Its new year eve. 2008 is finally coming to an end. Was getting a haircut today when I heard this woman lament 2008. It was a bad year for her. I don’t think she is the only one in these troubled times. I am sure many today will be glad when it strikes midnight and a new year begins. 2009 will be a new start.
But to be honest, 2008 wasn’t too bad for me personally. Sure there were bad times. But there were good times too. And all in all, on the balance, it was good. Of course it could have been better. So like everyone else, i too hope and pray for a better 2009.
2008. Lots of things happened. All of us will have different high and low points. Let me get the worst part over first. It has to do with the illness of a close family member. That is always tough. We don’t appreciate people enough until we are going to lose them. I won’t go into details. It is too personal.
Internationally, I guess the biggest thing about 2008 for me is the election of Obama in the US presidential elections. No I don’t think he is going to ’save’ the USA and the world. I do think it is symbolically important. Like it or not, the USA is the most influential country in the world today, not just economically and militarily, but also culturally through the mass media. So for the USA to elect a relatively young charismatic half black man to the top executive post in the country is huge! There is hope for human kind after all!
Of course the other thing is the economic mess the world is in at the moment. But enough has been said about this I am sure. Thankfully, it hasn’t affected me personally much except that horrible period when oil prices escalated to incredible levels.
On the Singapore front, I guess the most significant thing for me unfortunately is th Mas Selamat escape. We are fallible after all. The efficiency we expect from our system failed. It resulted in a huge man hunt that was unprecedented in Singapore. In fact, it even affected me personally as my place of work is in the vicinity of the escape. Hopefully we learnt the right lessons from this unfortunate incident.
In sports, I know many would laud some of the achievements of Singapore sports. No real impact on me. Unfortunately I am not a fan of engaging foreign talent to represent a nation in sports. Something seems odd about that. Ok for private teams, but a national team? So for me, the highlight was the achievements of Manchester United winning the premier league and the Champions league. Almost as good as 1999. I have supported Man U since 1977. Many of you weren’t even born yet. Odd I know. When I was studying in the UK, my friends were amused that this Chinese guy from half the world away knew more about Man U than most living in Manchester. Ha! Ha! This year, I remember sittig in a hotel room in Adelaide watching Man U win the Champins League. A wonderful warm feeling in a very cold Adelaide night.
On the personal front, as mentioned earlier, it was good on the whole. I got to travel which I love. Besides my annual work trip to China, I also got to travel to Australia on a work trip. I also travelled to the Czech republic, Hungary, Poland, Austria and Hong Kong. So that was good. At work, I have always believed that if I made a difference to the life of at least one young person, I would count it as a good year professionally. I believe I did. I also met wonderfully young people who gave me as much as I tried to give them. I really appreciate all of you. Thanks for making my life that bit better. I hope I made yours a bit better too. In my family life, things were generally good.
So I look forward to 2009. I hope it wil be a good year for all of us.
Happy New Year to all!!!
This is random but Mr L!! I have 44 members as of current in less than 24 hours. 18, to be exact. Hee.
Cool! Somehow I have a feeling you all just have too much time on your hands these days. Ha! Ha! Enjoy your time together next week!
hehe. too much time? We all need time to stone, besides all the fun that we try to have right now…
Good to have ‘too much time’ to think and attend to ourselves, right!:D
hi mr low! you’re so cool, you actually do know that our class is meeting up next week! haha
have a nice weekend!
Oh god, LW, I have a feeling I actually know what you are talking about. You do have too much time on your hands. I was absolutely horrified when I received the invitation.
No la like what HH said we do have a need for times like this! I’ve been keeping myself occupied this holiday, actually. In fact I had accomplished quite a lot this holiday and I’m proud of myself!
Ha! Ha! Yes, it is good to have time for yourself to do stuff just for yourself. Even if it is ‘funny’ things! And too much ‘thinking’ not good ya? Makes us ‘think’ of weird things. Accomplishment is good. ‘Stoning’ is also good. That is what breaks are for. Enjoy yourselves. These are the good times you will remember for a long time. Miss you all! Well most of you. Ha!
mr l i can’t help but say you really do sound drunk in your comment!!
He’s high. What else. Life is all roses for him, apparently.
“high on life” is good. One wishes that “life is all roses”. It never is unfortunately. But we choose to be happy or wallow. I try to choose to be happy.
I bet it’s the post countdown/fireworks/booze euphoria talking.
That, or it’s chronic. :/
heh. life is a bed of roses. the thorns, the flowers, the leaves, the ants, snails, cat poo:) Not all fine and good, but worth the venture.
Mr L, your blog is dying.
Oh I took your advice and went full arts. :X
Hiya! Great to hear from you. Hope you are enjoying yourself there. Well, as long as you are happy with what you are doing, that is the most important thing. As for this blog, still not decided. Maybe I shouldn’t be so open with my thoughts after all. Drop by when you are around!