1955

Apple.com homepage

 This image file from Apple was titled "t_hero.jpg'.

How apt.

My heart came to a standstill when I saw the headlines on the newspaper rack 

at Cold Storage, after Thursday's parcel posting.

56 is too young!

The Chinese papers refer to Steve Jobs as “ 蘋果教主”.
Apple fans in China affectionately nickname him as “乔幫主”, inspired by a story character in a novel from their country's most renowned martial arts fiction writer Jin Yong. 

Such endearing terms.

I have never own an Apple product.

No Iphone. No Ipod. No Ipad. No Mac.
And I don't really know what an Itouch is. 

Have been so looking forward to Iphone 5.

That will have been my first smartphone.

Waiting for my Fujistu laptop to die and get my hands on MacBook Air.

So much had been raved about it.

I am known to be difficult to work with. 

Ask my Postboy, shoot coordinator and packers.

They will tell you it's highly stressful to work with me. 

This is so putting an end to the emails from job-seekers.

I've obsessive high standards, spin cotton candy dreams for Tian Fen Lan

and get down to the nitty-gritty of things, much to their dismay sometimes. 

I live for perfection.

In the past, I get very upset with myself whenever I make mistakes.

I can't sleep, can't eat and my emotions go spiralling down. 

Years on, I'm better at managing myself. 

The same dear people who work with me will also let you know 

that my strict demands have pushed their limits & brought out great results from them, 

something they never know they can do.
Actually, neither did I.

“My job is not to be easy on people. My job is to take these great people we have and to push them and make them even better.” - Steve Jobs

I love reading about male leaders & visionaries. 

Mr Lee Kwan Yew, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Lee Ka Shing, my Grandmaster Lian Sheng Living Buddha...

and now Steve Jobs.

Their dedication, their strategic foresight, their deeply-entrenched goals,

their positivity, their showmanship, their astonishing attention to detail,

their boundless charisma and energy and their sheer genius

never once losing sight of what they want to do with their entire lives.
Their passion infuse every part of their lives and inspire the people around them.

Another similarity?
Barely anyone believe in them right from the start.

How they cut through the frill-frou to achieve the unbelievable in life.

Totally wows me.

Yes, I know they must have compromised/sacrificed on many other things in life.

But I believe there's no such thing as a balanced life.

You can only live for one thing at any one time.

The rest just have to fade into minor roles.

Or achieve nothing.

It's like makeup.

If you decide to have bold red lips, you have to keep your eye make-up & blusher minimal.

Or risk looking like a painting class gone awry.

“We don’t get a chance to do that many things, and every one should be really excellent. Because this is our life. Life is brief, and then you die, you know? And we’ve all chosen to do this with our lives. So it better be damn good. It better be worth it.” - Steve Jobs, Fortune

Economist.com

 

Maybe that's why men are so much more powerful in changing the world than women do.

It is mind-blowing and paradigm-shifting to learn from the great ones.

How their thinking are so different & much more powerful than mine

How incredulous their minds are is often beyond me.
Their minds drive them to soar high in the skies.
Mine drive me crazy.

Maybe I am never dedicated enough.

Maybe I have never thrown myself hard enough into what I really like.
Alright, go drown in TFL's work NOW!

If I'm born a man, I'm convinced I will be even more of a workaholic.
I love working with workaholics & perfectionists.
They shake me out of my comfort zone and are always shockingly inspiring.
Frustrating, yes.
Awesome, absolutely.
I probably start off hating them, throw a few tantrums here & there,
but hey, bring it on!

Go read about what John Sculley, the former CEO of Apple, says of
how Steve Jobs does things and his way of thinking here.
He calls it the 'Steve Jobs methodology'.

It's a long read. 

With amazing insights on the legend.

I love it. 

This first-hand account of Steve Jobs by Google's Vice-President of Engineering,
Vic Gundotra, made me feel slightly better about myself:

Icon Ambulance   25 Aug 2011

One Sunday morning, January 6th, 2008 I was attending religious services when my cell phone vibrated. As discreetly as possible, I checked the phone and noticed that my phone said "Caller ID unknown". I choose to ignore.

After services, as I was walking to my car with my family, I checked my cell phone messages. The message left was from Steve Jobs. "Vic, can you call me at home? I have something urgent to discuss" it said.

