Reflection on 2020

 

Its the last 2nd day of the year. Looking back, its a year of Rest & Healing for the world as well as for me. The world had come to a standstill because of the COVID-19 pandemic during the lockdown period. Pollution lessen and nature floral & fauna flourish. 🌼🌻🦝🐼And with the lockdown, many of us started to cultivate new good habits & hobbies, venture into new things, became good cooks👩‍🍳🥧🎂, started new exercise regime. 🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️Some gain weight because cook too much of good food at home😅, while some lost weight. Work from home has become a norm for many. Some business ended while some business thrive in this pandemic. 

As for me, I have so much to be thankful for. I thank the Lord for His Provision throughout this time. It must have been that I worked too much & too hard last year, so He used this pandemic period to allow me to have time to rest, to heal. And after a good rest, I will be able to start on the new journey, new career that He has prepare for me. 休息是为了走更长的路！ 😊 

I pray for the pandemic to end soon next year and our lives can go back to normal again, especially in travel which so many of us are totally deprived of this year. I wish to be able to fly to Portugal to visit my Marido R and that he's able to fly to Singapore to see me. 😘 

Here's to a better 2021 for all of us & the world! Cheers! 🥂 Happy New Year! ✨🎇🎉🎊

Wonder Woman 1984

Finally! The much anticipated film & basically the only blockbuster of the year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  😅 The first film Wonder Woman was released in 2017 & I remembered bringing my elder nephew to watch it in the cinema theatre. Honestly, I am never a fan of Super Heroes movie like The Avengers franchise or Captain America etc. The only one that I followed through was Iron Man. Robert Downey Jr is fantastic as Iron Man. As for Wonder Woman, I've read about it & much hype was on it. I was curious of how the rare female super hero movie would be like. I thoroughly enjoyed the first movie & became a new fan of the cool Gal Gadot who played the heroine and perfect for the role. She did the stunts in the movie herself. Respect! And after reading that she was in the Israeli Army & serve the country makes me admire her more. 😍 She is a heroine in real life. 

The 2nd movie was lengthy as the 1st one at 2 hour 30mins. Luckily, I went to the washroom prior the movie started. 😄 This time round, Wonder Woman Diana Prince had to face 2 new villains - Cheetah & Maxwell Lord. It started with an stolen antique inscribed with latin that Diana asked her colleague, Barbara to help to identify. Both unknowingly use the stone to fulfil their desires. Diana wishes for her deceased lover, Steve to return, causing his soul to take over another man's body. Barbara wishes to become strong & beautiful like Diana. She met Maxwell Lord during the institution gala night. He seduced her in order to gain access to her office so that he can take the Dreamstone.  He wishes to become the embodiment of the stone and gains its power to grant wishes, while also to able to take whatever he desires in return. He becomes a powerful and influential figure while causing chaos as his wishes trigger instability and conflict. In return, his body begins to slowly die. Diana, Barbara and Steve further investigated the Dreamstone's powers and discovered that the stone grants a wish but takes away something in return. The only way to reverse the exchange is to renounce the wish or destroying the stone itself. 

Diana was unwilling to renounce her wish. Steve asked Diana to let go of him. It was sad to let go of the man she loves & would never see him again. But Diana had to do it in order to save the world. Steve would forever be in her heart. After defeating Barbara, Diana confronts Maxwell and uses her Lasso of Truth to communicate with the world through him, convincing everyone to renounce their wishes. She also shows Maxwell a vision of his son, Maxwell renounces his wish and returns home to reunite with his son, averting global thermonuclear war. This part of the reunion was touching, I find. Maxwell Lord told his son of his flaws, that he wasn't a good person. To give him time to prove to be a person worth loving. His son even at a tender age, replied that he doesn't need to prove anything, he loves him because he's his Dad. I almost teared. 😥 I know I know, I'm someone who is moved easily. Well, I guess I'm an emotional person. 😊 

After watching the movie, reflection and thoughts came to my mind. In real life, I always wish for many things. If like in the movie, all my wishes are able to come true, what would I wish for? Will I make selfish wishes? Or become hungry for power and become corrupted like Maxwell Lord? Because great power comes with great responsibility.(The famous quote by Peter Parker's uncle in Spiderman). Something to think about. There's a saying "Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it." 

But actually, I'm someone who get contented easily. If I can be granted 3 wishes, I think I will wish for 1) Financial Stability, no lack of $$$ 2) Be able to get my dream job in my dream company 3) Be able to settle down with my Teddy Bear R and move to Portugal. 

I hope all my wishes come true soon! 😉🌟✨

Crash Landing On You

Finally watched the much raved about Korean drama "Crash Landing On You". I teared up in the last 2 episodes - When Hyun Bin's character Ri Jeong Hyuk was about to send back to North Korea with his comrades, the duckling squad at the North-South border. Seo Ri made it on time to send him off. Seo Ri cried and said to Captain Ri what she was supposed to do now & that will they never meet again. The heart-wrenching scene was enough to send tears off my eyes. 😭The thought of being never able to meet again of the star-crossed lovers somehow reminds me of my LDR with my Teddy Bear R. And it strike a chord with me. At the moment, we are unable to meet because of circumstances. It is really not easy to maintain LDR. It takes alot of commitment from the both of us. I truly pray that the distance and gap between us can be closed soon.  🙏💑 Back to the drama.The last episode - Captain Ri & Seo Ri were finally reunited in Switzerland after a few years,where it all began.The couple decide to make a promise to meet once every year in Switzerland & spending 2 weeks of precious time together. The last scene ended with Seo Ri walking towards Ri Jeong Hyuk with flowers in the vast field outside their vacation house. They embrace each other and looked with joy, love and hope. ~End of Drama~

