This year was interesting. On the global-political front the Obama Administration took over from the Bush Administration and we saw some positive developments. Many Americans would disagree with me but there was some necessary steps taken to restore the image of the USA to what it was - a beacon of moral decency in the world. His bowing to Emperor Akhito of Japan and King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia were signs of weakness but a symbolic gesture of the US's willingness to work with the world. It beats the shit out of Fag Boy's "You're ether with us or against us." The man also did the right thing by making moves to close Guantanamo Bay, a stain on America's good name. The Obama Administration should even be applauded for trying to reform healthcare, one of the big drains on America.
However, certain things remained depressingly familiar. In Israel, we had Bibi "The Used Car Salesman" Nethanyahu continuing to violate treaties with an ingenious aplomb. The World's Most Powerful Nation watched and even applauded him as he continued to allow illegal settlements to be built in the West Bank and Gaza only after he was told not to do it. As depressing as the situation is for the Palestinians who seem to get screwed at every turn, you have to admire the Israeli's for holding the USA by the balls. Napoleon didn't get it hundred percent when he said,"God is on the side of the big battalions," he should have said,"God is on the side of the guys who own the big battalions."
Of course, this was the year of economic recession and in many ways, it's nice to have Yellow Skin. While the developed economies of the West continue to struggle, the less developed nations, lead by China and to a certain extent India are leading the world recovery.
This brings me down to me. On the professional front this was an interesting year. I had Alcon to thank to keeping me in bread and butter for another year. I'm glad I had a role in helping Singapore's ophthalmologist make people more aware of the conditions that can make them go blind. Unfortunately Alcon Singapore's General Manager, Mr Kuntal Joshi moved onto greener pastures and I won't be working with Alcon again for the coming year. However, I am sure other opportunities will arise and I hope for the opportunity to make my living by doing good again.
Speaking of doing good, I had the experience of taking part in Singapore's largest disputes involving a civil society group - yes, the AWARE Saga. Although I didn't make money from taking part, it felt good to show up charlatans who abuse God's name for their own political purposes. It was also nice to work alongside many of my mother's old friends who have given me a helping hand in the past, ladies like Margie Thomas and Dana Lam are my aunties in every way except blood.
Financially I enjoyed a peak in August when my favourite boys from Chennai paid me and I also worked on my first litigation support job, working with Mr Mark Goh of Mark Goh & Co on the Zim Case. Mark has been generous in his support not only in financial terms but also in sharing ideas on how the world works. I hope our friendship will continue to develop in the Year of the Tiger.
Another highlight was arranging interviews for Mr Arun Jain, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Polaris Software Labs in September at SYBOS in China. Managed to get him interviewed in Hong Kong while staying in Singapore. Feels good to know that I can actually do things around the region - very healthy for the ego.
While the business remained fairly interesting, the most powerful developments for the year were personal. Han Li moved much of herself to Vietnam and the relationship is fading. I am slowly accepting that my contact with Thui, the first person to make me understand that life is more than just about you will kept to the few phone calls that her mother allows me to make as well as the odd birthday card. But at least I will carry the memories of those two happy months in my heart and the girls photos remain on this blog and on my Facebook profile.
With my relationship with Han Li fading, I found the worst and the best relationship of my life. Agnes Khim, also known as my Pretend Girlfriend with No Benefits was an emotional drain. In many ways you had to feel sorry for the woman trying to raise two lovely kids with not much money and trying to collect child support payments from an errant and uncaring husband. Yet what sympathy you felt was quickly evaporated when you had to listen to her brag about the rich men trying to bed her and how she had a metabolic age of 22 when her actual age of 43. I don't know what it was but this self-absorbed woman made me feel empty and lonely, especially for her children who, despite everything around them remain fairly decent and caring. Marcus, her youngest son is an adorable character as is his sister Nicolette.
On the other extreme, is my current relationship with a girl called Joyce and her three-year old boy called Yooga. I don't know what it is that brought her into my life but in the three months that Joyce and I have been together, I think I'm finally understanding that this thing called love is not a silly invention that women use to con men. Every time we are together, time stands still and I feel that my life suddenly has a purpose. I mean I'm physically there but when she's around, I feel that I am actually doing more than existing. It's almost unreal in as much as the characters who have touched her life echo the characters who have touched mine.
For once I have people happy for me that I am involved with someone. I think the usual reaction is for most people to cringe. One of my closest friends and my sister noticed a change in personality for the better. In 35-years I am actually happy with my life for all it's lack of material success and Joyce and Yooga are the reason for it. As turbulent as 2010 may look (Year of the Tiger is traditionally meant to be), I feel ready to face what I need to face with the two of them in my life.
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