1 Jan 2006

Happy New Year! 2006!

Welcome! May the new year will bring us prosperity, joy, health, happiness and love.

2005 was a good year. Family are doing well even though mom, uncle Z, grandmother and little niece were admitted in the hospital for a few days, different date and different time. We welcomed a new member of the family on July 2nd. Our dearest second nephew or grandson for the family, Joshua. Owen (Jwayne), our eldest nephew is 2 years this 29 January 2006. In Holland, our Holland-sister Myrna, gave birth to a healthy baby girl, Melody Zumaia.

As for ourselves, we were happy. We received friends who came to visit and stay with us: our Finnish sis Mirva; our dear friend Flores Jonuschat and kids (Jessica and Jonathan) from Wedel, Germany; cousins Shirley and Dr Wayne Summer from Georgia, USA; Maggie Becker and daughters from Germany and Kenneth Wong from Labuan Island, Malaysia. We had several trips in 2005. We drove all the way from Holland to Denmark in March to attend our second cousin's Mercy's wedding to her Danish fiancé. The weather at that time was pretty nasty; heavy snow and storm in Holland. But we made in to our destination safe and sound. On our way back, Uncle Datuk James Ligunjang followed us and went back to Malaysia via UK. We visited Jonuschat family in Wedel, Germany, near Hamburg.

In April, we moved from our old apartment to our new house. It's a normal Dutch house (3 floors + a small attic with 4 bedrooms) but we love it. Now, I have my private room for my books, computers, and my things. It's our sanctuary although I am the most habitat in this room. :) Our next journey was in England and Wales. We rented a car in Stansted Airport for the whole vacation. We visited Windsor Castle, went to Bristol, Bath (we did visit Jane Austen Centre as well), some other small places; then to Wales. Here we visited quite a number of Castles and also to the capital, a very big city. After several days, we drove up to Gloucestershire and stayed a couple of nights in Cinderford (our second time to this place). We attended our dear mama Irene's daughter's wedding which was held also in a castle. It was a marvelous journey. Wish to go back to all those places again.

The Harvest Festival (Kaamatan) for the Sabahans in Europe was held in Düsseldorf, Germany, organized by Becker family in June. We had a great time meeting other Sabahans from around Europe, UK, Canada and Australia. My next journey was also in June again to Denmark but this time without Wim and the city was in Copenhagen. Cousin Mercy and husband Dr. Thomas were going to have their wedding blessing in a Catholic church. This time I had to be there to represent all the family and relatives of Mercy. It was a beautiful ceremony and couple.

London was our next destination for a mini-vacation. Both Wim and I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary in London in October. I was on a business trip to Manchester twice in November and December. Our last trip in 2005 was to celebrate the Christmas in SPA (in Ardenne), Belgium. Our dear friends Gina and Jan-Willem invited us and JW's mother to spend the Christmas with them. We stayed 2 nights there and had ala French meals.

Now, it is a new year, a new beginning, another list of resolutions to do. I pray that we will get to do what we have wanted to do before. Time is the only excuse for us why we have not done things yet. But... make time and we shall be happy.

Have a pleasant journey. May God bless you.