Stories from Merbau Sempak

Then what?

2012-02-18T13:04:00.002+08:00

Malaysian badminton is in a sorry state. So bad that we even contemplate not qualifying for the Thomas cup final, something unimaginable just a few years ago. All we have is Chong Wei. After him, there's nobody else. The gap between him and the next player is so far! How can that happened. While China keeps on producing world class singles players, we have not been able to do so. In a few years time, Chong Wei will be passed his prime. Then what?

What went wrong?

2012-02-18T12:47:00.003+08:00

Europe has always been the continent that I look up to. The countries in the continent are well managed, modern, highly developed, advanced and yet so beautiful. Who haven't heard of London, Paris, Rome, Berlin and so on. When the countries joined up to be what Europe is today, I thought that was a great move. Their economy together will definitely be stronger than they would individually. Today, Europe is in trouble. The weaker countries are feeling the effect of the integration economically while Germany gets stronger and stronger. So what went wrong?

Jeremy Lin who?

2012-02-18T12:36:00.002+08:00

In life, things can changed in a blink of an eye. From an unknown and an unwanted NBA player, he became an overnight sensation. All it took was two weeks and five games. Now he's more than a star player. His BIG, I mean real BIG. From US to China to Taiwan, everybody wants to see him play. Merchandise bearing his names are selling like hot cakes while his name has become hot property. His name? Jeremy Lin!

A busy week

2012-02-18T12:26:00.003+08:00

I felt this week passed by so quickly. Been a long time since I felt this way, ever since I quit the rat race nine months ago. I had so many things to do and settle that at times, I felt time is not with me. For a man who's doing nothing, I mean not working, that's certainly is not a good feeling. By Friday, I was totally worn out. Lucky thing my Friday afternoon appointment was cancelled. That was a welcome respite from the busy week. I had a good afternoon sleep instead.

How frustrating

2012-02-14T12:16:00.002+08:00

In this day and age when you have GPS, google maps plus a host of other similar tools, there are still people who spent hours and hours looking for your house. Wonder if they ever heard of all these gadgets that are easily available everywhere. What a waste of time. Here I am waiting for two hours already at my house for this person to come but apparently he is in a merry go round. Can't find it! I am not living in the jungle! Crazy!

One penny too many

2012-02-13T10:27:00.003+08:00

The penny stocks have been hogging the limelight recently. Almost everyday there will be penny stocks reaching new highs. But how do you trade them when they are less than 10 cents at time? Its tempting surely but are the risks worth it? I really don't know?

How long more AVB?

2012-02-13T10:15:00.003+08:00

Talking about football, I thought Chelsea made their biggest mistake when they hire AVB as their new manager. For one so young with only a few years of experience in the Portuguese league, managing Chelsea must feel like jumping into a frying pan. What more with an overbearing chairman looking over his shoulder. A chairman with a gun on his hips, firing at the slightest of failure. I dare say AVB will not last another season going by how Chelsea is performing right now.

One nut is enough

2012-02-13T10:04:00.003+08:00

What a disgrace this Suarez is. A bad example to the sport. What makes it worse is the fact that the manager seems to support him. That's why this nonsense has been dragging on for far longer than it should. He should have nip it in the bud. I thought we already have a nut in Balotelli with all his antics but this guy is trying to go one better. The sooner this guy sort himself out the better it would be for football.

Its sizzling hot

2012-02-13T09:56:00.003+08:00

The weather has been hot the past few days. While Europe is freezing, over here its sizzling hot. Last night I heard thunder and saw lightning in the sky. Thought it would rain but it did not. In Europe, there's still no reprieve from the cold. I watch on TV a rugby match played in Italy in Southern Europe. They were virtually playing on ice. I cannot imagine what it must be like in Northern Europe.

An easy life

2012-02-13T09:44:00.004+08:00

When I was working, Sunday was usually a day to rest and relax in the house, catch up on the news, watch TV, sleep, eat and sleep again. Now that I am not working anymore, everyday is a Sunday. This morning for example, I woke up for the morning prayers, read the Quran and then went jogging before stopping at the local store to buy the morning papers. After a bath and breakfast, its already half past eight. Its time for a little bit of reading and TV. Today I have an appointment in the afternoon so till then it will be surfing the internet, read, rest, TV etc.

