Ivy's Take

Christmas to me is...

2011-12-18T06:58:00.000-08:00

When I think of Christmas it's usually the colors red and green, the smell of something baking in the oven, loads of songs and laughter and the overall merriment which comes with constant overindulgence during this time. 'Tis the season after all! I'll have to admit, since getting married to M there have been some, shall we say, "heated moments" as his motto of "everything in moderation" doesn't always suit my extremist ways (nor that of my very loud family - namely the Johns on mom's side). For me at least, Christmas includes massive amounts of sleep deprivation from all that late night baking, gossiping with cousins and aunties we meet after a long year has passed, cooking meals for the battalion that is our large extended family, roasting turkey after turkey till morning is nigh on Christmas Eve. You get the picture. It's the constant buzz of activity and somehow I will find time to get involved in the Christmas production in church (whenever I'm not heavily pregnant or had just given birth that is) and remain busy cooking up a storm for our guests who always come over to our home on Christmas day. I know, some of you feel tired just reading this. And then there are the countless PRESENTS to wrap.But the joy of it all! This is the type of Christmas I grew up with as a child in my late Grandma's home in Kluang. The memories are just so awesome - time spent with my cousins, the badminton tourneys organised by my uncles, the fights that would erupt over the carom board and the never-ending card games and all the carols we sing with Uncle Henry playing the guitar. Since getting married all this has tapered down somewhat as most of us cousins have family obligations to attend to and maybe our better halves are not yet used to our craziness. It has taught me to reflect a little more on what the season really means - it's a time for rejoicing because we celebrate the birth of Christ, God's own special gift to us. What a wonderful thing that is for us followers of Christ, that God should give us His own Son who in turn gave us Salvation. More than a time for mere merriment with family, it is the time we think about this special gift God has given us and be super grateful for it - which is why I always tear up when I sing carols like "Oh Holy Night". It is the reason why Christmas is a time for giving. The gesture of giving presents reminds us that God had freely given his Son to us. Well, it's back to baking for me but I thought I'd share a few thoughts while I'm waiting for the biscuits to bake.

Superwoman? I think not

2010-09-23T01:52:00.000-07:00

I know my friends mean well when they call me superwoman, from some I get the sarcastic undertones, thank you very much :) I am a wife, mom, journalists, restaurateur (recently acquired) and manager of my husbands' company. I would not be able to do all this without the support of all the amazing people in my life. Husband is terrific, he's like my life coach, always encouraging me to push myself and try new things and reach for my dreams. I also have the support of my family. My children are my inspiration, they think I'm the greatest! Mom, dad and my brother Joshua are always on hand to care for the children, drive us around when husband is out of tow, run errands and provide crucial moral support when everything else seems to be crashing around me. My in-laws are also a treasure, always willing to take the kids in and show them a good time and encouraging our foray into the restaurant business. It is also my faith, that God is always there with me to see me through every minute of the day. When something goes wrong and I groan "Oh God...!" I know He hears me and a solution is on its way. And my family and friends, people like Audrey Pillai who has been such a rock. These are the "super" factors in my life which enables me to focus on my responsibilities and to remain positive. It is not super-strength, super-smart or super anything. My parents and husband can attest to the fact that I am such a procrastinator. I am very bad at waking up in the morning, I can be quite lazy when I want to be and it is a conscious effort to keep myself organised and not forget stuff, (I still forget things on a daily basis!) I loose my patience with my wonderful sons and feel guilty all the time for seemingly neglecting them when I am away at work. Just today, Kelvin Anthony, a friend and colleague was saying ," Ivy you look stressed today," and I smiled brightly and said, "Yeah! I am stressed! You're not living if your'e not stressed!" I am just grateful for all the opportunities in my life and all the support I get from family, friends and the assurance I get from my faith to do my best in life.And yes, I have those days when I want to do nothing but sleep and hang around the house watching box-sets of all the series I've missed on TV but I must say the Ugly Betty ending was incredibly disappointing :(

An Inspiring Song

2009-11-09T22:09:00.000-08:00

This is a song which I sing over and over again in my heart.

Might to Save

Hillsong United

Songwriters: Ben Fielding, Reuben Morgan

Everyone needs compassion
Love that's never failing
Let mercy fall on me

Everyone needs forgiveness
The kindness of a Saviour
The Hope of nations

Saviour, He can move the mountains
My God is Mighty to save
He is Mighty to save

Forever, Author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave

So take me as You find me
All my fears and failures
Fill my life again

I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in
Now I surrender

My Saviour, He can move the mountains
My God is Mighty to save
He is Mighty to save
Forever, Author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave

Shine your light and let the whole world see,
We're singing for the glory of the risen King...Jesus (x2)

My Saviour, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.
Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.

