Changes!!!

Dear All,

I've managed to get everything together. From now on, Errolyn's Ten Cents for Your Thoughts on www.errolyn.com will instead be published on http://errolyn.blogspot.com.

Thanks for your patronage and please spread the word around.

Death Doesn't Become Him....

Something awful happened at the office yesterday. A colleague paid for going to work with his life.

I didn't know him very well but after his death, everybody has a snippet of information or story about him. He was on the way to work and got hit by a lorry which then ran over his head. Busloads of fellow colleagues came by the cursed stretch of road but nobody had any idea that it was someone they worked with everyday. They said his head was covered with newspapers but his body was there for all to see and the unlucky driver of the lorry was actually trying to hide his body and motorbike so he could escape! The driver of the lorry is now in hospital.....or so they say.

Everybody's days are numbered. It is only us foolish humans who do not realise this and continue to argue, insult, cheat, lie and hate with reckless abandon. I have pretty much made it a habit now to tell the people important to me that they are......sometimes though, not enough with my family.....weird how we can tell boyfriends and girlfriends that "I Love You" 15 times a day but we can't do the same for family. Only when tragedy befalls, do people go home and 'cerita' about it and lament "Aiyo, life is short....We should savour and cherish each other...." but then promptly forget it later that night when hubby forgets to take the trash out.....

I have done this many times myself, but I feel that as I have gotten older and experienced more of life, I do see things differently. I tell people all the time that LIFE IS SHORT - don't make yourself suffer too much now for tomorrow - there may not be a tomorrow and you would have wasted so much time that could have been spent happy with the people who are important to you!

Nobody listens to me though.

I can't be the only one who feels this way or realises how short life is right? In which case, we should see/feel/hear a scurry of people coming to us to ask for our friendship and forgiveness and love and time - just to spend a lazy afternoon appreciating each other. And vice versa.

It's not a difficult thing to do, you just have to want to do it enough to change your mindset and lifestyle! Do it now because you know, there may not that next hour, or tomorrow.....

Take care, don't speed and love yourself and those important to you.

My thoughts and love to Mum, Dad, Janice, Lisa, Thing May, Melinda, Szu Ping, Liz, D.

Hi!!!!!!!!!

It's the beginning of newer, better and bigger things! This is a test run of a blog I set up for myself, sorry if I've got the jargon wrong but....what the heck, life isn't about getting everything right eh? Sometimes mistakes in life lead you down the most wondrous of roads!

So, anyway, I've still got the previous archives from my Ten Cents for Your Thoughts which used to be on www.errolyn.com (which as some of you know is going to be defunct at the end of Jan 06)....but maybe someday I'll have the time to transfer archives over to this new blog so everyone can have a read.......need to learn how to do that first.

Anyhoo, I hope you guys continue to enjoy this new blog - I like to think of it as my personal avenue to rant and rave, I will not apologise for my thoughts or opinions because they are mine and I can do whatever I want with them. What good is having an outlet but having to censor and police it eh? I won't go thoroughly overboard though because in the first place I do not support prejudice, racism, sexism, and whatever other -isms there are out there but sometimes I kinda lapse into my alter-ego who does sometimes practise these biases......But IT'S NOT ME!!!! :)

Seriously though, as I was saying, I find myself getting more honest and unafraid to voice my thoughts as I get older, so you may at times find some personal and potentially insulting/controversial remarks which I will publish because.....!

Thanks for reading and for those of you who will comment me in positive and not so positive ways, I will try to learn and see the good in all.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! May this year be better than the last - which shouldn't be difficult and is NOT a lot to ask!

Well, all good things must come to an end - www.errolyn.com is no more.

I shall not be renewing my domain name, it hurts me to let it go but sometimes things need to be done ya. And anyway, I will be publishing my blog still via http://errolyn.blogspot.com.

At least, that's what I am trying to do. But I think I have a couple of things more to learn about it, so til then.......

www.errolyn.com will be no more as of 24 Jan 06 so please spread the word around.

Thanks and it's been great writing this website for the past 2 years. I do sincerely hope that you will still read about me and my misadventures at 10 Cents for Your Thoughts - Chap 2. (http://errolyn.blogspot.com.)

Adios Muchacos and Mucho Amour!
(am I just screwing up every language on Earth?!!)

MARRIAGE ANYONE?

My dad thought I was crazy but I am certain I saw Elton John and his husband David Furnish (p.s. my mum called him David Furniture!!! hehehehahahahhaa) on 29 December 2005!!!

