Paternal love and care

I read an article this morning. A famous doctor in Malaysia who moans and regrets his late notice of his son's problem which has led him to leap off to his death at the age of 24. He was able to fulfill all the material request of his son, but he has lack of time for him since his young age. As a result, there were hardly substantive conversation, and also lack of understanding to his inner soul. His son seems to look cool and happy from outside, but his inner side was weak to handle challenges. This is a good reflection to my decision to give up my corporate career. A great job, with great prospect and income... but the fall side is, I never had enough time for the kids. Now, I have enough to live, and lots of time with kids and for myself. These are things money could not buy.... happiness is not equals to money, one can find happiness from simple things, with the right mentality and attitude to life.

News article from Zhongguobao:

http://www.chinapress.com.my/node/331078

Assignment completion...

After a long week of hardwork, finally, the assignment is taking shape. Not in the best form, but at least I have an assignment to submit tomorrow (the deadline). I realized after not writing for a long time I have lost my writing skills.. some how? I am not sure by reading a lot and writing a lot, I will finally get the 'skills' back.

Another challenge when doing this assignment is, I realized my 'practical mentality' has totally over ruled my 'academic mentality'. I am not sure how to 'de-learn' this to re-learn academic discourses and discursive practices. It feels like a mission impossible at the moment... I need to find ways to overcome this hurdle quickly!

Although this assignment is over, but still another more challenging one ahead. Frankly, I am not even sure if I could pass this one, but I will worry about it later. I have yet to receive the results for the other one in May... I am not sure not news is good news, or bad news... again, can only wait patiently, nothing could be done at the moment...

Hay Day, Supercell!

Hay Day is a farming game with user friendl  interface, attractive graphics and addictive market orientation where players can engage in trading activities with their farm produce... just like real life. For more info: http://www.arcticstartup.com/2012/06/25/supercell-hay-day-launch-metrics-review

Happy Midsummer Festival!

Longest day is over!

The longest day has just past, and starting today... day is getting shorter. Nonetheless, today is the mid-summer Friday in Finland, one that's closest to the soltice. Well, time flies so quickly... this is our 6th mid-summer celebration in Finland. The first one, I had 'sleepless' night in Singapore where I chatted with hubby till morning on this very long 'day' :)  We have guests coming in the evening, so now... preparation time!

Pormakku homicide

This is the 8th family homicide in a year's period. This kind of news is getting sickening... Apparently, there were 8 family homicides over the last one year! How can parents murdering their own child like killing an animal!? In my opinion, when we choose to be a parent, we must be responsible for our action. We brought the child to this world, we are responsible to love them, give them the best we could, and do our best to protect them, groom them. Even when we are distress, sad or frustrated... we should not mix our life up with theirs. They are little angels from heaven, they deserve a good environment to grow into a good person for the society. I hope all couples reconsider their actions. IF they are not ready for kids, don't have them. It is best for themselves, and also their 'to-be children'. That's just my thinking... in a simplified manner. There are many other complex issues to consider, but I will keep this post simple for now. May the little angels in Pormakku rest in peace and may their mother has the necessary strength to live through this bad ordour.

Summer Soltice - Longest Day of the Year!

Time flies... when I started my study, the days were short, and we were in perpectual darkness... without knowingly, time whizz by so swiftly, and now we are on the longest day of the year again. Tomorrow onwards, days will be shorter by seconds, and soon we will be in winter soltice again. I never felt time flown past so quickly while living in Asia. However, here, I could really see how time flies... the seasons and changes in the nature are so visible, you could not stop thinking... I am running against time, I must do what I need to ensure I do not leave with regrets when I perish...


More info from YLE news:
http://yle.fi/uutiset/longest_day_of_the_year/6190466

Dad's 71st Birthday

Yesterday was Father's Day in Malaysia and today is my dad's birthday. Every year, this is the case, it is a double celebration... Last year this time, we were celebrating in Malaysia, singing karaoke.. and time flies, this year, he is in brother's place with his family celebrating in Spore. Anyway, we wish him a healthy life still ahead... with many more birthdays to come. Happy Birthday, Dad!

Another good course

Just returned from another good course. Intensive and tiring, but I have learned so much new stuff again. However, it was also a little confusing for me. I start to feel that a practitioner is really like an Alien, in the academic world. The language, discourse, practices are so different. Wonder how theories from academia can be understood by practitioners, and vice versa!? A puzzle I am eager to solve :D

A short video of the good time....

http://youtu.be/fmROFyHy6vM

Mixed feeling....

Today, there is a bit of mixed feeling for the first time after started my doctoral studies for 5 months... is this really the kind of world I would like to be? For a moment, I felt that I was in between a bunch of Aliens! We are all speaking 'English', but for some reasons, the discourse (discussion, vocabulary, meaning) are soooooo different, so much so that I started to feel that I really did not belong to that world?! If I am in a business consulting seminar, or something... I felt that I am speaking the same 'language' with the presenter, and participants... but when I am sitting in between 14 business academia, I did not even feel like I am one of them, nor speaking the right terminology. It felt really like an idiot! I now start to have doubt, if this is really a worthy journey, or would it be better I just stay in my practical world which will bring more benefits to myself than a phD which has not much practical meaning to me... ponder!?

KATAJA Course in Lapland

These courses ran by the KATAJA network in Finland are absolutely well done! I just attended another course in Lapland, and had another big boost of knowledge in Practice Based Approach in Business Research. Challenging but enlightening. Got some new ideas for my research, so now must think how to implement and update my research plan!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-baCXDrcfo

Midnight Sun in Lapland (Pyhätunturi, above Artic Circle)

This is majestically beautiful!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_h5u7eCacME

My lovely cats

 

 

Mother nature - Spring buds

   

Yummy treat

Despite of my very tight schedule, I still pulled myself out from the piles of papers to visit my ex-student who is now expecting her first child. It was nice to see her, and know that she is keeping well. As always, her husband always pampered us with very delicious food, and this time... we have prawn fritters for dinner! How blessed we are! YUMMY!!!

  

Thank you kids!

Lovely handmade gifts from my children. They really cheered me up when I am drowning under piles of papers. Thank you my love, you brighten my days!!