Scotland Excursion - Glenfinnan Viaduct

Glenfinnan Viaduct

This is the location where the famous Harry Potter Hogwarts Express passes through. To view the steam train, one must be at the view point by 10.30 am on weekdays. Don't take the trail from visitor center. Right across the river from the visitor center, there is another free parking area just 50 meters away. Take the road trail from the back of the car park there. It's a 10 mins walk to the Glenfinnan Viaduct View Point.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenfinnan_Viaduct
- 21 arched
- Location for Harry Potter films
- Overlooks Loch Shiel and Jacobsite monument

How to get to Glenfinnan Viaduct?
From Portree, head out to Armadale Ferry Terminal (70km, 1 hour drive) to take a ferry to cross the straits to Mallaig.

Mallaig-armadale-skye-ferry-summer-timetable
To catch the 8.40am ferry and arrive Mallaig at 9:25 am.
From Mallaig, drive a further 42 km (36 mins) to reach Glenfinnan Viaduct Car Park.
From the car park, walk to the back to find a trail road and walk for 10 mins to reach the viaduct view point. Wait for the train to come.

When does train runs across the viaduct bridge?
Jacobite Steam Train schedule
The train runs from Fort Williams to Mallaig with stops at:

1. Banavie
2. Corpach
3. Lock Eil Outward Bound
4. Locheilside
5. Glenfinnan (stops here)
6. Lockailort
7. Beasdale
8. Arisaig (Britain's most westerly mainland railway station)
9. Morar (deepest freshwater loch in Britain, Loch Morar and shorted river, River Morar)

Steam train schedule
For 29-Jun-19, the morning train departs at 10:15 am to reach Mallaig at 12:25 pm with stops at Glenfinnan and Arisaig (by request). Expect the train to reach Glenfinnan viaduct at 10:45 am (30km).

Other information:
- The train track western extension from Fort Williams to Mallaig (fishing town) was commissioned back in 1897 and completed in 1901.
- The main contractor was Robert McAlpine and designed by Simpson & Wilson.
- It consist of 11 tunnels and 6 viaducts.
- The railway line built from concrete and that earns Robert McAlpine his nickname 'Concrete Bob'.
- Other famous viaduct includes Loch Nan Uamh Viaduct and Borrodale Arch.
- History has it that during construction of the railway a horse and cart accidentally felt into a pier at Glefinnan Viaduct. After some research and hearsay, it was finally revealed that the lost horse and cart was buried in the center pier of  loch-nan-uamh-viaduct.

Reflection on 2013 and what's in store for 2014

2013 is considered a good year to me. There are few reasons:

1. I am married with my lovely wife.
2. I got an own home to stay in Penang.
3. I got a new job with new boss.

There are also other areas of improvement for myself that I did not do so well in 2013.

• I am not confidence in myself (my communications, my decision making, my job as a people manager)
• I am not doing enough to bring my relationship with my dear to the next level.
• I am not doing enough to foster a closer relationship with my siblings.
• I am not doing enough to improve myself (not doing what I think, plan) - lack of execution and implementation whether in meeting deadline, going for appointments etc.
• I am not doing enough for self exploration and self improvement - whether in my career or self improvement in other areas (like reading, enrolling in course)

In summary, there are few areas that I think I should focus to improve in 2014:

• Self confidence - to build a strong self confidence (communication, decision making)
• Self improvement -  to continue to explore by reading
• Time management - to plan and meet my timeline 
• Interpersonal relationship - to understand people's relationship and build a stronger relationship with my wife, family, colleagues, friends etc.

My wish for 2014....

1. To be a good husband
2. To enhance my knowledge in many areas
3. To enhance my spirituality
4. To build a stronger relationship with family and friends
5. To stay healthy

Happy new year 2014....

Marriage

Today I am going to post about marriage. Yes, I am walking the aisle of marriage. My fiance and I got registered on 7th July 2013. It was a simple ceremony and yet a life changing event for both of us. What it means to me in nutshell:

1. Status change from 'single' to 'married'.
2. Comes with a huge responsibility to take care my other half.
3. Mindset has to change since no longer living a single life.
4. Become more mature.
5. More things to think about - where to settle down, financial, extended family, starting an own family etc.

What is my expectation of my marriage:

1. To have a warm and loving family home.
2. To share the burden be it financial or house chores together with my life partner.
3. To plan for day to day as well as long term plan together (be it family trip, vacation, starting a family etc.)
4. To go home to listen to grouses of the other half, even if I am tired.
5. Provide a shoulder for each other to lean when we are tired of a day's work or when the other person feel's stress and demotivated.

In my mind, what is most important expectation in marriage is not to expect the perfect but do my best to give the best to my life partner be it gratitude, forgiveness, compromising, strength, financial...

It's no single formula that will guarantee a successful marriage. Just like a tandem bike, it needs 2 person to cycle together to move a longer distance. It requires continuous communication, commitment, surprises, love, compromising and importantly embracing each other's weaknesses by not criticizing but continue to encourage and motivate each other. It's not just say without action as action speak louder than words.

I really hope that both of us will be happily ever after. I know it takes a life time to learn. I am commitment to be a good husband to my wife!

Cheers to Mr. & Mrs. Ng....

Financial examine

I looked at my current financial situation. It's not that ideal because I am still paying my debts and also there is not much saving left. Furthermore, with marriage around the corner how should I manage my financial better. I take a glimpse at the % breakdown of my salary and a pie chart is drawn as below.

From the pie chart, there are few assumptions:

1. Reduce my allowance for my family (Home-9%)
2. Service 2 house loans-48%. (*I only need to start service the full amount for Eve Suite in 2 years time)
3. 3% of saving

From the breakdown of the expense type, I can say that 63% of my salary will goes to service my debt. I felt this is not healthy. 25% will goes to expense (Food, Misc, Utilities, travel and credit card bill).

