June 10, 2009 - 9:38 pm - Posted by YS
September 19, 2008 – Friday
Was my last day at work after giving a 13 week verbal notice followed by a 7 week written confirmation to my employer. The decision was not difficult as this had been well thought of and discussed with my spouse for over 1 year. I informed my supervisor in early 2008 that I would not stay pass Jan/2009 and would leave earlier if they had a candidate to replace me.
I had also wanted and considered taking a 6-8 weeks leave but regretfully that could not be worked out.
I am a true believer of stepping down before my time is due or simply put – quit while you are ahead. My job was not overly demanding or stressful and the pay is adequate. This had prompted many to ask ” why!”.
Over the years it was clear to me that there were too many who have overstayed - they showed clear signs of ill health, physically and mentally and noticeably performing their job in a ” wobbly manner “.
People who are concerned about not having enough to do after retirement need to look no further than their own communities – volunteering work is abundantly available. Give back to the society, i urge them, or simply spend more time on things you have always wanted to do unless you are one of those who would prefer to pass out/away on your desk.
To start my retirement i will take a small and humble step of weeding one at a time!
Not to burn my bridges – I may indeed return to a paid job - will keep the rest of thoughts to myself
=======
June 2009 – update
I have been busy working around the house so I truly enjoy my retirement.
Posted in Memoirs - a mini version | No Comments »
June 10, 2009 - 9:34 pm - Posted by YS
Here are some very common and irresponsible acts that can be seen in our everyday life.
At the swimming pool -
1 – an adult man somehow had his jacket turned upside down in the changing room and out came about 5 locker tokens ( coins provided by the pool for lockers) from one of the pockets;
2 – people with clear skin problems that should not be in the water;
3 – walkers in a lane clearly marked for lap-swimming only;
4 – shaving while leaving taps open (steam from the hot water can be easily seen);
5 – 20 + sheets of paper towels to dry one’s body with bath towel on the body;
Drivers:
5 – generously sharing loud music with windows wide open;
6 – flicking cigarettes ashes through the window;
Cyclists:
7 – hopping from side-walk to the road without even turning head to ensure no car is turning;
8 – riding against the traffic flow;
Shopping
9 – slowly opening one’s handbag and trying to locate a purse or loose change
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January 25, 2009 - 7:53 pm - Posted by YS
I recently spent a few days in Ningbo, a city about 1.5 hours drive from Shanghai, China and noticed that there were lots of cameras on the highway – almost every 1/4 of a mile or so. I also noticed that there were not many cars moving at high speed.
At first I thought the cameras were the main deterrents till a friend told me that if one was caught driving with alcohol levels higher than the legal limit not only would the car be impounded so would the driver immediately for 10 days.
Yes, the drunker driver would go straight to the cell to sober up for 10 days. My friend told me his friend sure learnt fast after being locked up and not having an income. It was very bad for ” losing face”.
Perhaps we should have a similar law that summarily put these irresponsible drivers away instantly- no ifs and buts.
I for one would never want to go to jail for 10 days.
Besides, I believe that would save lifes and reduce our car insurance premium.
Posted in Cars, Public Issues | No Comments »
January 21, 2009 - 10:41 pm - Posted by YS
The recent world wild exuberance about the 44th President of USA is clearly unprecedented. The world seems hopeful and jubilant.
However, I do have 2 issues that I found a little puzzling and somewhat disturbing.
1 Why is it every one refers him/ Obama as the 1st Black President. Doesn’t he has 50% of white blood as well? Aren’t people making too much a fuss about it - on and on and on!
2 Why so little, if any, has been mentioned about his mother? I got this strange feeling that it is still an overwhelmingly male dominated society when TV repeatedly showed his 1/2 sister from Kenya and little if any about his other relatives/siblings on his mother side.
I really would like to know more about his mother. It must have been tough for her to have married someone from Africa. She would be an interesting person to know. She had to be very courageous.
Almost without exceptions, newspapers on both sides of the borders simply ” follow the crowd “.
It would indeed be nice if media would tell me more about Obama’s mother and his other 1/2 siblings Obama is knwon to have besdies those in Kenya.
Posted in Public Issues | No Comments »
December 2, 2007 - 8:38 pm - Posted by YS
Some 35 years ago, when I was close to graduating from the University Of Wales, my long term plan was to get a “iron bowl” job and “take it easy” till 45, then start writing a book about my life and fully retired from my employment at 50.
I was to be busy traveling after 50 – just see the world and be embraced by the nature.
I had thought that my life till then was quite eventful. I was 25, not knowing that the ensuing part of my journey would be no less interesting, meaningful and definitely more demanding. I had wished and truly and honestly believed that all my bad experiences in my younger days would be over once I had obtained a degree from the colonial motherland.
For example, I had a close call before I turned 20 and thought I would surely die in a single car accident- I was bleeding with one leg trapped under the side of the jeep in a country side off the road with no people in sight – it was in a war zone.
History seems to like to repeat itself – when I was 51 another close call was implanted in my mind, by courtesy of a diagnostic medical error in 2000. Few years later I thought I might never be able to walk again without a steel knee – that was 2006.
Looking back, it really wasn’t that bad. We all have our share of misfortunes, only in a very different shapes or forms. Over the years I have become stronger and more sympathetic towards the less fortunate people. Meanwhile I have become increasingly determined to do the right things whenever possible as I continue my journey.