My favourite mosque

2012-02-11T18:15:00.002+08:00

I was at my favourite mosque, the Sultan Salahuddin in Shah Alam for the Zuhur prayer this afternoon. As always, the amount of activities going on at this mosque never cease to amaze me. The mosque is very much alive, with people coming and going all the time. I would say there's a lot to be learned from the way this mosque is managed. The management of other mosques should pay a visit to this mosque to learn how they to do it, that is, make this mosque alive with activities going on all the time.

If I have rm250 million (part 2)

2012-02-11T18:04:00.003+08:00

Getting a loan of rm250 million to do business is hard enough. Imagine getting a loan of rm250 million at rates below normal. Add to it a loan where it is almost free for all. You can do anything with it as long as you are able to pay back the monthly payment. Wow! That's downright unbelievable. I would love to get my hands on that kind of loan but will anybody give me one? Perhaps if I have the right connections, it might just be impossible.

If I have rm250 million

2012-02-10T23:48:00.003+08:00

I will buy properties all over the country for rent. Can make a lot of money. No, on second thought, no need to buy properties for rent. They are too much of a hassle. I have a better idea. Put them in a fixed deposit. The cost of 2 per cent is easily covered. That way I can just shake legs while still making money. Wow! I am a successful businessman with millions in the bank!

Merry go round

2012-02-09T22:09:00.002+08:00

There are things you can do and there are things you can say. But not all things you can do and not all things you can say. Sometimes you badly want to do or say something but circumstances doesn't allow you to. Then there are times you don't want to do or say something but circumstances force you to. Doing or saying something can bring you misery or it can bring you happiness. So, think carefully before you do or say cause you never know what it will bring you. Do or say something is a .......sigh. I'm on a merry go round!

Weight management?

2012-02-09T16:51:00.002+08:00

This time last year I was 5 kg lighter. That means in a year I have gained 5 kg. At this rate, I will soon be overweight, opening the door to health problems. At least that's what the doctor told me. Don't know what I need to do in order not to increase weight. Been jogging regularly, been eating normally, been sleeping soundly. So, what else? Anyway, on the plus side, my blood pressure is normal unlike the last time when it was borderline.

When mistakes happened

2012-02-09T16:44:00.003+08:00

Its frustrating when you diligently pay all your dues only to receive an SMS telling you that your payment is overdue. On checking your account, it showed that payment has indeed been made. So how come the receiver has not received it? You call the bank hoping to clear up the mess but they tell you to go to the branch where you have banked in the payment. Sigh......

Any which way you lose

2012-02-08T18:27:00.003+08:00

The market has been on the upswing the past few weeks. Taking the cue from the Dow, the KLCI has been moving northwards steadily. Many counters have moved up, providing opportunities for investors to make some coffee money. But it can be frustrating as well. Losing money is definitely one cause of frustration but making money can also be a source of frustration because you sold too early. You could have made more. So, either way, you can end up being frustrated.

Stop the killings

2012-02-07T12:08:00.002+08:00

How can they let the killings continue? My heart bleeds on watching the bombardment the people in Syria are subject to. Unbelievable! Its outrages! An army killing its own people! Everyday people are dying. How long will it continue? How many people need to die before the world wakes up?

Scars of life

2012-02-07T11:41:00.002+08:00

Why is it that nowadays tears flow freely from my eyes? The slightest of things will cause them to flow. I watch a TV drama this morning about a father and his long lost son who finally make up after a long separation due to a misunderstanding. Tears flowed from my eyes. This is really a new experience for me. Perhaps the scars of living the life have begun to take its toll on me. After all, its been more than fifty years! Still, I pray to God that it will go on longer in a life among those who believe and among those conscious of Allah.