Ok, how do I know it was them right? Well, Elton looked exactly like he is – his talented fingers looked short and his face and mouth looks exactly like in his photos. He wasn’t wearing earrings and I looked, but didn’t find, a wedding ring. David Furnish had the balding head, they both had the same height and physique….. I should have just called out ‘Elton’ or something to see if he turned around.

There was also an older couple with them but I haven’t been able to identify if perhaps they were his or David’s parents – from the build though, looks like they are more probably Elton’s parents.

I just thought they must have been traveling incognito because why on earth would Sir Elton John travel on Konsortium for his honeymoon????? But it must be that Mat Salleh sense of adventure where they like to experience the local ways and see the local scenery – which would be quite hard to do if you were flying 30000 km above sea level!

He was not very friendly, didn’t smile when I let him go in front of me, perhaps didn’t really want to show me his face or whatever, but I have just been going crazy telling everybody I saw Elton John and his husband!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHAEL! 8.12
HAPPY BIRTHDAY NIGEL! 10.12

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SZUPS! 13.12
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MELINDA! 14.12
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LISA! 15.12

May you all have the best birthdays ever. This year has been a big one for us - you all know what I'm talking about (Michael - yours is one day into the new year but actually deciding to do it was huge too) and I wish all our subsequent years will only get better and better.

I couldn't have made it through this year without the support of my friends and family who have made me open up more than I ever would have and have 'rescued' me many an occasion.

I will try to make everyone proud by rising above it all like Fawkes - reborn.....

Thank you and I love you.

I was going to post an open invitation to watch Harry Potter here on my website…..but somebody has kindly agreed to watch it with me so…..perhaps some other time.

I think it’s a great idea isn’t it that I can use my website as an informal message board to get people (of similar interests) together. For example, I would like to watch ‘Rumour Has It’, if there’s anybody out there who is also interested in watching and meeting someone new at the same time, feel free to drop me your contact number so we can perhaps meet up. No guarantees though that we will get together! All depends on whether we can ‘click’ on the phone or not. Hheheheheheeeeee……

Perhaps I should study it properly and see how I can turn it into a reality. Although perhaps I have to pilot it – by trying it out on myself!

And it can run both ways, if there are people out there with similar interests – dance, music, movies, traveling, reading, shopping, riding, ice skating – let me know and we can endeavour to meet up!

Which reminds me, mum told me Patrizio is coming to town! The guy has got such a fantastic voice! Better than Il Divo and a different kind of good from Josh Groban. (I guess you can kinda guess what kind of music I listen to! Add country music and R&B to the list – if I say Britney Spears I would have gone too far right? But hey, I think the lady can really entertain!!!) Anyway, Russell Watson is also coming to town with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra for YTL’s 50th Anniversary – lovely (Check out the 5 day itinerary). Didn’t think he sounded very good the first couple of times I heard him but recently on a trailer, the man’s voice sounded pretty ok!

Ok, the invitation goes out now – I have registered for balloted free tickets to the 5 day extravaganza on www.ytlcommunity.com. Please leave your name and number if you’re interested in attending with me (preferably if you’ve endeavoured to get the tickets too!) and tell me why you wanna go!

Ooooohhh, life has been so busy for me – well at least the past two days. But I realize that now I spend time in the office without feeling like I want to rush off home. Which I guess can be bad in the long run cos there’s definitely more to life than just work. But for the mean time……it works.

Lee Yoon-Hyung, the Samsung heiress has just committed suicide in New York.

Well! That kinda debunks the general myth that money makes the world go round and money makes you happy. It seems that she was depressed. A pretty girl born with a golden spoon in her mouth with her life beautifully laid out in front of her (she was only 26)…..what else could a person ask for.


It’s sad that I had just written about depression, falling into it and escaping from it and here we see someone who was not able to find the strength to climb out of the rut. If you remember an old cartoon, can’t remember the name of it but once in a while it shows the wife sitting in her ‘Well of Sulkiness/ Petulance/Peevishness/Moodiness…..’; after a while her husband will come and try to get her out of it, sometimes she’d acquiesce, sometimes she’d not and well (pun!) in her bad temper for just a wee bit longer……

It can seem funny in a cartoon strip but when it comes to real life, it is serious business!

Below please find the 9 classic symptoms of depression (from the University of Pennsylvania) and always remember: ‘When a depressed person talks about suicide, it’s NOT a joke!’

