January 2020 – Tukang Rantek Claudius

Tabi basa & Greetings family and friends,

Gong Xi Fa Cai, Xin Nian Kuai Le to my friends and may the year of Metal Mouse brings more wealth, health and prosperity to you. Stay safe and ensure high hygiene standard is practices in view of various diseases around lately. Stay safe, especially when going to airports and always keep a mask ready.

My post this time is about a friend of mine, an active member of FIAT Miri as well as a choir member, Edna and her husband, Jackie. She was one of the person that inspires me to be active in FIAT Miri since end-2016 and actively involved in choir since I am passionate in singing.

The Engagement

Engagement between Edna and Jacky was done Edna’s longhouse, Rumah Michael Jalak, Sg Bawan, Kanowit, on 17 March 2018. It was like Gawai came early that year, where we enjoy ourselves until late morning, as usual for any Dayak celebration. To my pleasant surprise, Edmund (or Dimen, his Pichin nickname) was there as well. I didn’t know he was married to Edna’s cousin, Etta. Also, Ita Medin and Tony Engkabi was there as well, doing shooting for their Gawai video.

The Wedding

Fast forward to 2020, 25 Jan, it is the big day for Edna and Jacky. Planning has been made months earlier, and whatsapp group is busy with the attire of the day. For the church blessing, it was conducted at St Dominic & Rosary Church, Taman Tunku. I was one of the groomsmen, and we were attired in suspender (first time) and polka-dot necktie. These items are easily attained at Daiso Miri, because our aim is to look stylish without burning a hole in our pocket.

As for the evening session, it was a fun and memorable night. The ladies looked their best for the night. As for entertainment, I did a song performance, first one is being a solo performance (Perfect – Ed Sheeran) and second song is duet with Diana, You Are The Reason. Jackie’s cousin had better idea, they come up with Bollywood dance for the night.

The ladies that shaped my early FIAT activities. Kinda miss the good old days.

Walton “Carlos” and Mary Uring – too fast, I can’t capture them. haha

After the P&W by FIAT, it was Marlcolm’s turn to play, along with Cikgu Psalms’ ehem-ehem.

They played Danau, and Semina Duduk Berimbai, sape version.

Too bad I don’t have a picture with Diana on-stage. Otherwise, I would post it here. Probably I need to wait for the other photographer to share it.

I have uploaded this performance at my YouTube channel and my Facebook page, Del.

The event is a crazy one, mainly due to the choice of the right Emcee. In this case, we have Mr Nomiday Dajie as the emcee. He can speak at least three languages, English, Malay and Iban.

After the kids’ performance, it is time for the Bollywood performance, including mashup of music from Kabhi Kushi Kabhi Gham and Shah Rukh Khan’s top songs.

Caleesey, Jackie’s cousin also sang a song by Alicia Keys, If I Ain’t Got You.

Nearing the end of the event, Jameson, Remeo and Nomiday are still ready to rock and roll, but the hotel staff is calling it a night. Therefore, that’s it.

May God bless Edna and Jacky, and their Bakeh Homebakery business. One thing that I admire about the two of them, they are husband and wife that runs their own busisness, doing the things that they are truly passionate about.

Until next time. 😉

Your Tukang Rantek,
Claudius Weson a.k.a Del

Instagram: claudiuswesonphotography (for B&W works & short story)

Note: Claudius Weson is a “tukang rantek” (photographer in Bidayuh Pichin) based in Miri, mainly doing portraiture (indoor / studio / outdoor photoshoot), weddings and event photography.

Gears:

For the 2018 photoshoot, I used my beloved M9-P which was no longer around, coupled with Noctilux 50mm. For 2020 shoot, I used the first Summicron (collapsible) which I love to use to create dreamy effect due to its softness, but still packs a lot of punch combined with Leica M10.

Copyright Notice

All of the images on this site are protected by copyright laws and are the exclusive property of Claudius Weson Photography. Images may not be copied, reproduced, manipulated, used or altered in any way without written permission. The use of any photography as the basis of another photographic concept or illustration is a violation of copyright.

Tabi basa / Greetings!

We’re two weeks into 2020, and I hope all of you are doing great. Life is great, whatever happens to us. It is not how life treats us that shapes us, it is how we react to it. Whatever hardship that you faced today, it is going to shape your future. Just take it is a preparation for a better and tougher times ahead. Better to sweat in training than to bleed in real battle.

In this edition, I would like to write about my Christmas and New Year 2020 that I have both celebrated offshore last year. It is not really by choice, and complaining about it will not make a difference. Therefore, I made the best out of it and then take that opportunity to capture the moments. My last time Christmas and New Year was on 2012 at F6 platform. That time was OIM Dana’s second trip to offshore after he was officially assigned as F6 OIM.

