The Digital Awakening » Wonderful Wuan

Samsung Galaxy S II

Peter Tan — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 16:26:05 +0000

This Samsung Galaxy S II smartphone is my belated birthday present from Wuan. I have been looking for a replacement for the Nokia 2600 Classic that I have been using for the past three years. The initial budget was RM1,000 but there was none that I liked within that range.

After much consideration, I decided to go for the top-of-the-range and settled on the Samsung Galaxy S II running the Android OS. We got it at the IT Fair at Mid Valley last week. Since I am already a Digi user, I switched to the DG Smart Plan 48 with a 12-month contract to get the phone at a discounted price of RM1,699. RRP is RM2,099. The plan comes with a monthly data bandwidth quota of 1GB.

Belated birthday present from Wuan – Samsung Galaxy S II.

Knowing that I have a tendency to drop my mobile phones, I got a Case-Mate Tough for better protection at the same fair as well. The case consists of a silicone cover that fits snugly to the phone and an ABS hard plastic shell. I am glad I got it as I dropped the phone on the third day. Fearing the worst, I picked it up to discover that there was no damage whatsoever. The RM90 price was worth every cent I forked out for it.

I am still learning to use the many functions of the phone. Just yesterday morning, I did not even know how to answer when Wuan called. I had to read the manual for instructions. What I like about smartphones is that I can access my emails and search for information while I am on-the-go. This device is going to be especially useful now that I am dealing with customised wheelchairs and accessories as a sideline. Thank you, Wuan, for a wonderful birthday gift.

Third Wedding Anniversary

Peter Tan — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 08:45:38 +0000

Yesterday was our third wedding anniversary. How did we spend it? We went to Mid Valley Megamall and had a less than memorable lunch at C-Jade Express. Frankly, we are getting disinterested with food in shopping malls. Those are the places that we hang out most on weekends. We have been eating the same food for years and years.

We then went to the Jusco J Card Member’s Day Sale. The size of the crowd was smaller than I had anticipated. I guess the novelty of going for a sale has worn off for many. After all, the various Jusco stores have been running one sale or another throughout the year. The only attraction about this sale is that there is a rebate of RM10 in vouchers for every RM100 spent.

Next stop after shopping was at Institut Sosial Malaysia (ISM) where I conducted the second series of the Introduction to Independent Living seminar for welfare officers from various states in Malaysia. We had a lively discussion on how Independent Living can be implemented in Malaysia and the issues faced by disabled people after the seminar.

Would you believe that Wuan and I went back to Mid Valley Megamall right after that? Yes, that was exactly what we did since it was just a 10 minute drive away from where we were. We had dinner, of all places, at Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao at The Gardens. That dinner was less than memorable too.

We did a little more shopping at Jusco. The stainless steel drinking bottle that I wanted was not on discount. Instead, we got some energy saving light bulbs that were going for 30% off. That, basically, was how we spent our third wedding anniversary. We definitely need to do something more memorable next year.

My Guardian Angel

Peter Tan — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:12:55 +0000

We have been together for eleven years. Wuan is still as caring as she was when we first met, and much more. Many times, I ask myself what I have done to deserve such a wonderful woman. She ensures that all my needs are looked after. She wakes up at 5 am in the morning, every morning, to cook my lunch before she goes off to work. She watches over what I eat like a hawk to keep my declining renal health in check.

We can talk about anything and everything. Our interests are similar. We seldom have disagreements, almost never. She knows what I have in mind even before the words leave my lips. She spurs me on whenever I begin to lose hope. She gives me hope. She inspires me with her optimism. She is that spurt of energy that carries me through the last mile. With her, I have no worries. Life is a bliss. She completes me. She is all that is white and pure. She must be an angel. She is!

MY GUARDIAN ANGEL

There were times when I wished
I could hold you close and tell you
how much my life has changed
because you cared enough
to show me how beautiful life still is

You cared enough to tell me
that I still have one true friend
who accepts me for what I am
and believing that nothing is impossible
if I dare to take the first bold step

I want to tell you that I appreciate
all that you have done for me
the times that we spent talking
and the times that you kept my heart warm
on those cold lonely nights

Thanks for being there always
for listening and understanding
you are truly one of a kind
and I cannot help but wonder
if you are my guardian angel in disguise.

Circa 2001

My Disappearing Festive Traditions

Peter Tan — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 01:00:55 +0000

The march of commercialism is slowly changing the traditions that are passed down from generation to generation. Food that used to be served only during festivals are now readily available long before the occasion or even throughout the year. When I was a kid, Mum would make kuih bahulu just before Chinese New Year together with kuih kapit and kuih bangkit. Walk into any major shopping complex on any given day now and one would be greeted by stalls selling kuih bahulu freshly baked from the oven with the unmistakeable saliva-inducing aroma.

Festivals have lost some of their glamour not only because delicacies associated with them are no longer exclusive. It is the lack of busyness, anticipation and preparations leading up to the festival. The air of festivity was already felt weeks prior to the day proper but not as much anymore now. The once-a-year rite of changing the curtains to the ones used exclusively for the Chinese New Year; the making of paper cuttings to paste on gifts to friends and relatives, mostly on cookie containers and mandarin oranges; the spring cleaning on a day selected to be auspicious for this activity with bamboo stalks fastened to a long bamboo pole; the overflowing of groceries in the larder, especially items like dried shiitake mushrooms, fish maw, canned mushrooms and baby corns; some of these have disappeared completely from my life.

On one part, I lament at the loss of anticipation and excitement for the impending festive season I had experienced as a kid. On the other, I am glad to be still able to experience some of these traditions with Wuan and her side of the family. It is a good thing that Wuan still maintains some of these practices like sprucing up the house with auspicious decorative items, making sure that we shop for clothes to wear on Chinese New Year and generally trying to infect me with the excitement as the day draws nearer. For the past couple of years since we got married, I have been celebrating the the Chinese New Year, especially the “tuen nin fun” (reunion dinner) and “hoi nin fun” (new year lunch), in her hometown with her family. I am glad for these little blessings that still exist in my life. They are all I have left and I am going to savour these moments for as long as I can.

His And Hers Paddington Bear T-Shirts

Peter Tan — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 01:40:25 +0000

Hers – Paddington Bear in traditional red duffle coat and blue hat.

Suanie once asked me why she has never seen Wuan and I wear His and Hers T-shirts. The simple answer was that we did not have any. When we strolled pass the Bossini shop at 1 Utama last Saturday, Wuan was enarmoured with the Paddington Bear T-shirts prominently displayed in the shop.

His – Paddington Bear in his trademark blue duffle coat and red hat sitting on suitcase.

She walked in and browsed through the available designs. I selected a red one that said “Please Look After This Bear Thank You”. Wuan took a white T-shirt with the words “Paddington likes to travel”. We got 30% off for buying two. Now, we have couple T-shirts. We wore it when we went out yesterday but did not take any photo. I may just become a fan of Paddington Bear. He looks so cute in his duffle coat and hat.