Then and Now

2012-02-06T22:20:00.003+08:00

Many many years ago, when I was memorising the Quran, I always had to carry a Quran with me wherever I go. This was so that I can recite the verses or chapters that I had memorised anytime I like. If while reciting I can't remember a word or verse, I can just open the Quran to have a quick look and then continue reciting. However, nowadays, things have changed. I am still trying to memorise the Quran but with a difference. I don't have to carry a Quran anymore. With my smartphone, the Quran is at my fingertips. All I need to do is to download the applications. Thus I can recite as I please. Should I forget, all I need to do is to reach out for my smartphone. How handy!

Cows and Condos

2012-02-06T11:16:00.002+08:00

The issue of the cows and the condos can be easily solved. Just answer why the condos are needed for a business that deals only with cows. I'm not talking about any condos mind you. I'm talking about luxury condos, the kind of which only the rich and well to do can afford! But seriously, cows? Do they need them? If that questions can be answered convincingly, then I think the matter will be laid to rest.

What third force?

2012-02-05T21:46:00.003+08:00

What third force are they talking about? Don't they know that whatever third force they are talking about will not survive? How many have tried but failed? It won't work, this third force. Yes, some still exist but only just. The latest to try is that person who has just been sacked. I can tell you he will meet the same fate as the others for sure.

Maulid

2012-02-05T09:00:00.002+08:00

1433 years ago this day, the Prophet Muhammad SAW was born in Mecca. He brought us Islam and the Quran. The Quran is the final revelation while Prophet Muhammad SAW is the final messenger. Salam Maulidur Rasul.

The killings have to stop

2012-02-04T22:11:00.005+08:00

What is happening in Syria? The army killing its own people? Its certainly is difficult to comprehend. Everyday people are being killed. When will the killing stop? What is the world doing? Watching? What will it take before the rest of the world intervene? Millions killed?

Looks easy but its not

2012-02-04T21:31:00.003+08:00

Why is it so hard to win a million ringgit? I'm talking about the game show 'Where the Money Drops'. All you have to do is answer eight questions, that's all. Get them all right and the million ringgit will be yours. Eight questions only! Not that many. So many have tried but none have succeeded. Will we ever see someone succeed?

My jog this morning

2012-02-03T14:59:00.003+08:00

Today was terrible. My legs felt heavy, my body aches all over while my heart was pounding like never before. I was panting badly as I jog. Many times I felt like stopping but somehow I kept going. Then I saw the finish line. I knew immediately I must go. There's no way I was going to stop, no matter what. I almost collapsed from exhaustion but I don't care. I must finish the course........ and finished I did.

Tips from Quran and Sunnah

2012-02-02T17:41:00.002+08:00

My investments went from deep in negative territory to positive in a space of about a month. When it was negative, like everybody else, I was hoping it would go positive but frankly, I really didn't expect it to happen. Then it slowly but surely started to gain ground until it went positive. Wow! I could not have asked for more. Let me tell you a secret. Every time after prayer, I always recite the verse known as 'seribu dinar'. However, during those dark negative days, I added the following:
I read the surah 'Al Waqiah' everyday
I pray the sunnah 'Dhuha' everyday
I try to increase my 'alms and givings'
I'II explain more about them later. Suffice to say for now, they are all from the Quran and Sunnah. Try it yourself.

Up, up and away

2012-02-02T09:19:00.003+08:00

Gold went up again yesterday. At the rate its going, it will reached US 1900 dollars soon, perhaps before the end of the year. Would be interesting to see. China has been buying a lot of gold lately. So has a few other countries like USA, Turkey and a few others. This is not to mention India whose affinity for gold is well known. So, when are you buying your gold?

Trouble days for Sony

2012-02-02T09:11:00.003+08:00

Sony is hardly in the news nowadays. Its a far cry from the days of Walkman, Discman or whatever man there were. The company has since fallen on hard times in the face of stiff competition. In its heyday, it was the known for its quality and innovative products. Now, its only in the news for reporting yearly losses. A new man will helm the company soon. Can he turn the company to profitability? Or will Apple and Samsung continue to dominate?