For the near future this is my plan to extract some money out just in case my dear is not able to find a job in Penang.

• Since I don't need to service the 2nd home yet, this money can be reserve
• Also, cutting down the expense by eating in and not travel so often to hometown
• Look into other means of income like public mutual etc
• Worst case, then I need to exercise my company's share and stock options

Well, I will work with my dear to sort things out and support my dear.

Financial planning is part of the life-cycle that I need to go through. I think it's one of the very important planning in life.

Success ?

                                     

What prompt me to write an article about success? It's been playing in my mind for a long time what's the definition of success? How to achieve success? What does success feels? Does it matters at all?

                                      

It's very obvious that success can be:

1. Rewarding
2. Self satisfaction
3. Reality check
4. Feel appreciated
5. Motivated to do more and achieve higher results

Success here does not have to be great. It could be as simple as getting a compliment from a colleague for a job well done, helping an old lady to cross the stress, do charity etc. Why I say these are successes? Success is a resultant of what one did well right? In normal circumstances, it could mean success in academic, career, politics, sports.....and most important life. I believe success in life is intangible in nature and cannot be measure by a yardsticks. It could mean everyone has its own way of measuring success and value what success means to them.

In my opinion, success could mean be able to stand up and go to work everyday. It could mean I am able to drive and eat healthily. It could mean I live in a peaceful country. What I want to say here is, we should threat every small things as an accomplishments and appreciate what we have. As human moves from one stage of life to another, we tend to forget what we have achieve and we always go for the higher goals.

In life, it can be struggle for human to achieve success if he or she is too focus on certain things whereby small things tend to be ignored and not appreciated.

SUCCESS = CONTENTMENT + APPRECIATION + COMPASSIONATE + REALITY CHECK + PRINCIPLED

Agree? Everyone has its own formula of success. For me, I need 3 things:

1. Discipline
2. Focus
3. Time and people conscious

 Well....What I have achieve in 2012 that I can say it's a success...? Many little things ....and yes I am appreciative of what I have....I wish for more "success" in my own definition for the years to come....

First Full Marathon

Finally I finished my first full marathon. What an achievement! Happy to manage to complete the entire course of 42.195km. This challenge by itself is a feat. At the same time, felt a sense of relief. It was painful experience to endure. Thank goodness, the run is over.
Towards the first 4km, I felt good, no pain and enjoying myself. From the moment going up the Penang bridge, my leg felt lethargic. Towards the middle span of the bridge, I can start to feel my leg started to sore. I should not feel this way since this is not even the half way mark. I told myself to stay calm and continue to run and do a half step at a time rather than full step. At the end of the bridge, I just walked my way around the U-turn. I took a short break and have a bun. After that I continued my journey. I reached my half way mark at a very slow pace (3:17 hour). For a normal half marathon, I should be able to complete in 2:30 hour. What happen?
No excuse, it's just lack of training and I was not feeling so well the night before.
From the half way mark to the 33km mark, it felt like forever....the.....
Anyway, towards the 30km mark, the organizer provided power gel and banana...they helped to replenish my energy. From the 33km mark back to the finishing line, it was like never ending. Anyway, I had the motivation to run (perhaps after seeing my friend in front and I try to catch up with him)....and also I tried to beat the 7 hours qualifying time...
The last 5km was liked....is it end yet? 4km....are you sure?...2.5km...huh? 1.5km....ok fine......500m...wat lao?....finally at the last 200m, my friend and I sprinted towards the finishing line...I felt a sense of relief and just felt like wanted to take a long long rest....
Along the course, I wasn't thinking much. My thought is mainly to finish my run and started to worry about the after effect....
Anyway this is a good achievement for me and I am very proud! I told myself not to do again, but my instinct tell me that I will do it again and I will have to train harder next round....
Woo hooo....what's next? After full marathon...I am very tempted to try biathlon or triathlon...

To sustain a healthy relationship with my dear.

In my new year resolution, I did mentioned that I want to sustain a healthy relationship with my dear. So, I asked myself how is the relationship going and am I doing enough to build a good relationship. Yes, dear mentioned that I don't say "I love you" as often compare to the past. Yes, there is some arguments. In my opinion, a relationship is always prone to argument. It's how well both parties sort it out amicably and end of the day these are sorts of pointers that strengthen a relationship.

Constructive feedback is good. Consultative discussion is good. Analytical thoughts and sharing is good. Decision maker is good. Indecisiveness could create stress. Flexibility is a virtue... I am listing the different behavioural and styles. From this, it could mean different pattern of human when facing with similar situation.

An ANALYTICAL person like me might take longer time to analyse and is data driven. This means indecisiveness. It could also mean more careful when facing with situations. Also I have the NEUTRAL type of character whereby I am a  good listener, patience and like to live in harmony.

Where as my dear is also ANALYTICAL and data driven. Basically, this means always cautious, be able to work alone and like to be precise. I felt that she also has a bit of DECISIVE traits.

By understanding this behavioural model, we can work out ways to understand each other and using different approaches when face with certain situation.

For example, an analytical person is always cautious and not willing to take risk. Well, perhaps we can change abit by accepting some calculated risk and accepting the fact that not all is perfect.

Well, I need to refer to the notes that kind of explain this Leonard Personality Inventory.

Let me explore more on this and what is important is I am willing to step to other people shoes and understand the situation. Equally important is effective communication. Also, not too sensitive on certain things. I just don't understand why I am so agitated sometimes. Maybe my subconscious mind is too negative that don't accept criticism.

I hope this will help me to build a healthy and sustainable relation with my dear. Off course this takes time and Rome is not build overnight.