I'm not religious but figure it can't do any harm to bid goodbye to 2009 with three religous-themed photos:
i.e., one of Penang's Reclining Buddha...
...a roadside Hindu temple (also to be found in Penang)
At some point in the not too distant future, I will write up a 2009 equivalent of my highlights of 2008, 2007 and 2006 posts. This evening, however, I just want to bid farewell -- and good riddance -- to this year that has had many high points, to be sure, but is ending on a not so great note.
To wit: Not only can't I go out this evening and ring in the new year with a vengeance because I have to work tomorrow but I just spent a good deal of my first day back at work from my recent vacation (i.e., today) worriedly wondering whether I'd be told that I would be without a job come 2010. This because on the first day of my return to Hong Kong from my vacation, I had a friend and colleague phone and tell me that some 30 of my colleagues had been laid off that very day.
Then, the next day afterwards (i.e., yesterday), I found out that the woman who was the first friend I made at my current work place -- and who truly was a gem of a colleague -- had been among those who had been let go. So, to say the least, it's been a rather rough return. And all this when my mother was in hospital in Penang -- having been admitted the evening before I was due to fly back to Hong Kong.
On a more positive note: my mother is back at home now -- and reportedly back in good health once more after having given those who love her another scare. Also, I still have my job... at least for now. (Touch wood!) But, to say the least, it's been a harrowing past few days. So here's hoping 2010 will be better for me... and the rest of you -- since 2009 really doesn't seem to have been a banner year, for one reason or other, for many of us. :S
15 comments:
I wish you a very happy new year!
I might disagree with you on the comments areas sometimes but you are a good and smart person who is always engaging!
See if you can squeeze in a dinner or lunch before I go home. Sunday is not good for me but, as of now, Saturday and Monday and Tuesday are okay.
Sorry to hear about your uncertain job situation, YTSL. (I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.) But very glad that your mom is doing okay.
Best wishes to you and your family for a happy and healthy 2010. :)
at least you can put 2009 behind and look forward to 2010
have a wonderful new year and may you have great happiness in 2010!
Hi ytsl,
I very glad to hear your mother is okay.
What a crappy return to work. I'm very sorry to hear about your friend and colleagues....I too have my fingers crossed for you and your job.
I do hope 2010 is better for you and your family.
I'm touching wood for you right now! :) Wishing you all the very best for you and your loved ones. I do hope things settle down for you.
Happy 2010! Hope it gets better for u:-)
Hi Glenn --
Happy new year to you too! And disagreeing is not necessarily a bad thing -- in fact, sometimes it can be informative and/or even fun!
(As for meeting: please see my e-mail to you about that.)
Hi duriandave --
Best wishes to you and yours in 2010 too. Re my job situation: touch wood but it seems less certain as of today than 24 or 48 hours ago. So there is indeed hope... though I have to say that this has been one pretty stressful week. :S
Hi Lissa --
Yup, yup -- and here's definitely hoping for a good year in 2010 for you and me! :)
Hi sbk --
Latest update re my mom: when I called last night, she wasn't only back home but happily playing mahjong with my siblings. So... :)
And happy new year to you and your family. :)
Hi A. --
Thanks for the good wishes. And here's sending good wishes to you too! :)
Hi hcpen --
Thanks -- and hope 2010 will be a good year for us all.
My wishes for you,
Great start for Jan,
Love for Feb,
Peace for March,
No worries for April,
Fun for May,
Joy for June to Nov,
Happiness for Dec,
Have a lucky and wonderful 2010!
Hi EastCoastLife --
Thank you for those great wishes! Will just go for a greater: hope you have a happy 2010. :)
Happy New Year ytsl! Sorry to hear about the scares at both work and with your mom. 2009 wasn't a bad year for me and it ended very tamely but I have had years that I was very happy to be rid of, so I understand.
Hi Diana --
2009 generally wasn't too bad a year for me... but yeah, sure do hope that 2010 will prove to be better.
Finally catching up with things.
Good riddance not only to 2009 but to the entire decade that it ended.
Auden wrote:
"As the clever hopes expire
Of a low dishonest decade:"
about the 1930s and the same could be said of the 00's, although he was writing on the day that Germany invaded Poland so things might be worse.
Happy that your mother is recovering so well and one hopes that she wound up in the hospital due more to an abundance of caution than anything else.
Best wishes from the frozen midwest of North America.
Hi ewaffle --
Yeah, the 2000s definitely was not as good as it could be. On a happier note: my mother does seem to be quite a bit better.
And on a temperature note: it may not be frozen here in Hong Kong but 12 degrees Celsius (like it is now) is still a fair bit cooler than I've become used to!
Hope this is a good year for all of us.
Hi Horsoon --
I'll second that sentiment! :)
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