Hold on to your Gold

2012-02-01T10:09:00.002+08:00

Gold is steadily on the rise. Who is willing to say it won't reach us 1900 dollars by the end of the year. Just watch it go. The fed decision to maintain its interest rate has helped to make gold attractive once again. Compound that with the continuing Euro woes, gold will surely make a comeback. Just mark my words. We'll see at the end of the year how it goes.

Close for the day

2012-02-01T10:00:00.002+08:00

The stock market was surprisingly quiet in the morning. At half past nine, the prices had hardly moved from yesterday's closed. The closer I looked the the funnier it became cause they were in fact exactly the same as yesterday's closed. Strange! How can it be? It was only when I put in a sell order that I became aware that the market is close for the day. Why? Because it told me so!

The sky is the limit

2012-01-31T09:53:00.003+08:00

I am inspired by Djokovic. For a long time, he played second fiddle to Federer and Nadal. Always reaching the last four but almost inevitably get beaten by either Federer or Nadal in the quest to reach the final. He had to watch from the sideline as the two players played out the final. It was their exclusive party. He was not good enough to be a part of it. Suddenly last year, everything changed. He gate crushed into their party, leapfrogging both of them. He is now the no 1. What does it mean? It means if you are determine enough, nothing is impossible. Djokovic has shown it can be done. So can we.

Chap Goh Mei

2012-01-31T08:47:00.004+08:00

I had trouble sleeping last night as a result of the fireworks working overtime. I could hear the booming sound coming from all over KL. At first I thought it would stop after half an hour or so, just like the new year celebrations but no! It went on and on and on. For hours! I was thinking, why are they playing all those fireworks. Then I knew it. It must be Chap Goh Mei.

A screaming final

2012-01-28T10:05:00.003+08:00

If you are thinking of watching the Australian Open women's singles final this morning, get your ear plugs somewhere handy. Chances are you might need them after a while. The screaming might get to you more than the game. The grunts of the two finalist have been known to reach decibels of 90, akin to a passing truck. If that don't get to your skin, I don't know what will!

Gold Gold Gold

2012-01-28T09:55:00.002+08:00

While most people were focusing on oil expecting the price to rise because of problems with Iran, gold has quietly risen to almost US1750 an ounce within the last one month. There is still some way to go to the high of US1900 early last year but the steep rise has excited the market. Analyst are predicting gold reaching US2000 this year or next. So why wait? Invest in gold cause its the only sure investment material in times of great uncertainty.

Nadal vs ?

2012-01-27T11:42:00.003+08:00

So Federer is beaten again by his friend, Nadal. Anyway, nothing to worry if I were him. With sixteen Grand Slams to his name, millions of dollars in the bank, a loving wife and two kids, life couldn't be better. Who will meet Nadal in the final? I have a feeling it might be Murray. Talking about finals, the women final would be a screamer literally. Both women produce sound when heating the ball. One grunt while the other shreik. It will be great to watch, for the rhythm, if not for anything else.

Slowly coming back to life

2012-01-26T11:56:00.004+08:00

KL is slowly coming back to life after the long Chinese New Year holidays. It seems that most schools are still closed. They will only open next Monday. That's why the KL folks are still away enjoying their holidays. However I'm beginning to hear the familiar sounds of the hustle and bustle of KL when at full pace. Families are slowly streaming back, little by little. To be honest, I enjoyed the quiet and the peace but after a while I was asking myself, when is KL going back to normal?

Who's next?

2012-01-25T22:47:00.002+08:00

Apple reported record profits driven by I Pad and I Phone sales. Samsung had also reported record profits, driven by their popular Galaxy II phones and a variety of Tablets. With these two giants making great profits, who are on the losing end? Nokia? Motorola? Sony Ericson? HTC? Nokia was on top not so very long ago. Now they are struggling. Sony Ericson is also in the same predicament. Apple was unheard of, at least not in the phone business. So was Samsung. How come today they are fighting neck to neck for supremacy?

What can Maurinho do?

