Reconnected by Chance

Reconnecting.

I know I should not lay too low underground and let the world spin above me for too long. And that once in a while, I should stand up, stick out my head and give shoutouts to friends and acquaintances. Or accept their shouts and high-fives. Just to reconnect.

I have to admit that I had been slowly cutting of myself from my many circles of friends, over the past few years. First, it was time constraint. I just couldn't find enough time to squeeze the growing list of friends to catch up with each time I am back, without compromising family time.

Then, there was the energy factor. Meeting up, dates, and late nights just became too taxing for me after a while. They made me lethargic and tired the following days, as I slowly grow unaccustomed to that kind of lifestyle.

After that, there were this part of my life where I just wanted to go do whatever I wanted without the slightest care and regard to others, so long that it doesn't hurt anyone. Well, I didn't succeed in that 100%, they were some who were scalded quite badly but being in that state of mind, I just proceeded forcefully. Slowly, I dropped of their radar, on my own.

After a while, you just get strike off from people's list and buried deep behind their priority list. You get what you wish, you reap what you sow.

Today, however, made me realized, sometimes old is just gold. Meeting up with old friend can be really fulfilling. It reminds you how fortunate you are that they were in your life at one point, enriching it, nurturing it. That they were part of your past had simply made your history more colourful.

My former boss and I, we met up for lunch over his favourite Malaysian dish, Bak Kut Teh. It was really a touching moment for me. To see once again after quite a while, I could only say that we are lucky to be able to meet up. The last time I met him was almost 5 and a half years ago, after he had left his local posting here.

I could only say that one of the good thing brought from the floods that hit Krung Thep in Thailand is it allowed this chance meeting. With this meeting, we then took the chance to look up for another friend who was part of the circle then. Interestingly, we managed to relocate his house and had a chat with him, albeit aided by his helpful wife and technology, as he, that friend, is now working overseas!

Reconnected by chance, the aftermath of the floods, while cruel to some, but when experienced from another perspective and life, is good to us. I shall remember this chance meeting. Maybe, one day, we might be able to have another gathering with the same group of people just like before. That would be nice!

Kimchi

A whole chinese cabbage, cut up into bite size pieces, is sitting in an oval pyrex bowl, soaking away in salt water.

In another bowl, the smell permeates from the mixture of 3 tablespoons chilli powder, paste of grounded garlics, ginger, and a whole apple, 3 spring onions sliced diagonally, and julienned pieces of almost an apple, all combined with a tablespoonful of sugar and some fish sauce.

I am watching the clock. Another hour to go. In between, a few rounds of tossing about the soaking pieces of cabbages.

Once the timer goes off, these 2 babies will go on a date together, mix around and make love and they will transform into my very own homemade kimchi!

Oh, how I can't wait! How exciting!

Stuck!

Stuck!

Have not been moving for the past week. Failure, thus far, in enabling the scanning machine caused me to defer the ambitious plan I had mind indefinitely. Although, yesterday, a thought occurred to me on another idea to try to work the machine. I must try that simple step. Otherwise, I will need to crack open my brain to fish out other means.

Stuck!

Stuck also I had been for 2 weeks now, on my intended 2nd art project. I had managed to get the important but rare ingredient, but wasted too much time pondering about the remaining common place art items. I must get the buying over by this weekend. If that's done, at least then I have will have my nights to play away leisurely.

Stucked!

I had released a little of my caged brain, I hoped, with the commencement of the job this week. I don't really need to fully utilise my capability but at least I didn't all of it while. It had been an new and interesting scope for now. Perhaps I might be bored after a fortnight, but I had given my word and I will keep to it. Right now, I am just challenging myself for two things. One is to complete it within two months, or three months tops, and two, for me to clear up all the files, on my own! The latter, if I can achieve that continuously, is really a confidence booster!