Last Glimpse of 2009...

My, my...it's the last day of 2009. How time flies so fast. I remember starting my 1st day of the year on bed, sick with flu and fever and cough...not really a good start for the beginning of the year.

Meeting with Datuk Jahid to officiate the teams going to WCA 2009

Paintball Clinic at Kem Malanggang...spot me there? =p

Kinabalu Toastmaster Installation Dinner, Beverly Hotel

The photo that triggers lots of feedback...ok I know I look different in this Kadazan Costume! =p

My first paintball clinic conducted on my own at Survivor Paintball

As I recall the months that I went through, there are quite some good and bad things happen all together. The worst I guess is the day I broke up with my ex couple days after my birthday - it was a bitter breakup, and full of confusion and heartaches. Also, the lost of Ollie Boy, my pet cat...how sad... =(

But...as they said, there's always silver linings behind the dark clouds. I think there are several good and memorable things that happened...

Flowers to offer for the Gods...during my visit at JB

The weddings of my brother, cousin Emily and cousin Nazarius that followed one another. I think that's one of the biggest thing that I ever did by organizing my brother's wedding that at first gave me 3 months of depression and stress.

Cousin Emily's wedding

Followed cousin Oswald's family for a scuba dive trip in Mamutik Island, trip to Johor Bahru and meeting Elizabeth and her lovely family before she flew to Perth. My blog was published in Breeze Magazine, got my Level 1 - MPRO (Malaysia Paintball Referee Organisation) certificate to enable me to qualify to ref for My-NPL in future...part of my 2010 plan, that is. Completed the Euro-Ref course and able to marshal again in Paintball World Cup Asia 2009 in Bukit Jalil...it wasn't that bad right?

My brother's wedding

Also...that special someone that had walked into my life...you know who you are. ^^ Thank you for being there in any means that you could to make me feel your presence, when I needed you the most. *hugs*

Paintball World Cup Asia 2009 Marshals...I met both old and new friends...Thanks Dez for the pix!

Thank you to everyone who had been supporting this blog of mine, for your comments, concerns and so many things that reminded me that I am not alone during the worst times of my life.

So, good bye 2009...and hello 2010. Happy New Year to everyone, may the New Year brings you health, happiness and more love, as well as success. Till then, happy celebrating, don't drink and drive and hope it will be the most memorable one for you all.

Thank you Timothy for this pic!

Yours truly,
AngeLBeaR

The Movie: Muallaf (The Convert)

While everyone busy blogging about "Avatar" or perhaps "Holmes" or any other much more 'famous', worldwide known films that has been released recently, I decided not to blog about it, for I knew, my review will be the same as those you read in others' blogs.

Now, why "Muallaf (The Convert)" you may ask?

I was wondering myself the question too, and my heart almost sank when Tracy and I stared at the screen at the counter to buy our tickets and found that we're both the 7th and 8th customer that purchased the tickets for the movie. Not so much to expect on the late Yasmin Ahmad's movie, huh?

Yes, this is one of the controversial movie that was supposed to release much more earlier (was already released in Singapore in year 2008, and re-released again early 2009 due to much demand). This long awaited movie in this country does not failed me, very much to the late Yasmin's trademark that has elements of our everyday living.

The main characters of the movie, A Catholic school teacher, Brian Goh (Brian Yap) who copes with his traumatized childhood, and the constant begs from his mother who wishes him to come home; 2 muslim siblings, Rohani (Sharifah Armani) & Rohana (Sharifah Aleysha) that was forced to stay in an abandoned bungalow, running away from an abusive wealthy father, while grieving for the demise of their beloved mother.

Brian, the ever skeptical man that doubts his faith, find it interesting to get to know the 2 sisters who has this peculiar habit of reciting passages from the Holy Quran, Bible and Tao Te Ching. Their friendship became closer, that they willingly to share the pain and hardship that they went through. 3 souls - with fate met them together, finding comfort in each other through friendship, love and trust.

As good as it goes, the movie also has some funny scenes that would cheer your soul as you went through. As said, very much to the late Yasmin's touch. These elements - religion, respect, love, friendship and family make this movie a heartfelt one, and you can only reach the message if you watch it with an open mind.

With the title, you would expect any so called 'conversion' of religion? Then you must be narrow minded. 'Conversion' came in more perspective than what we see in front of us. I am sure what the late Yasmin wants is to see the real message behind the movie and it's title. It's a conversion from an old life to the new one.

With forgiveness, you can live a good and peaceful life.

With forgiveness, you can let go the grudge of the past and reconcile with those who hurt you.

So what's in a title when you haven't see the real message behind it? Watch, and you will know.

Thank you Yasmin...for this farewell gift that you had given to us. There will be none like you, and we sure going to miss you and your great works, a lot. Rest in Peace.

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays Everyone! ^^

Glitter Graphics, Christmas Glitter Graphics

Have a Blessed Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone. May this season brings joy, peace and hope to all. For those who aren't celebrating, happy holidays to you all - don't drink and drive and be safe! ^^

Best Wishes,
AngeLBeaR & Family

Missing 5 Pound Note ^^

Chippenham George worked for the Post Office and his job was to process all the mail that had illegible addresses. One day just before Christmas, a letter landed on his desk simply addressed in shaky handwriting: 'To God'. With no other clue on the envelope, George opened the letter and read:

Dear God,

I am an 93 year old widow living on the State pension. Yesterday someone stole my purse. It had £100 in it, which was all the money I had in the world and no pension due until after Christmas. Next week is Christmas and I had invited two of my friends over for Christmas lunch. Without that money, I have nothing to buy food with. I have no family to turn to, and you are my only hope. God; can you please help me?