1. Depressed mood for the day (sadness or despair or irritable or tense)
2. Disturbed appetite or change in weight
3. Disturbed sleep
4. Psychomotor retardation or agitation (an abnormal slowing of movement that is directly related to brain activity)
5. Loss of interest in previously pleasurable activities, inability to enjoy usual hobbies or activities
6. Fatigue or loss of energy
7. Feelings of worthlessness; excessive and/or inappropriate guilt
8. Difficulty concentrating or thinking clearly
9. Morbid or suicidal

Please also be aware of masked depression”It is possible for people to suffer from major depression without their friends and loved ones realizing it. Their depression may be masked because they don't talk about their low mood. Instead, they may complain of various physical problems (e.g., indigestion, heartburn, muscle or joint pains, and chronic headaches). Further questioning may reveal that depression is responsible for their symptoms.”

Anyway, no more sad stories - look out for miracles next!

Taiwan, land of......what?

I honestly cannot say what I really liked, found fascinating about the country I visited for 6 days. It was supposed to be the best time of the year to visit - Autumn......temperature was in its mid 20s (read: hot as hell)! And we went to beautiful places like the Blooming Oasis where some Korean movie shot their scenes......alll 5 patches of blooming and almost blooming little flowers. Then we went to the Master Bear resort where we could try out hot pools.....yeay! It rained and there were gigantic earthworms all writhing on the earth which disguested the heck out of my little bare toes!

Oh yes, we also went to the Ah Mei Store which sold powdered fetus of deer which is
guaranteed to cure asthma, we went to the Taroko Gorge which is allegedly one of the wonders of the earth (!!!!) with its huge long bed of gravel.....I'm told it's a more awesome sight when there are typhoons and the Gorge is filled to its brim - well, unlucky me who wasn't there during a typhoon!

Ummmmmmm, food was always rice and dishes - pretty much the same soup, vegetables, pork and chicken. There was one night of wonderful dining though, at the gorgeous and unique Tree House Restaurant - it's shaped like a tree house on the inside with its furniture looking like it was simply carved out of wood and cutlery and plates and mugs that look like they belong with Fred Flinstone.

The fried oysters and wan than mee were supposed to be good there but oh so bland! The stuff you buy from road side stalls were nothing much to shout about too though the Taiwanese seemed to enjoy 'lor bak pooi'and 'or mee'(Hokkien).....

Visited the 101 Tower of course, KLCC is much better-looking and awe-inspiring. Although I saw (and spoke to!) the most gorgeous looking Chinese man I have ever seen in my entire life! He was tall enough, big enough, beautiful enough and spoke English like a native tongue - what's he doing behind the counter at Bvlgari????

The one thing I can honestly say I enjoyed were the night markets - namely the See Men Tong in Taipei and Shih Lin Night Market which are quite large and sell fantastic shoes, bags and fashion. Knowing me with my penchant for shoes, I came back with six pairs - well actually only 5 and mum gave me a pair she bought.

Knee high suede boots for only 390 New Taiwan Dollars = RM46.40 (of which I have 2 pairs), high heels for the same amount, espadrilles......OOOOOOHHHHHHH!!!! though some silly spoil sports on the tour always wanted to only spend 2 hours at the night markets because, the wimps!, wanted to go back to the hotel and sleep - STAY AT HOME WHY DON'T YOU!!!

So, that was my Taiwan trip - those of you thinking of using CTC (Commonwealth Tours.....or something) from Singapore - DON'T! Those of you who have Joanne as your tour leader.....buyer beware......

OK, second part to my very sloppily written story of Tubby, Beautiful and Singer Dolphin. I do firstly, want to apologise for the atrocious way I wrote the story but it was the best I could do at that point in time.

Nobody's come back to me to say how they'd like for the story to end so here I go, making my own ending up.

Tubby Dolphin sees the real sunlight in spite of the temporary, false light he saw when he met Singer Dolphin and obssessed about her.....not for long though and he misses everything he's ever had the good fortune to build with Beautiful Dolphin. But The Great Sea Whelk says, "Everything will become clear in time, no matter how bad it seems now, no matter how good it seems now, in the end, you will see what was meant for you".

And so, life goes on in the Undersea World of the Dolphins.....Beautiful Dolphin comes out a little ragged around the edges, perhaps more jaded but also thankful that The Great Sea Whelk stepped in to save the future. Tubby has his life to lead and Singer has her own life to lead - neither are important to Beautiful anymore and she can live with that finally.

Sometimes it's hard to see the truth when you're too deeply embroiled in it. But when you do see it, you realise it was right all along. The Great Sea Whelk doesn't lie and is not wrong - only sea mammals make that mistake for love, for greed, for inconsideration.....

I personally believe that Tubby Dolphin did not, does not and perhaps never will realise what he's lost - be it in terms of love or friendship or genuine care and mindfulness for him, but that is something he has to learn for himself.