At long last, there is a new addition to the Thean family. Welcome Ashley, who has just completed her one month full moon. For such a young one, she has managed to make parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles run around her frenziedly trying to meet her every whim and fancy. With an angelic demeanor, when she is not about in break out crying that is, she has managed to wrap everyone around her little tiny finger....bwahahaha.
All that said and done, although small and sweet, she's has quite a temper and hidden strength in her little arms and legs that could make your muscles sore for days to come. Although born in the year of the rat, she shares very similar characteristics with her Uncle Dennis, who is born in the year of the Monkey, with arms and legs everywhere and anywhere and an inquisitive disposition.
What a beginning to a new year it has been. I was so exhausted at the end of 2008 that I missed the fireworks going into 2009 and fell asleep an hour before the new year kicked off. A new family member plus a new and exciting job, what could more could anyone ask for?
Chinese New Year was relatively quiet this year in comparison to prior years, possibly due to a downturn in economic conditions and the potential for hard times to come. The Business News on TV shows still broadcasts gloom and doom everyday as companies come in reporting lower earnings and headcount reductions and lay-offs. In the new company I have joined, about 6000 staff were laid off. Wow!
On the political front, the fiasco in the our Northern State of Perak just adds on to the already gloomy view of the future. I guess then, it's a time to keep a low profile, sit tight and ride this out again and hope it isn't as bad as all the media is portraying it.
So far, for me, the new year has started on a good note. Already, I have made some good friends in my new company. It is an exciting time for me and being the pioneers to setup a new shared service center, it is an awesome opportunity in my career to learn new things and build new relationships.
I am truly looking forward to a challenging, interesting and fruitful 2009 albeit all the doom and gloom of the economic projections.