Chippenham George was really touched, and being kind hearted, he put a copy of the letter up on the staff notice board at the main Fareham sorting office where he worked. The letter touched the other postmen and they all dug into their pockets and had a whip round. Between them they raised £95. [$170 USD] Using an officially franked Post Office envelope, they sent the cash on to the old lady, and for the rest of the day, all the workers felt a warm glow thinking of the nice thing they had done.

Christmas came and went. A few days later, another letter simply addressed to 'God' landed in the Sorting Office. Many of the postmen gathered around while George opened the letter. It read,

Dear God,

How can I ever thank you enough for what you did for me? Because of your generosity, I was able to provide a lovely luncheon for my friends. We had a very nice day, and I told my friends of your wonderful gift - in fact we haven't gotten over it and even Father John, our parish priest, is beside himself with joy. By the way, there was £5 [$10 USD] missing. I think it must have been those thieving fellows at the Post Office.

Have a nice day everyone! ^^

The Invasion of Stubborn Noobs: The Day We Lose Our Cool in The Paintball Field... =/

Different people, different attitudes.

Some people say, "put customer service first...the customer is always right..." and so on. But what if this particular people are those who are the ones that would cause more damage than good to the business? Did you think the term 'customer is always right' would apply?


And yesterday late afternoon, is the day where everyone - me and my crews totally lost our cool. Sorry, we love to have you guys along but then again, if your existence is merely to cause more trouble than good, we had to say good bye to you.

Paintball, as you guys knew is a high disciplined sport. From the beginning before a customer were allowed to touch the equipments as such, they will be given a waiver form to sign, and safety briefing was given to ensure everyone follows the basic rules and regulations, so that everyone would play safe - to ensure the safety of themselves and others while playing. Why would you think paintball is one of the safest sport?

So it happened I met this newcomers consists of about 26 people all together. Even from the beginning of the safety briefing, I already got sinister remarks and some even joked about the safety rules and regulations that I briefed and explained to them.

Okay, so I had to repeat each safety rules more than twice to let them know that I meant business. It was even translated in 2 languages, so it shouldn't be any problem, right? Wrong. Here comes the problem started.

So, Game On! And the girl that got hit first, ran out from the bunker, run through the firing line and took off her mask! WHOAAAAAAA!!!!!!!! Lucky though the other field refs are nearby and covered her just in time while the rest shouted and yelled her to put on her mask. I ran up to her and giving her a warning not to take off her mask. She put a sly look on me, and rolled her eyes. What kind of attitude is that?!? Perhaps, traumatized being scolded at, the little missy decided not to play the next round and after. Well, I did warned everyone what will happen if they took off their mask, am I?

The rounds after, things gotten worst. Especially this one particular fella. It took 2 refs, to stop him at the exit/entrance area to get him put on the barrel socks and safety pin on before allowing him to leave the field. At the same time, his other friends took off masks in the field and having good time, ignoring the scoldings from field refs. We had to tackle each and every one of them - game had to be stopped, immediately!

One of the field refs was a victim of the noobs. That's it, no more paintball for you! Get out from the field, at the instant! Some were a little cunning from the rest. He put on barrel socks and safety pin was on in front of the ref at the exit, then went out releasing the switch and shooting with the barrel socks on! Was outside the field at the moment, gave him my last warning. Do that again, you'll be ban from playing. One trying to slip in his underage son to play, though the son was not in the playing list. Sorry, your son is obviously different from the other players so it is VERY OBVIOUS that I can see an 'illegal' player into the field.


Then, the tension reached to the limit, when there's a shooting sound came just behind me. To our horror, this fella shoots freely outside the field! Once again, one guy tackled, marker took from his hands and game was stopped, for good. The fella just simply got up, make the 'I don't care' look and went to their tent. So he is banned for good. Sorry to say, I will never welcome him to the field, ever.


I spoke to the group leader and explained why we had to raise our voices, why we had to scold, why we were upset of these things happened - it might be a no biggie for them..."Nothing happen mah..." right? WRONG!!! Before something happen, we are preventing it from happening, and it shouldn't be happening!!

So, if any of you thinks that we are being overreact on why playing paintball is so painstakingly needed to follow rules, why need safety briefing, so leceh one, why scold people who 'only took off their mask once'; why even went to extend to ban people from coming, don't want to make business, ah? And so many more 'why this and that' that you cannot accept - my advice is, if you can't follow the safety rules when playing paintball, you should opt to play something else. I rather not having these people coming than risking the safety of myself, themselves, others and putting the whole community of paintballers and operators around the country at risk of losing opportunity to play paintball or running their business and ours as well.

Now, is the term 'Customer is Always Right' applies? No, in paintball field, it will always be "Marshal is Always Right" Zone. Follow the rules, and you'll be just fine.

Show respect to the other players and refs in the field, or you'll be expelled from the field, disrespectfully.