| | It has been almost 2 months that I have not written anything on this blog, sure feels longer than that.
Well, for starters, I managed to get an excellent deal from Malaysia Airlines to fly back at the end of the year -
28 November to be precise, a day before my dad's birthday, just in time just in time. I remember paying almost 2 grand from my last trip back but got it at about $1200 this time, what a blessing. Will be back till early Jan, so looking forward to spend some time with my family and to visit my little niece Audrey.
There is a new scheme that is available in most companies, employees are able to buy additional leave and instead of treated as 'unpaid leave', the leave is actually taken out of your gross salary. Hence, your entire gross salary will be reduced for the year and you pay less tax at the same time - fantastic idea I would say, especially with all the news about retrenchment and redundancies, this is a good way of reducing cost while at the same time maintaining the current employment levels. That is how I was able to take an extended leave in Malaysia - family time before money, that is what I think.
On a sadder note, Michael Jackson passed away on 26 June 2009. Although it didn't impact me as much as most people, I have to say it was quite a shocking event. I was working with my audit team when my manager told me all of a sudden about the breaking news - thought he was pulling my leg! My manager pulling a fast one on me? Turns out to be true, luckily I didn't say something stupid like 'Oh really, heard Celine Dion met him in his grave' (cos my manager hails from Canada). Good on you David for restricting your tongue.
Goes to show that life is short and unexpected, a good reminder to us all to live it to the fullest. I am sure MJ wanted to bounce back on his feet with the last 50 concerts he was supposed to commence next month, but death came a few weeks too early. What do we do with today is the question we should always ask ourselves. It is never too late to change a habit, or overcome a fear, or achieve our dreams or anything for that matter.
By the way, did you know that my name David was taken from David Copperfield when I was about 4/5 years old? True, and my brother's name Michael was in fact taken from Michael Jackson. Wonder how this has impacted him? Well, whatever it is, it is not where we got our names from that matters, its how we want people to remember our names that is more important.
Congrats to my housemate Jay for his engagement to Robyn, it is a wonderful thing to see two people in love taking the next step (and to cure the insatiable itch of the baby-making process - marriage is the right way to do it)
David
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| | Posted 6/28/2009 2:47 PM - 47 Views - 0 eProps - 0 comments
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