My Saviour, you can move the mountains,
You are mighty to save,
You are mighty to save.
Forever, Author of Salvation,
You rose and conquered the grave,
Yes you conquered the grave

Yasmin Ahmad collapsed but some say she didn't make it

2009-07-23T02:03:00.000-07:00

This is from thestar.com.my

Published: Thursday July 23, 2009 MYT 4:37:00 PM
Updated: Thursday July 23, 2009 MYT 4:39:50 PM

Film director Yasmin Ahmad admitted to hospital

PETALING JAYA: Critically-acclaimed movie and TV commercial director Yasmin Ahmad is in hospital after having collapsed during a presentation she was giving at TV3.

She has been taken to the Damansara Specialist Hospital, TV3 sources told The Star. Her condition is unknown.

Yasmin, 51, the director of Sepet, is particularly well known for the community message commercials she directed for Petronas.

She began her career in advertising as a copywriter at Ogilvy & Mather, eventually rising to creative director at Leo Burnett Kuala Lumpur.

Her movies have won many international awards and have been screened at the Berlin, San Francisco, Singapore and Cannes international film festivals.

More to come

Yasmin Ahmad's blog

Yasmin Ahmad at IMDB

A tribute to Sueet Kheng

2009-04-23T04:01:00.000-07:00

A dear old friend of mine passed away last week from cancer. Her name is Yong Sueet Kheng. She was not a particularly close friend but definitely she was someone I remember clearly. She has that type of personality, the kind that leaves a lasting impression in your life.

Her entire family in fact are made out of people like that.

I met her when I was a kid and she was the hottest teen in our church. She could do just about ANYTHING - play music, sing really well, good leadership and well, rather bossy if I remember accurately. When I left Seremban she was at her prime, 21 years old and absolutely gorgeous. I was thinking that I wanted to be like here when I grew up, she was the ultimate model to me, a God-fearing girl but with all the glamour of 80's fashion from her permed hair to her chunky earrings and what-nots and really smart too. She had this personality that radiated with exuberance which was sometimes quite intimidating. I never spoke to her unless I had something clever to say. She was nice though, friendly and sweet to everyone. My parents adored her and always used to praise her to us.

Then I heard she got married to "a tycoon from Pahang" (a friend had described her husband that way). I did think at that time that I should send her a card to congratulate her. It never happened though and before I knew it, some 12 years had passed.

Just last month my close friend who happens to be one of Sueet Kheng's close pals from school told me she was battling the big C and I was, of course, shocked. Sueet Kheng promptly added me on Facebook and since then I was thinking of writing her a note to say hello or visit her at the hospital. In fact, I had planned to go but couldn't make it because she was often too tired to receive visitors.

I really wish I wrote that message though or just wrote a note on her wall to encourage her. She passed away last week and I was devastated. It shook me because she was so young, she was such a fighter. I thought she would beat this thing but God had other plans for this beautiful soul.

I will always remember her as this bubbly, outgoing person who made an enormous impression on everyone she met. I will remember her loud laugh and zest for life and her love for God. She is survived by an amazing husband and three beautiful children, a daughter who looks EXACTLY like her.

Rest in peace Sueet Kheng, we love you dearly and memories of time spent with you will remain in our lives. I am so sorry I never took the time to write.

My Failed Diet

2009-03-31T03:18:00.000-07:00

So I weighed myself recently at one of those stupid machines they line up near escalators at hypermarkets and the numbers which appeared on the small grey screen weren't pretty.

With the support of M, we decided to go on a diet. A low-carb diet with a pledge to stop eating rice, bread, pasta, POTATOES, CAKES, CHOCS, ICE-CREAM...I mean, these are my favourite foods! Now that I see them in print, my fav foods could very well see me tipping the scales even further.

Anyways, we kept it up for about a week and then last Thursday and Friday (both during dinner) we caved. We so caved: Thursday night Sushi dinner and Friday night Nasi Lemak Cikgu at SS5B.

I felt quite sad because I could not control my deep, deep, desire for CARBOHYDRATES! But I really think it is a biological thing rather than purely willpower. It seems your body always craves for the things you must resist! In the food world at least.

So over the weekend we recommitted to the diet and so far, so good (except for that teeny-weeny spoonful of shepherd's pie I had this morning!) - It was made with REAL roast lamb, not mince of some animal you're not sure of, I had to have some.

It's just that food, to me and my husband, is not just a nutrition thing. And I suspect this is true for most Malaysians if not ALL Malaysians! We love food! We do everything with food on the agenda and it is very rich, tasty food.

M and I really value the quality, taste, aroma and the creativity that goes into preparing a meal. And the effort. Nothing pleases me more than seeing my family and friends throughly enjoying a meal which I prepared for them. So satisfying. And to not be able to participate in it anymore, is quite depressing for me. I sometimes wake up at 4am HUNGRY!

