached.

This is not blind love. He could see flaws in me. He knew I had many areas to work on in my life. But he also knew that the God Who brought us together had begun His work in me and would finish it. That’s what Scriptures promised. And all he had to do was to love me – that’s what Scriptures said he should do.

So he did.

That unconditional accepting love for me was the first thing that endeared him to me.

Unlike any other person I had known, from the moment he saw past the ugly duckling to what He believed God had in store for me, he has been steadfast and never tried to change me. He let God do the improvements while he prayed!

It took me a lot longer to value to myself. I had to work hard to believe not just in my head but also in my heart that the promises God gave applied to me. Having a Hubby like this helped so much!

Now after more than twenty-six years together, we chuckled together as we listened to the radio. And we give thanks for the years past, secure in our love for and commitment to one another for the future. But most of all, secure in the love that brought us together – God’s unconditional love.

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Posted in Marriage | 4 Comments »

Change the Bed!

22/03/2009

Of late, I have had trouble sleeping. Having a cough doesn’t help, but what makes it worse is that our bed seems to be creaking!

For those who don’t know, prior to moving house, we had been sleeping with a mattress on the floor. Then months after moving into our house, we were still sleeping without a bed frame!

Almost half a year later, we finally bought a base for the mattress.

The only problem is, because it is not in one piece, the parts rub together at the slightest movement and creak!

I should have gone to a place with proper bed frames to choose a good one and not tried to shortcut way out. Perhaps I should persuade Hubby that we DO need a change!

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Posted in House, Household, Lifestyle | 2 Comments »

Important and Urgent

21/03/2009

What is important need not be urgent.

What is urgent is sometimes not terribly important.

Think about it.

But there are the urgent and important.

Those are the ones to deal with first.

That’s called prioritizing. That’s called time management. That’s called organizing.

That’s what will set one leader / worker apart from another.

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Posted in Work | 2 Comments »

Countdown

20/03/2009

It’s the second half of March already; almost the end of the first quarter of the year. In less than one month, my second one will leave for futher studies. My oldest might go along too. My foster son will follow a little while after. That will leave Hubby, my daughter and I.

Final preparations haven’t really begun. Except that last night, we got chatting at the dinner table about what to expect when living away from home. No household help to do things! Not just being concerned about studies but to manage time for eating and resting and cleaning clothes ….

How DOES one prepare one’s young for leaving home? I don’t recall much of my preparations. I left home at seventeen to work and study in England.

I survived. And I think pretty well too. So will they.

Now, what’s next for preparations…..

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Posted in Family | 2 Comments »

A Funny Finger

19/03/2009

Imagine you got involved in an accident.

Imagine, horrors of horrors, you slice off a finger.

That would not be funny.

Some would consider it a tragedy.

But imagine you have an irrepressible spirit (which I hope you do!)

It makes it easy for people to joke around people like you.

Imagine then, someone joking how you could have a bionic finger.

You, being a clever person, mull over that chance remark.

And turn up something like this –

usb-fingerA USB finger. To use, simple roll back your fingernail. Then plub your finger in.

You think my imagination has gone wild? Go read about Jerry Jalava‘s invention. (No, I didn’t make that name up either!)

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Revolution

17/03/2009

No, not the French One.

I mean this one.  For the youth. The future is now. Each one can make a difference. What more if it is united movement.

bobt01

This weekend. Will there be a lasting change I wonder….?

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