it's been a month since the last time i blogged. it's been a busy month until the end of the month. major work completed. it's the new year and i can kick back and breathe again.

but firstly, Praise be to God, Lord of the Worlds, The Beneficent, Most Merciful; Master of the Day of Judgment.

i was planning to go on holiday during the christmas weekend till the end of the year. candidates were padang (sumatra), phuket, langkawi, penang, or pangkor laut. it was last minute planning; i couldn't get any room that was affordable. instead, i came to the office for a few days in the last week of the year.

had i been to any of those places, i would have been very close to the tsunami-stricken spots.

in 2004 i learnt a lesson not to curse too quickly when there seems to be a "misfortune." there's always a blessing in disguise when an event takes place. i missed my vacation, and i missed the tsunami.

for those stricken by the tsunami, my sympathies go to them. some lost their lives, some their families, their homes, their belongings. at this moment, it is all sorrow and pain. what is in store for the survivors in the years to come? no one knows, but i want to believe that God, the Planner who plans ahead of all other planners, has something good for all affected.

which reminds me of a story i read in a book about being happy. i've forgotten the author to whom i'd like to give the credit. once, a farmer lost his horse. his neighbours told him that's bad luck. but he said, "well, i don't know really."

one day, his horse came back with ten other wild horses. his neighbours said that's good luck. but he said, "well, i don't know really."

his son rode one of the horses, fell off and broke his leg. his neighbours said that's bad luck. but he said, "well, i don't know really."

the country was in a state of war. the king's men came to enlist all the strong, healthy men. the farmer's son with the broken leg was left with the parents. the neighbours said that's good luck.

we really don't know, do we?

have another pleasant year.