On the bright side

You might ask why then are the both of us flogging ourselves and persisting with this diet plan anyway. It is for the long-term health benefits. There are so many books out there which tell you how to eat and exercise and lead an overall healthy life free of the common "rich man" diseases.

It is interesting though because now we think more creatively on how to prepare low-carb foods at home. It is not easy, I find, with Asian cooking. No more easy way out with cooking a pot of curry and coming home to just cook rice and two vege stir-fry's for a nice, hot dinner. It's very different now. Only the children get to eat rice and potoatoes. I must admit, a chicken curry without santan and potatoes floating around doesn't quite cut it. It is western food which we cook mostly (not Italian or Spanish though), roast lamb, roast chicken, grilled fish (yummm!), grilled veges, sandwhices on gluten-free breads and enrich our diets with snacks like nuts and plenty of fruits.

And the best part is our boys will grow up seeing us eat healthy and it will become a way of life for them. The first week was quite difficult but it is getting easier as time goes by. And when enough weight is shed, we will treat ourselves. It's how I psyche myself ;)

Top ten foods I miss the most:
1. Nasi Lemak
2. Thosai (Which I was getting quite good at making too!)
3. Briyani rice with chicken curry
4. Burgers
5. FRIES
6. Baked potatoes
7. Vanilla ice cream
8. Godiva cherry liquer chocolates
9. Cookies of all types
10. Toast with butter and jam (totally off-limits) with cold, fresh milk.

I was 19 in 1998 when Anwar went to jail

2008-07-01T21:10:00.000-07:00

I was 19 years old in 1998 when Anwar was slapped with sodomy charges and "Reformasi" was born. Having just completed pre-u at college, I was part of the Girl Scouts volunteer team for the 1998 Commonwealth games. We were having so much fun at the shiny, new Bukit Jalil sports complex without a care of the political on-goings in the country. But one day, I was drawn into the whole drama that was unfolding, by accident.
I was on my way back to town in an Intrakota bus on Jalan Tun Perak when the street demonstrations started. I have never in my sheltered life seen such a huge presence of police and people, clashing and shouting "Reformasi" while they were being beaten with batons. Our bus shook a few times as people whacked their fists against it in anger and frustration. I saw a TV3 car being violently shaken by a group of protestors and little did I know that my future husband, Michael (whom I met years later in TV3 as well) was in there, holding on to the camera for dear life. They were trying to overturn the car, he later told me, because TV3 was pro-government i.e. anti-Anwar. He was also there by pure chance, on the way back from covering some entertainment assignment.
It was an awesome sight to see so many people taking to the streets. It was the first time something so big, so large, and so important was happening in my country in my lifetime. I was not a reporter then (being editor in chief of your school yearbook doesn't count) and we didn't have camera phones or I'd have recorded the whole thing.
Then the police started spraying the huge crowd with tear gas and I could see some people had fallen down, some were hurt and some were hauled up by police. The were clearly angry and fuming with so much pent-up frustraton. The police eventually forced them to disperse and the roads were open again.
Finally, after four hours or so in a nightmare traffic jam, I got home and told the whole story to my family, who, of course, overreacted. "So dangerous, blah, blah, blah..." (all out of concern, I know mummy) It was important that I saw this for myself. I saw people demanding for change, for reform in my country where nothing extraordinary ever happens. Many risked their livelihoods, professional careers to stand out there, protesting against the government. It took guts to shout "Reformasi" then. I went back to volunteering duties at the Games the next day but I had a great story to tell everyone of course! After all, I was an eye-witness, in the thick of it all.
I have met Anwar many times now, covering him for news and I must say that he is an enigmatic personality. Listening to his speeches is awe-inspiring. He is a very good speaker, eloquent, entertaining and clear. But there's something about Anwar that I could never put my finger on. His eyes? His funny smile? I don't know what it is about him that makes me wonder what is he really up to. Maybe it's that aura thing that very famous powerful people have. I don't know..! I am looking forward to the next few weeks of reporting. It's going to be all about Anwar, very exciting, just as it was 10 years ago.

Christian starts school on Monday

2008-04-05T01:07:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it. My little boy is off to kindergarten on Monday. Wahhhh!!!! I feel like so crying. He used to be my little baby but now he knows his ABCs, 123s and is quite the independant little tyke. I just cannot believe my little son is going to school. Why do they have to grow up?

long silence

2008-02-18T02:12:00.000-08:00

hello world, I have been gone for way too long. A few things have changed since. I got pregnant late 2006 and gave birth to baby number two called Ezra who is 6 months old tomorrow!! I am back at work and enjoying it. i got back just on time for PM to dissolve Parliament and call for polls. So the busy period of my life has begun again. But I must keep this blog alive and write lah kan? Eh, gotta go back now, but I'll be back!

My family

2006-09-18T23:42:00.000-07:00