best gadget/ my bestest sister

the best gadget that i bought at the start of 2011 is this fujitsu tablet which is also touchscreen...

the best gadget that i bought at the end of 2011 is the super duper hp colour printer....

and many thanks to the professional advice and help from dc....in both areas, i got the best for my purpose. And he was very decent to accompany me in the purchases, 'prepare' the laptop with all the software that i would need, as well as set up the printer for me....

and as for my super duper printer, well it can e-print, it can do 2 side printing, and it has a duplex feeder. So it is super efficient, and for these past weeks, it has been indispensable!

And now that sk is doing online modules, and needed notes to be printed, it has made it the best buyof the year! Am glad to be able to support her in this small way....

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i have been observing sk....since she started work when she was about 19 or 20, she has worked in 3 organisations. The first was where she met bil, maybe a year, the second was perhaps only a few months, but at the third, she worked for more than 30 years, surviving 8 or more retrenchments, and was the most senior, and the longest servinng administrative officer.

She always credited what she had to me, giving her the support and advice. In a way, I was always quite prudent, knew her circumstance, and was well, always rational and circumspect. But, that she, actually listened, followed advice, and was contented, and was super efficient at her work, she got to be really something.

Her organisation is of world repute, in the sector, easily top 10 in the world, and she served top-ranking global leading personnel. She always said she was kept because she was too dumb to be smart. But i think, apart from her super efficiency, her greatest asset is her being so unassuming, and modest.

It did worry me how she would be, when she opted to 'retire' at the same time as her boss returned to her country for another posting. She had told me time and again that she wanted to go into teaching of kiddies. Then about 2 years ago, she volunteered in the autistic ministry in her church. I was surprised that not only did she continue in it, she was really dedicated and really loved the kids with special needs.

Unlike me, kids have always loved her. In any gathering, she would always be the favourite aunt of the kiddos, and I, well, the stand-offish one. She just clicks with them. She is lively and energetic, and quite a personality. Actually, i can understand why mum loved her specially. She just has that x factor.

She just embarked on her new path, at the church autistic school. It has troubled her that in her applications, she had to list her 'academic' achievement, and that in interviews, people asked about 'A' levels. Personally, I think these people are XXXXXXXX. When someone has worked over 30 years, and at such a high level post, with outstanding reviews, to ask about 'A' levels is just madness. true, she is not inclined to academic subjects, but that does not mean anything that significant. At that time, what kind of support did we have, if for some reason or other, we didnt do well in schools? None whatsoever. We were just a statistic that no one bothered. Kids these days dont realise the pain and hardship when we were kids....

I have been really impressed at her diligence, motivation, and determination to learn about the teaching strategies of this spectrum of learners.... Its a total change from her lifestyle, and the pay cut is immense, at least 70%, but she felt that having the opportunity to serve in this manner, she is contented that she has done her part in the will of God.

To be honest, she has never been really close to me, though I was close to her...urm...dont know if this makes sense....i understand her, but not the other way round....though she does try to be there for me....i guess in many ways, she cant reach out to me....yet, i do know, when i was like a boat tossed in the sea at rv after mum was gone, i knew the only way i can have some stability is to move near to her. And that was definitely a move that 'saved' me and gave me the 'sanity' out of the long dark tunnel.

There are many levels that we relate to people. Some emotionally, some intellectually, some by interest, some by common principles, some by work, some by sheer length of togetherness... and some, by that special bond of being in the same family. Sad to say, I didnt and dont have that bond with any other family member...not even mum and dad... With them, the over-riding factor was duty and responsibility....from 16, i was independent and looked after them... Things were always in a upheaval.... sk is the only one that i can share empty talk, and just be around cos we are bonded as a family....and that really only perhaps the last ten years or so, when both zg and zl took on to me....

i am both amazed and encouraged by her, especially when really things are not always great around us, even now. Actually, we both have a common trait, materialism has no grip on us. So, at this time, when both of us, left what had been stable for us, to embark on an unknown path, it hasnt been easy for either. But, both are contented, both want not to live our lives in vain.... and really..... i have the bestest sister! :D