Before I even reached my car, I called Steve Jobs back. I was responsible for all mobile applications at Google, and in that role, had regular dealings with Steve. It was one of the perks of the job.

"Hey Steve - this is Vic", I said. "I'm sorry I didn't answer your call earlier. I was in religious services, and the caller ID said unknown, so I didn't pick up".

Steve laughed. He said, "Vic, unless the Caller ID said 'GOD', you should never pick up during services".

I laughed nervously. After all, while it was customary for Steve to call during the week upset about something, it was unusual for him to call me on Sunday and ask me to call his home. I wondered what was so important?

"So Vic, we have an urgent issue, one that I need addressed right away. I've already assigned someone from my team to help you, and I hope you can fix this tomorrow" said Steve.

"I've been looking at the Google logo on the iPhone and I'm not happy with the icon. The second O in Google doesn't have the right yellow gradient. It's just wrong and I'm going to have Greg fix it tomorrow. Is that okay with you?"

Of course this was okay with me. A few minutes later on that Sunday I received an email from Steve with the subject "Icon Ambulance". The email directed me to work with Greg Christie to fix the icon.

Since I was 11 years old and fell in love with an Apple II, I have dozens of stories to tell about Apple products. They have been a part of my life for decades. Even when I worked for 15 years for Bill Gates at Microsoft, I had a huge admiration for Steve and what Apple had produced.

But in the end, when I think about leadership, passion and attention to detail, I think back to the call I received from Steve Jobs on a Sunday morning in January. It was a lesson I'll never forget. CEOs should care about details. Even shades of yellow. On a Sunday.

To one of the greatest leaders I've ever met, my prayers and hopes are with you Steve.

-Vic

A user by the nickname, “Xiaoyu-meow”, left this message on Weibo (China's version of Twitter):
“I miss you, Jobs. Please also make Heaven this cool since we are all going there one day.”

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I realise Mr Jobs is born in 1955.

The same year as my mum.

Mum talked about wanting to leave at 60 before.

Somehow, I couldn't sleep tonight.

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Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images

“Almost everything – all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.” – Steve Jobs’ Stanford Commencement Address

人生猶如一朵春天綻放的花，
在夏天爭妍斗麗，
在那有限的生命裏，把它畢生的光輝和燦爛貢獻了給世人。

你問我長壽好或短命好？
一個人命雖短，但他若將畢生的心血都奉獻了給世人。
就猶如那春天的花朵。
這樣的人生真的過得夠精彩！
相反的，長命的人若沒貢獻，而是製造了一大堆垃圾，
請問意義又何在呢？

Metta,
欣雨 Xinyu

Read that Mr Jobs is a Buddhist.
He had a spiritual retreat in India in his younger days.

His wedding was presided by a Zen Buddhist monk.
No wonder he always insist on keeping things simple & clean.
No wonder Apple's stuff have that Zen feel.
Pity his belief in philanthropy doesn't seem strong enough. 
Pity he isn't a practising Buddhist.

乔布斯先生,

願您超生脫苦，往生淨土，

南無阿彌陀佛，

南無阿彌陀佛，

南無阿彌陀佛。

I can never agree

 With abortion.

Unless the foetus is dead inside or something.
Or else, all the usual excuses are crap to me.

“I feel that the greatest destroyer of peace today is abortion, because it is a war against the child, a direct killing of the innocent child, murder by the mother herself.” – Mother Teresa

Too poor to have the child.
It was unplanned.
Too young.
Will hinder the future plans.
Career first.
Not ready.
Not married.
etc, etc, etc.

Don't do it in the first place then.

Don't be silly and think you have the right to indulge in whatever.
Nothing comes without a consequence.

“And if we can accept that a mother can kill her own child, how can we tell other people not to kill one another?” – Mother Teresa

How does a girl go through all this and still be able to live her life freely?

Don't come & tell me dumb excuses like "It's not properly formed yet!". 
It's growing everyday. It's a living life!
How can you inflict such pain on your child?
Where do you expect the soul of the child to go?
You think your child won't be crying inside?

“It is a poverty to decide that a child must die so that you may live as you wish” – Mother Teresa

A couple of years later, you make it better in life, toting bags that cost at least 2 grand
and driving that swanky BMW.
Even telling me that driving an Audi/Lexus will be considered a downgrade.
Yet never once I hear you say you regret that decision.