This is my 3rd favourite drama starring Hyun Bin. The best of course is unbeatable "Secret Garden". He is a good actor & always immense himself in the roles that he played. He and Son Ye Jin displayed such great chemistry in the drama that rumours started to surface about them being an item in real life. But they denied it. Oh well, I hope Hyun Bin will meet the love of his life soon. 🙂

In the beginning of the drama, I find Son Ye Jin's character, the rich heiress Seo Ri quite annoying with her 公主病 Princess Syndrome. 😅 She was used to the life of luxury that at first, she despised the way of living in North Korea. However, gradually, she was able to adjust with it and adjusted it well. When she was back to South Korea, she still remembered of those she met in the North and of whom she established friendship with. She launched her new product of her Ri's Choice collection with the names of the few sincere, adorable helpful North Korean ahjumas whom she met. Son Ye Jin seemed ageless! Her first drama that I watched was "Personal Preference". She acted alongside with my favourite Lee Minho. I wonder what  beauty secrets she & other korean actresses like Song Hye Kyo, Kim Tae Hee and Jun Ji Hyun of having flawless skins and being ageless. 😄

The success of "Crash Landing On You" is not only of a good story content which touch on North Korea, which is refreshing, but also a strong cast - both lead and the supporting cast. I especially like the Duckling squad that Captain Ri was put in charge of. The four of them took good care of Seo Ri and protected her when she was stuck in North Korea for a month. One of them though always say mean things to Seo Ri, but cares for her as a friend. & the other one was a huge K-drama fan. One cool handsome dude & one youngest, soft spoken and kind. 😄

I'm kinda suffering from withdrawal syndrome now after finished watching the drama.😅 I'm looking forward to watch the next good K-drama! 😉

A Time of Rest 休息是为了走更长的路

I always believe everything happens for a reason and even if it was supposing to be a bad thing, it could be a blessing in disguise. God will always turn around the situation for my good. 

One month ago, after getting breakfast at Macdonald's, I slipped and fell at the exit door. I sprained my right knee as a result. 😖 My first reaction was if anybody saw my predicament.😅 It was painful but I could walk & got through the day at work as normal. However, the next day during afternoon, I struggled like crazy at work. Everytime I got up to walk (to the washroom, to the pantry to refill water), the pain intensified. By the time I reached home after work, I couldn't barely walk. 😓My knee was in such excruciating pain, I wasn't able to sleep well. Thank God for His comfort and from my sweet Teddy Bear R, I felt slightly better. The next day, my mum accompanied me the chinese sinsei to massage my poor swollen kneecap. I had to walk with the aid of umbrella as a walking stick, I must looked so pathetic. But what the heck. 😟 The moment the sinsei saw me, he was able to tell that I fell down & how I fell.😯 The next 20 mins of the massage seemed like forever & I tried my best not to cry out in pain. 😫 The sinsei told me that it would take time for my knee to fully recover & heal as it is more delicate area as compared to the ankle. After the massage session, I went to consult the doctor & was given 2 days MC. 

During this time, the COVID-19 situation has become increasingly serious with increasing infected cases. The winterwear company management that I work part-time for, has decided to cut costs due to poor sales & part-timers are not required at the time being. Strangely, I felt a sense of relief and peace & was not sad. God has all plan out for me - My contract for the current job was extended, so that I need not worry about finance & job search. He gave me extra rest from my part-time job so that as to let my leg recover. God is good! 😊

My leg is much better now, thank God, but I still have to walk slowly & cannot walk too much. During these few weeks, I realised that everything happens for a reason. God wants me to tell me to slow down, not only my physical walking pace, but my pace of life. I had been working too hard - working 6 days a week, (working at the winterwear shop one day every weekend) sometimes had to go back office to do overtime during Saturdays. 

I learn to appreciate the things around me now, taking it slow. 

On the similiar note, the world pace seems to slow down also due to COVID-19 lockdown. During this time, people get to spend more time with their loved ones and have more time to themselves, doing the things/hobbies that they were unable to do so previously because of tight work schedules.
I reckon this all too, might be a blessing in disguise. ❤ 

The bushes with lovely white & sunny yellow flowers by the side of the walkway. I walk past everytime on my way to the foodcourt during lunchtime at work but I didn't notice at all. After I slow down my walking pace, (no choice initially but now I chose to☺🌼🌻🌼🌻.) I started to be able to enjoy the scenery around me. 

Liriel e Márcio José - Creio em TI

I was pleasantly surprised when this song was performed by one of our talented church members recently during church service! I fell in love with this song ever since.❤ The reason being excited of hearing or knowing everything Portuguese is the fact that my Teddy Bear R is from the beautiful country. 😊😍💖

I remembered 10 years ago, I went for an enjoyable & unforgettable holiday trip to Macau with my buddy & her hubby. Macau, being a former Portuguese Colonial, the buildings have a European feel & influence in it & authentic Portuguese food can be found in many places. I didn't have the chance to try the Portuguese cuisine there but I did tried & enjoyed the famous Portuguese egg tart 🍮(Pastel de nata) oh so much. 👍 I remembered thinking and telling myself that how good it will be if I can visit Portugal one day. Little did I know that 8 years later, I would come to know my Love R who is from Lisbon. It must be have fate/destiny! 😘💕