Familiar stranger's thoughts

These 2 weeks...have been meeting many ex-colleagues. At the convention organised by DTT at Ritz-Carlton last week, met at least 6 ex-colleagues. This week at the seminar at Amara, met another ex-colleague whom I didn't meet the week before.

The TAX world is really small...I have always been told. And true enough, when we meet at TAX related seminars, it would not be difficult to find at least one familiar face....

Meeting these ex-colleagues bring me back to the time when we were still young and fresh...where the boss is THE BOSS and so untouchable...but having gone through so many bosses that treat me like a fren...I guess I've learnt to be more personable...

Feel so hot in the city! It is so unbearable hot that one keeps on perspiring even when sitting still. See Yahoo weather says that ....it feels like 38 degC! Although it should be around 31. Is this really better than the cold?

Am so glad that it only started to rain cats and dogs when I was safely on the company transport. It is on such days that I am so thankful that I have point to point transport and do not have to brave the rain.

On the transport, I see some foreign workers being transported on the back of the lorries and feel so sorry for them ...is it because they are foreigners that they get this kind of treatment? Or is it because this may be the life that they are used to back home?

Nevertheless, it is good that I am still dry this morning..it has been raining these few days on the important timings...going-to-work time, lunch time and going-home time. This is the irritating part of the weather nowadays

So many of us wait to do the things we want to do. Everytime we want to do something for ourselves, we tell ourselves that we will do it after doing this or that. Or til we finish our work. However, it seems that not everybody can have the chance.

Uncle was told that he is in the 4th stage of cancer. He told the doctor to arrange for treatment the following week, so that he can go and settle his business. However, the doctor said no, radiation treatment had to start the following day.

Within weeks, his health started to deteriorate. The cancer had spread to his brains and he was too weak to do anything, too weak even to go for the trip that he wanted to go so much with his friends.

Yesterday, I was informed that he suffered a stroke. And apparently, this is a crucial period.

Although I have not been very close to Uncle, but he has always been very kind to me, treating me like his own daughter....I guess we all have to learn to treasure our loved ones more and to spend more time with them. And to seize the day to go for the things we want....we may not have a second chance.

Saw two accidents at the two intersection near my place, I wonder if there is any casualties. Wonder if those people involed in the accidents have a chance to do the things that they planned to do when they are retired, or when the kids are grown, or when.....

Was pleasantly surprised when A brought over a home-cooked lunch instead of buying it at a hawker centre...indeed these few weeks have been very blessed and pampered by all the tender lovingly cooked food that people have fed me with. THANKS SO MUCH all of you!

Have always liked tulips...so was quite pleased that my visit to The Netherlands concided with spring where the tulips open...today we went to Keukenhof to view the tulips.

There were all colors and sizes of tulips and other flowers. But it all got abit boring after awhile since it is just flowers after flowers.

KX and I were abit disappointed that the place was not of tulip fields but of cultivated landscaped flowers.....Nevertheless we still enjoyed ourselves...except that we both felt that 13Euros per person for entry was abit of a rip-off. Leiden was also abit of a disappointment and we returned home early...although it is already 8pm...there is still daylight....it seems that spring is really here...although the weather is still very cold...

Can't believe that my 2 weeks holiday is ending...and that I would be back in flying back to Singapore tomorrow.

We arrived at Prague after a 3 1/2 hour ride from Cesky Budejovice. I guess we really can give ourselves a pat on the back...for bringing ourselves from Roztyly Bus Station, we took the subway to I. P. Pavlova Station, and then making our way to Miss Sophie's Hostel.

We are at a very good location, so all the sites can be reached by foot...so for the 2 days when we were in Prague..we walked and walked and walked...it seems that we walked a year's supply of walks... :P