Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow...

My favourite time of the year is here. Merry Christmas to one and all!

This year, I have many things to be thankful for. Since Thanksgiving is not a big thing here, I'll say my thanks now.

Just a week ago, I finally saw falling snow for the first time in my life. Prior to that, what I experienced was melting snow, not unlike the kind you see in a bowl of ice kachang. But this time, I actually caught little specks of fluff falling from the sky, feeling like a little kid each time a snow flake landed on my palm, giving me a sweet, tingling chill. And of course, I finally got to ski too, all in the accompaniment of a wonderful lady.

Like Brutus Thornapple explained in today's funnies, the spirit of Christmas is really what's left in the room with you after unwrapping the presents, fun making and jolly drinking.

I had my spirit-of-Christmas moment in Union Square, San Francisco. It was the weekend before Christmas and everyone was abuzz with his/her last minute shopping. It was raining the whole day, creating a nice chill to the air, but not dampening the moods of shoppers. We took a deserving break at Starbucks. As I sat there, the surrounding was just magical, very "Dean and Deluca-esque". If you watched Felicity, you'd know what I mean. People were in their own little worlds having small talk, coffee was brewing, and piped music playing in the background. That's when I realised that the spirit of Christmas rests on the person sitting opposite you. The lights, the mood, and the smell of Xmas are all just props on an empty stage without the leading lady.

Yes, I am thankful for that.

Tonight, we will be having a gathering at my place. There'll be 2 sets - first, family; then, friends. This entire night would not have materialised if not for the hostess and mistress of the house. I am proud to say I just sat there and looked good throughout the entire preparation.

It's been a very busy year for me. Without the family and friends, all would not have been possible this soon. I am certainly thankful for this.

It would be our first Xmas in our new place. As I sit here and reflect on the year that has passed and wonder if I have been a good boy, I can't help but smile. I am already having so much fun.

Have a Merry Christmas and a Smashing 2006.


redcocoon

Squaw Valley - More Than A Ski Lesson Learnt

Me and wifey just came back from USA. It was a very good trip. I finally got to ski and saw falling snow. And we did all that at a Winter Olympic ski resort - Squaw Valley at Lake Tahoe.

We took up a First Time Skier Package, which included entrance, equipment rentals and a 2 hour lesson. The view up there was totally breathtaking and so was the chilly air.

While we were trudging along in our cumbersome outfit, we were met with several kids, all 6 to 7 years of age, being encouraged by their parents to go faster. They looked shaky and nervous but not once did they flinch. Some fell, and some didn't. For those who fell, their parents egged them to get back up and go at it again.

It was a rare sight. Back home, most parents wouldn't even let their kids out from their sights, much less put them in a pair of skis or a snowboard and telling them to go faster on a powdery slope. Once, at a playground in S'pore, I witnessed an ang mo father hanging his son up on the monkey bars. "Go on, get to the other end," said the dad, releasing his grip on the kid. The kid went a few rungs slowly before losing his grip. Father caught him, hung him up again and said,"Now try again". Given a local parent? The boy would have been smacked for even trying to climb the bars himself.

I always that was the correct way to raise a kid - pushing him to push his limits.

However, I have a good friend who just had a newborn son. Now, before fatherhood ever entered our lives, we always said that when we had kids, we wouldn't push our kids too much. They could be whatever they wanted to be, for we have gone through the Spore educational system ourselves. But now that this friend has a kid, he's singing a different tune, hoping his son will be a famous lawyer or surgeon in future.

I'm not blasting him, no sirree. I may be like that in future too. But I'm putting this down to remind myself.

Back at the Hyatt Lake Tahoe Resort, we were treated with such good service I never experienced in Singapore before. Moreover, from the valet to the bellhop to the managers, everyone carried himself/herself very well. The bellhop was able to make intelligent smalltalk, valet was able and willing to feed us with nuggets of local information and the managers asked us about our stay everytime our paths crossed.

It sure reminds me of what we lack in the service sector here. Now don't get me wrong. I haven't transformed myself into an SPG (Sarong Party Guy) in a short span. But credit is given where it's due. In the hospitality service, they are at least a class above us.

On the day of checking out, we had already privately arranged for a ride to Reno Airport with the cabby who picked us from the Airport on Day 1. He was late. The valet was more worried than we were and after half an hour, approached another cab to take us. However, our cabby called to notify us he'd be there soon.

When he finally came, apologies flowed profusely. But, as he promised us on Day 1, he drove us to Reno Airport to drop our baggage, stopping along the way for picturesque photos, and took us on a 1.5hour quick tour of the Reno gambling strip, at no extra charge, just because its our honeymoon.

Now that's what I call service!


redcocoon

NKF, The Saga Continues...

Wow! So much more revelations in the midst of this festive season. Would it dampen the spirit of giving???

I am not sure if we are just flogging the dead lamb again, for what I see in the reports are mere confirmation of all our doubts. One thing though, I am surprised that NKF treats less than 2000 patients. All these years, I have been led to think there were tens of thousands of patients that NKF alone handles. That's the power of media for you.

Now, without joining the bandwagon and lambasting those worthy of being lambasted, I just wanna say how the situation can be salvaged. The patients, really, are the innocent ones. To appease all those committed donors, we must see justice meted out on the wrong doers.

If there was abuse of the system and the coffers, then there must be payback. If the very perpetrators are let off on a stern warning, then we would see an erosion of the charitable landscape here.


redcocoon