2012-01-25T22:21:00.003+08:00

Maurinho will never win over the Real Madrid fans as long as he is unable to get the better of Barcelona. So far, try as he might, he has not found the answer as yet. His team can beat all the other teams and even win the league but if he can't beat Barca, he will never be a hero in Madrid. He knows that better than anybody. The last time they played, he was too cautious, choosing to play negatively by closing down the game in midfield while depending on breakaways for goals. That didn't work. Now he must find another strategy to get the better of Barca or he will be deemed a failure, no matter if he wins all the other games against other teams.

A year has gone

2012-01-25T22:08:00.002+08:00

I was surfing the internet when I came across a headline about the Egyptian revolution. At this very moment, the Egyptians are converging in Tahrir square once again to celebrate the one year anniversary of the revolution. Wow! I can hardly believe it. I remember watching on television when President Mubarak announced his resignation. Its been a year since then. Has it been that long?

Another quiet day

2012-01-24T08:32:00.002+08:00

I went for a jog this morning. Everything was quiet on the streets. People are still on holidays I suppose. By this evening, I expect the roads to be busy again. As for my jogging, it wasn't my best by far. I felt tired after a few minutes. Actually I was sick a few days ago. Perhaps that's why. My body is still recovering.

This is not F1

2012-01-23T19:57:00.001+08:00

Nonetheless it provided a lot of thrills and spills for those brave enough to try.

Holiday

2012-01-23T14:43:00.002+08:00

Its very quiet in KL. Perhaps its because of the Chinese New Year. Many of them have gone to their parents home outside the Klang valley to celebrate. Meanwhile the Australian open is onto its second week. The Japanese player, Kei Nishikori has made history, upsetting Tsonga in the fourth round. Back home, the NFC scandal has taken on a new dimension. Somehow, they saw it fit to involve Perkasa, of all groups. Don't know what's the motif. Should just come clean if they have nothing to hide.

River cruise

2012-01-21T08:04:00.000+08:00

Melaka

Its inevitable

2012-01-20T06:51:00.002+08:00

The inevitable has to happen. When it finally it did, I guess nobody is surprised. Kodak, the name that has become synonymous with camera film, has filed for bankruptcy. Technology has changed the way pictures are made. Nobody uses film anymore. It is outdated. I wonder what other products will face the same fate? Cameras? Television?

Lose again

2012-01-19T17:35:00.002+08:00

Maurinho still can't find a way to beat Barcelona. Must be really frustrating for one of the best coaches in the world. He can conjure a few tricks to beat all the other teams but against Barca, the tricks don't seem to work. Real Madrid have come out second best most of the time it not all of the time. What more does he need to do?

Thinking aloud

2012-01-19T09:22:00.002+08:00

It looks more and more likely there will be a Bank of Japan intervention in the currency market, at least that's what I think. The Yen has got so high Japanese products are losing their competitiveness. However, don't bet on it. Last week I thought Euro was going down the drain faster than a Ferrari can but somehow, it recovered. Spain successful Bond sale turned the Euro upwards.

Towering inferno

2012-01-19T09:16:00.002+08:00

Yesterday I went to PJ using my usual jam free routes. Ninety nine percent of the time the drive would be smooth with no jam at all. I can reach PJ in less than half an hour. However, yesterday was different. There were more vehicles than usual. I wondered why. Only later I heard about the inferno at KL Sentral. Perhaps that's why. Many people had to reroute to other roads because of that.

Make a guess

2012-01-18T22:25:00.002+08:00

A sanctuary for thieves and robbers? Who can that be? What can it be? Make a guess. I'm sure you can do it. It is not that difficult. Matter of fact, if you don't know the answer, something must be terribly wrong with you. Yes, I mean it. Something must be terribly wrong with you.

An enjoyable jog

2012-01-17T09:09:00.003+08:00

I really enjoyed my jog this morning. The temperature cooling while the wind was blowing right to my face making the jog such a pleasant exercise. Even towards the end of my jog where I had to run up a road that is sloping upwards, I felt strong. Normally, it is a struggle when I come to this part of the stretch. How I wish everyday it is like this.

What's going on?

