PET+BLOGSPOT: Our Unforgettable Experience At Mid Valley Part One

REMEMBER THIS PICTURE-PERFECT SHOT EVERYONE?


This PETPOSITIVE family photograph was taken on the last day of last month.

It was on that glorious day when Mid Valley City - comprising of Mid Valley Megamall, The Gardens Galleria, Cititel Mid Valley and Boulevard Hotels - gave our elderly disabled members a time that they will never forget.

There were as many as 5o of them including their caregivers and volunteers. Our participants were also members from the Malaysian Parkinson Disease Association, the Malaysian Association of the Blind and the Welcome Community Home.

The first two non-governmental organisations like PETPOSITIVE are based in Kuala Lumpur whilst the last one is based in Batu Arang in Selangor.

The occasion was held in conjunction with Chinese New Year and the welcoming of the Rat Year in 2008.

You recently read about the account of what happened in Wheel Power in The Star. Now as part of our ongoing Chinese New Year celebrations leading up to Chap Goh Mei on February 21 - as well as St Valentine's day on February 14 - here is the moment revisited by PET+BLOGSPOT.

The pictures are taken by Ruwaidy Mat Rasul. (Pix bottom) Click on each photograph for a clearer view.

We were all welcomed with a great big smile from a very familiar face indeed: Huang Chia Ming. Chia Ming is Communications Manager of the two hotels in Mid Valley: Cititel and Boulevard.

Chia Ming and the Mid Valley team who included Catherine Lim from the Advertising and Promotions Department of Mid Valley Sdn Bhd were all ready and waiting from the moment we arrived at the lobby of Cititel Hotel. As usual, as notorious for my impunctuality, I arrived 20 minutes late at 10.20am.



A total opposite of Chia Ming, here I am pictured below with my infamous face worrying to see if everything is all right.

Luckily for me one of PETPOSITVE'S pillar of support, Captain Abdul Karim Stuart Russell, is right there (2nd pix) with me to tell me (for the umpteenth time) "Don't worry, everything is going to be all right."

Then, shortly after that, either he was distracted with something else briefly or it was some of my weirdness somehow had insidiously rubbed off on him. He didn't look as confident as before. Or was the distraction really something quite innocuous?




But really folks, I only jest here. Because there was absolutely nothing to worry about with the Mid Valley City folk practically anticipating everything.

Below is a picture of one of the blind members behind me being guided by our Committee Member Fasidah Sabeh. And then behind me (and the Captain) again is another person with Parkinson's disease.

It's interesting to note that he was walking at that point. Because about an hour later, his condition affected him so badly that he had to rely totally on a wheelchair for the rest of the day.
Luckily we anticipated on such a situation happening as it is common for those with Parkinson's disease. We had brought along a spare wheelchair! And Mid Valley had reserved a couple more at its Customer Service which provides such a facility without charge to its elderly and disabled shoppers.



And who do we have up there on the third picture to the right? Why, that's Pei Lee, TraxxFM's famous newsreader and DJ. She was invited as our mystery VIP for the occasion. What a delight it was for some of the blind participants when they "accidentally" bumped into her during their free haircut sessions and sumptuous lunch only to discover that it was their long-time radio idol seated right next to them!

There's Chia Ming (fourth picture on right) patiently waiting for us at the lift area to catch up with him. He was one of the "personal guides" at our service for the day.

Our first stop were two destinations. One was to get our free eye-checks at an optical shop and the other, our auspicious haircuts before the New Year. We were split into two groups for this.

Finally, the guy you see below is a sort of a VIP nowadays in PETPOSITIVE. You know what they say, those who hold the camera is THE MAN at every event. (Actually, that's really my own personal saying only!)

Waidy not only holds the camera quite well, but his pictures are brilliant! I only have one complaint about the young man: Hey Waidy, why so many pictures of me!!! And what's that horrible creepy crawlie creature that you are holding with your fingers?!



Click HERE to read Part 2 of this story.

aNt
PET+BLOGSPOT