Offshore Christmas

For Christians, Christmas is the time to remember the birth of the saviour, Jesus Christ. It is also the time for gatherings with family. However, for those who is on duty, the family that they have is the brothers (and sisters) in arms offshore. Out there, there is no time to be sad because it is all about work, except when you are off-shift. That is the time for you to relax, and recover for the next day. On Christmas Day, the staff are given half-day off, except for the management level, where they still have to run the business. In the evening, there is a special Christmas buffet. Here, there is no question whether you are Muslim, Christian, Buddhist or practicing folk religion, because we respect on another here. You and your religion, I am with mine. All of us had some fun and a good time eating Christmas dinner prepared by the catering team.

Christmas Group Photo (Credits to Tuan Malino Muji)

After Christmas Day was over, the business runs as usual.

Solar Eclipse, 26 Dec 2019

On Boxing Day 2019, as I went out from the quarters, I noticed that the day is a little darker than usual. However, as I look at the horizon, it is strangely bright. I look up to the sky to see, actually there is an eclipse. Initially I thought it was only affecting Serian. I was wrong. I rushed to get my Leica, then I grab this shot. It is not night time. It is just that the sun is so bright, it dims the surrounding sky.

New Year 2020 Countdown

I think Campboss is a bit sad, so he sat there alone.

New Year is usually celebrated with firecrackers, a practice adopted from the great Chinese civilisation, invented as early as 200 BC, should you not know. Traditionally it was coloured by adding chemicals, including strontium carbonate (red fireworks), calcium chloride (orange fireworks), sodium nitrate (yellow fireworks), barium chloride (green fireworks) and copper chloride (blue fireworks).

Lagie still holding his mic, practicing for karaoke competition.

However, offshore, you cannot light a fireworks. You have to make do of whatever you have. Thanks to the Welfare Committee led by Effendi, the have prepared some of the items for us to have fun and enjoy for new year. It was started with Karaoke session (my favourite) until midnight.

On midnight, we gathered in front of the projector, where we had our own countdown using the internet watch and then it is 2020. No one is singing Auld Lang Syne though. Everyone was either busy shaking hands and eating. The best version of Auld Lang Syne is by Boney M. Period.

New Year 2020 Party

As usual, for any public holiday, it is half day offshore. After we completed our morning session, we gathered in the afternoon 3.30pm for our New Year Party, where the Welfare team prepared some games for the staff.

The first game was called Frog Prince, where the contestants has to act based on the symbols written on the floor. However, caution has to be exercised, because you have to place the correct leg and palm on the floor, failure which you have to repeat the who process again. The winner will be based on the person who can complete it the fastest. The winner for this first game is Reno.

For the second game, it is called “Hole In One” or popularly called “Ngayuk”. To win this game, you have to tie the rope across your hip, and through your pelvic motion, you have to swing the nut to hit another nut. This game is challenging, especially for those who has back problem. However, in this game, we can see that everyone is having fun.

Initially I did not sign up for this game, but after the second round, noticing that there is an empty slot, I decided to compete. I won the preliminary round, and eventually won the final round. Oh yeah!

The last game is called Musical Chair. This game is simple. When the music plays, everyone has to dance around the chairs. The catch is, there is not enough chair for everyone. For those who did not managed to sit on a chair when the music stops, he will be eliminated. There are a couple rounds before the final rounds. The winner is Shahsirin, a staff from PETRONAS.

After the party, all of us are served with another round of meal prepared by the catering team. No wonder offshore peoples are bulking up easily.

New Year Karaoke Competition

After the BBQ session outside, all of us freshens up and prepare for the next event. Thanks to E11 committee for giving me honour to be the judge of the Karaoke Battle to start the year 2020, which I ends with Isabella (once again, cos I love it). Great work also by co-judge, Medic Fikri, who is also a great singer. 🎶🎤😄

The contestants are:

1. Mekie (Transfame)

2. Kenny (ISOS)

3. Awg Hafizi (PCSB)

4. Reno (Shell)

5. Anwar (PCSB)

6. Aiman (Remang)

7. Firdaus (PCSB)

8. Lagie (Oceancare)

9. Shahrul (Oceancare)

10. Matthew Bilong (Petra)

Winner is Reno, followed by Firdaus and Lagie.

Special thanks to PETRONAS Carigali for sponsoring the hampers for winners. Kudos to the organising committee led by Mohammad Effendifor a successful event. The karaoke session marks the end of the New Year celebration. Indeed it is something for me to be remembered, a memory to be reminisced over coffee table should I meet with one of the offshore colleagues once again, in the future.

Happy New Year 2020 all, wherever you are! 🎊🎉

Your Tukang Rantek,
Claudius Weson a.k.a Del

Instagram: claudiuswesonphotography (for B&W works)

Note: From my offshore visit this time, I have decided to channel my musical talent into a focused effort, which I put in my own Facebook page: Del (click here)
YouTube Channel: Claudius Weson