I also hope my memoirs would help me be a better person and help me heal both within myself and by lending a helping hand to others.
So help me god, whoever and whatever you and I perceive him/her/it to be.
Posted in Memoirs - a mini version | 1 Comment »
December 2, 2007 - 5:11 pm - Posted by YS
We usually ” give back ” by donating and sharing part of our wealth – e.g. donating to our place of worship, hospitals, universities and the like. In fact there are many meaningful ways in addition to and other then making cash donation for a good cause.
I would like to offer some suggestions. The list is definitely not meant to be exhaustive as it really depends on your means, life style and imagination.
1- When we give away our old/used personal belongings they MUST be wearable, clean and something we or our family wouldn’t mind wearing/using them i.e please give NO junks;
2 Giving to our place of worship has numerous leakages because the contributions rather than donations are also meant to help it run and operate and are often mainly for our own benefits because we use their services and premises; we gather there and often drink and eat free there; therefore this should not be our main place of channeling our good wills;
3 Every time we or our loved ones use hospital service, consider putting some loose change or small amount in the donation box;
4 Help our elderly neighbours on small chores; call up some older folks and chat; take them out for lunch;
5 When we enter a mall or public places look behind us and see if we need to keep the door open and safe enough for the person behind you;
6 When we are given a traffic ticket or sort , take a deep breath and act responsibly and maturely before trying to find ways to fight it off and be a nuisance and waste public funds; do not seek ways to get off on technicality or asking for 1/2 of the fine from the judge; for whenever “.. you come for equity (justice) you must come with clean hands..”.
7 Avoid impulse buying and avoid returning them months or even years with or without a receipt because we no long like them; don’t return goods that have been used or broken because we have been careless;
8 Whenever advisable and appropriate, by taking less or causing less strain on the society we are in reality giving back.
I will have more to discuss on this subject later.
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November 20, 2007 - 10:40 pm - Posted by YS
My family and I spent over a year in a medium-size BC interior town in 1991-92.
I took up some physical training since there was very little for me to do outside of work as I was/am not an outdoor guy. The instructor/sifu regularly told us “…. listen to your body, it is constantly talking to you and telling you how it is doing.” It is so true and I will write more about this later.
When we have a cold or hurt our back/wrist doing chores we tend to give some excuses and/or blame it on the weather, the weigh of the grocery bag or whatever. Sometimes we even make resolution that we need to shape up. No sooner had we said it than we simply got on with our usual life till…. the next time. That to me is lack of self-discipline, as simple as that.
We are never too old to shape up, be it strolling around the park, swimming in the community pool , dancing or even stretching while watching TV. There is no need to wait till the weather gets better.
Heaven can wait, your body should not have to.
Heaven is timeless, your body is not.
Posted in Health | No Comments »
November 20, 2007 - 10:07 pm - Posted by YS
My wife and I are very much the opposite. I am not here to describe and analyze our differences, but we do have our lighter moments.
My wife and I often complain that we don’t listen to each other, just like many other couples after 30 years of marriage to the same person. What else is new?
We both acknowledge that 1/2 of the time our mind simply wonder around and pay no attention to what was being said by the other.
Recently my wife joyfully declared “….50% + 50% = 100%, at least together we got it all covered.”
That’s positive thinking and the secret of lasting marriage.
Come to think of it if we want another 30 years of togetherness we should listen even less!
I wonder if many hearing problems experienced by older folks are actually good for their health and require no hearing aids at all.
Posted in Family, Laughter | 1 Comment »
November 20, 2007 - 9:49 pm - Posted by YS
Government reports suggest that quite a few of the bridges in the Greater Vancouver area experienced high auto-accident rates, e.g. Alex Fraser bridge alone had over 200 accidents last year. Knights Bridge area is another hot spot. Accidents usually take place during rush hours, surprised!
The police are over-worked.
Let’s look into setting up a separate branch of the law enforcement entity for the whole of the lower mainland to tackle primarily auto accidents and, most importantly of all, to help prevent accidents and nag traffic offenders and those irresponsible people who post danger to others by driving and behaving callously.
This “division of labour or specialization” will be cost effective, efficient and definitely live-saving. These traffic officers will not need to be trained like an full-fledged police as they will be more specialized and focused. They may not even need to carry fire arms.
Just the sight of a police car tends to slow down a roaring engine from zigzagging or tail-gating.
ICBC rates should come down, there will less medical bills and the policing will even be partly financed by fines.
In any event, we should NOT need to send an army of politicians or bureaucrats to overseas to study for months and stay in 5 star hotels or resorts and then come up with some sort of Red or White paper years later gathering dust.
Just do it and get on with it. Take ownership and lead.
Posted in Public Issues | 2 Comments »
November 8, 2007 - 11:01 am - Posted by YS
Over the years I have had opportunities to work with many young manager-trainees assigned to me while I was with the banks. These newly graduates convinced themselves that they wanted to get ahead and learn, but most them showed little preparedness or willingness to “pay their dues”. Some of the common characters are:
1 – show up just “in time” for work and leave as the official closing time had come;
2 – come to me with problems and not suggestions or solutions;
3 – not well prepared such as reading guidelines and policy manual before coming for advice/consultation ;
4 – high tendency of being ill on Mondays ; and the list goes on…
I would say that they really did not know what “main street” life and work was all about. If one looks closer to their family background some conclusions could easily be drawn.
Posted in Life | 1 Comment »