I don't know what to think of you.

No religion in the world approve of abortion.
In the Buddhist teachings, killing is the most serious sin one can commit. 
It's a human life that we are talking about.
For all you know, the child might have amazing potential when he/she grows up.
He might be a life-saving doctor.
She might be a great philanthropist.
Even if it doesn't happen, the child's right to live is never to be conferred by anyone.

In the process of running your own life, don't go around ruining others.


You ask me why he keeps putting off marriage.
Gal, your man just asks you to kill his own child

What can you be to him?
You're not even blood related.
How can he be worth your love?

You've already been blinded once. Don't do it a second time.

For goodness sake, please wake up, honey.

“Abortion kills 2 persons. The unborn and the conscience of the mother.” – Mother Teresa

好不容易能得人身，

你卻剝奪了他的希望，

扔下一個支離殘缺的童靈，
連為孩子報名超度﹑安個牌位，
讓他有栖身之所，
你也不屑。

你的自私﹑你的無情，

看了心都寒了。

孩子的怨恨能向誰說呢？

因果不壞。

不是不報，只是時辰未到。

朋友，三思啊！

Metta,
欣雨 Xinyu

人生且莫把心欺，

神鬼昭彰放過誰，

善惡到頭終有報，

只爭來早與來遲。

~ 蓮生活佛

I wanna play the guitar

 A pair of Korean twin sisters, Janice & Sonia, living in Australia.

Pretty, adorable & talented.

I love the way their voices blend and harmonise with one another.

Bumped into their Youtube video by accident.

This was the first song I heard last year.
It was uploaded in 2009.

The video that has clocked over 9 million views.

So happy to see their new videos this year!

They were in Singapore to play for City Harvest in July this year.
This video was recorded in their hotel room in Singapore.
Uploaded in July 2011.
Grown prettier & still as cheerful-looking, haven't they?
My new favourite from their covers!
So cute!

Almost all their YouTube song videos cross the 1 million mark easily.

They always look so jovial & sweet singing in their videos that it's really infectious!
A great pick-me-up on days when I'm feeling down and need some girl power boost!




A real quirky & hilarious video about themselves, for those who wish to know them more!

They must be really closely knitted in real life to be able to sing together so well.

I wish I can play the guitar and sing like them now.

But I haven't learn the piano yet.
Drats.

Metta,
欣雨 Xinyu

添芬藍 Series 55 ~ Tie Me a Ribbon, will you?

 I have this love for Naraya bags ever since I started flying.

You know, those satin/polyester bags with the 'magical' big ribbons in front that 

many of us buy in bulk from Bangkok.

I say the ribbons are magical because almost every one of my female colleague owns 

at least one, if not, more items from Naraya. 

Totes, small carriers, make-up pouches with mirrors, mobile phone holders, tissue paper holders and the list goes on.

Every lady seems to fall for the charm of the ribbon.

And no one that I know doesn't owe one of this.

The classic Naraya tote bag, with its signature ribbon and quilts.

It's just a matter of which colour we have.

Many of my colleagues have it in black. 

This bag is so useful during our travelling. 

We use it as a shopping bag when we are out.

If our shopping loot gets too much for our luggage, we whip this bag out as a secondary carry-on bag. 

The company only allows black bags as a secondary bag at that time.

Pretty, discreet, lightweight, compact, plenty of storage space and oh, so adorable!

I think Naraya has really hit the jackpot with the quilts & ribbon.

Apart from Chanel signature quilts, no other brand I know has done this so well.

And at a so much more affordable price!

About a year after I started TFL, my mum texted me one day, asking me for a favour. 

Knowing my mum's wacky personality, I smelt something fishy then. 

-____-

For some weird reason, Mum bought a whole cargo of Naraya bags from Bangkok, unable to dispose of them and wanted me to re-sell them on Tian Fen Lan's site.

I was like, "WHATTTTT?????"

Totally rejected the idea.

Mum was going on and on about how the home had no space for the bags and putting them up for sale at the cousin's pushcarts didn't help either.

The funniest thing was when she tried to convince me about how popular the classic Naraya bags were and how she saw many office girls toting the bags on their way to work.

Mum, that doesn't mean I should sell them!!!

I will just be helping Naraya and not Tian Fen Lan!!

I remembered during the shoot, Anna (the model) was looking at the bags and saying 

that she didn't think they would sell well.

Some of those that my mum bought were like...erm...er...duh?

I agree with Anna totally.

Turned out that we were half-correct.

The one that went flying off the 'racks' was the classic Naraya ribbon bag. 

There were black & pink available. 

After they were all sold out within the week, customers were asking for backorders. 

And I was like NO, NO, NO! 

I don't wanna make a name of TFL reselling Naraya bags.

I never even tell my mom that so many customers wanted the BO. 

Or I'm sure she will fly to Bangkok again just for that!

Hahaha!

The thing I always wish about Naraya bags is if only they are available in a stronger material like faux leather. 

Satin/polyester is great but it's not durable & pro enough for work & school, isn't it?

The shoulder straps are a tad too thin too, if there is a lot of load inside the bag.

So one fine day, while looking for ideas for the next manufactured bag, I thought of this Naraya bag.

Why not, I thought?

I might just be able to start a whole line of bags, with the ribbon bow as a charm!

So, the sample you saw on me a few months back was like a miniature version of the Naraya bag.

Alright, not exactly a direct faux leather version. 

Quilts and a ribbon bow sound too much for a faux leather bag, don't they?

More of like just the ribbon bow feature that I superimpose on an otherwise normal flap bag.

I really like the end result a lot!!!

Do you too???

I sure hope so!

Faux leather ribbon bows have never looked so good!!

I can't stop touching the cushy ribbon on the bag!

In true TFL style, I have manufactured this bag in 4 gorgeous colours!

The most wonderful thing about manufacturing is I get a chance to introduce new pretty colours to my customers, otherwise not found in most brick-and-mortar stores or even other online stores. 

I love the little scrunches in the ribbon knot!

So realistic and adorable at the same time!

Roasted Honey is a great colour for girls who like their bags in a less sweet colour. 

Actually, I think this is the 1st time TFL has a manufactured bag in this colour. 

This is my favourite colour of the 4!

I like the combi of the demure ribbon bow and how the honey colour gives a slight rugged touch to the bag.
The Husband was suggesting me to go for something like nude pink, but 4 sweet feminine colours are a tad too much for me.
Need Roasted Honey to balance the equation!

And of course, in Sweet Lilac too!

An always popular colour with TFL's customers!

The bag might seem small, but it can actually fit 2-3 A4 books without problem!

I used the sample for about 1 month and that's the amount of books I have inside most of the time, plus my stationery and other nick-nacks.

Meadow Green is one of the newest colours on TFL's palette.

As in, it is very rare even for TFL's imported bags and a first for TFL manufactured bags!

And I love, love, love this colour after Roasted Honey!!

It's a delicate shade of light green that is such a breeze of fresh air from the usual colours.

The tail ends of the ribbon bow are slightly adjustable. 

So if you find them flapping outwards too much, you can gently pull them in towards the centre.

The shoulder strap length allows shoulder carrying too. 

Just that it is a bit short, because I don't think such a bag will look good with longer shoulder straps.

It will reduce the cuteness of the bag, don't you agree?

There is a back zip pocket for you to put your mobile phone and other things 

that require easy retrieval!

I have not been sponsoring bloggers with TFL manufactured items for quite some time now.

You might have notice that TFL has cut its blogger advertising by a lot this year.

All thanks to my ever supportive customers!!! <3 <3 <3

When the sample was sent for manufacturing, I thought of Miyake, the pretty manga-like blogger.

I really think this bag will suit her kawaii style so well. 

Miyake has always been honest about what she likes from Tian Fen Lan.

So I tried my luck and emailed her.

And I'm lucky! Miyake finds Tie Me a Ribbon Bag cute! =DD

She opted for Peachy Pink, another favourite among TFL's customers.

Looking forward to seeing her gorgeous & always so stylish pics on Sunday!

Tie Me a Ribbon Bag will be launched on Sunday night!

So look out, babes! =DD

Randomly, I'm one of those girls who can't tie a perfect ribbon bow.
You know, those that will look nice on a gift, without a droppy bow or criss-crossing tails.
And I'm just so glad the ribbon bows on the bags are purrrrrrr-fect! =DD

Metta,
欣雨 Xinyu