2012-01-16T17:17:00.004+08:00

I was happy to hear that some action has finally been taken on the NFC scandal. Their assets has been frozen while steps are being taken to correct the wrong. So imagine my surprise when the next day I read that for the NFC, its business as usual. So what's going on? Meanwhile, money is being spent at taxpayers expense! Then there's this person who has been sacked. He is still raving and ranting! I don't know what has got into him. He should just look in the mirror and ask himself, why was I sacked?

Going to be interesting

2012-01-16T09:46:00.003+08:00

Its a black Monday. The downgrading of the Euro zone countries financial rating by Standard and Poor has cast a gloomy sky over the financial world. All markets are struggling to be in the green. Euro is already down so much, can it go down some more? 1.25 to the dollar don't look too far fetched anymore. Surprisingly, with all the troubles with Iran, oil has not risen as much. Matter of fact, it has dropped a bit. The week ahead is going to be interesting.

Covert war

2012-01-15T10:45:00.003+08:00

Its dangerous being a nuclear scientist if you are Iranian these days. Five have been assassinated which many believed are the work of Israel and US agents. Its the covert war in action. How far this is true we'll never know but the facts are these scientists have been assassinated. Its an attempt to delay or stop altogether the nuclear ambition of Iran, peaceful or otherwise.

Italian Ah Long

2012-01-15T10:27:00.002+08:00

Do you know that now, the biggest lender in Italy is Mafia Inc. In times of need, when the economy is stuttering, borrowing money from banks can be a hassle. That's when organisations like the Mafia comes into the picture. They will lend you money but at your own peril. Not unlike our own Ah Long I suppose.

What a scare

2012-01-15T10:20:00.003+08:00

Last night I had a scare. Had to rush to a 24hrs clinic at two in the morning to stop blood which had been flowing non stop for a few hours from a small cut. I made the cut myself, removing a small growth under the armpit. The cutting was a no brainer but the blood that flowed after was scary to say the least. At the clinic they managed to slow down the flow with a bandage. However at ten this morning, I removed the bandage, the blood flowed once again. Had to apply another bandage. Don't know how long this will continue.

Never ending woes

2012-01-14T20:15:00.002+08:00

Even more woes for the Euro zone countries. All of them have been downgraded except for Germany. No wonder the Euro went down yesterday against the Dollar. Went down a lot too. I dread to think what other calamities are waiting for them? Looks like 2012 is going to be a hard year. As long as the woes continue, the whole world is going to feel the effect.

One world

2012-01-14T20:09:00.002+08:00

Remember the international 'surau' I was talking about? The surau has just got even more international. For some of them, I can hardly tell from which country or continent they come from. They look ike Muslims from China or even Mongolia or even from one of the 'tan' countries i.e. Balucistan, Afghanistan, Khazastan etc etc. Know what I mean? Truly is amazing. Even more so that it's happening in Gombak!

How come?

2012-01-13T11:18:00.002+08:00

Somehow I get this perception that the police and the MACC drag their feet when investigating cases involving members or people connected to the ruling party. However, if it is on the other side of the political divide, wow! they are extremely fast. No hesitation at all. The full force of the law will be employed, immediately. How come?

Mix news

2012-01-13T09:45:00.002+08:00

This morning I woke up and immediately noticed that the price of oil has plunged by more than one percent. I was stumped. I wondered what happened? Flipping through the business news I came across an article about the boycott of Iran oil. It has been delayed by about six months. So, that's the reason. Other than that, figures out of USA has not been as good as expected although there are some optimism in Europe over the bond sale of Spain and Italy. However, be cautious. Its only a short term bond. We still need to see the yield for long term bonds.

What next?

2012-01-12T20:20:00.004+08:00

Rumours have been making the rounds but the when the confirmation finally came, it was still a surprised. Air Asia X will stop flights to Europe and India. Apparently, profits have been difficult on these routes. It proved once again that cheap long haul flights is not an easy business proposition. Many others have tried and failed before. Many many years ago I remember Freddy Laker and his cheap cross Atlantic flights to US from England. Still, kudos to Air Asia for trying!

Skyscrapers and the economy

2012-01-12T18:54:00.002+08:00

European stocks are up, getting a lift from the Spanish and Italian bond auctions earlier which did well with the yield lower than expected. That looks like some confidence are coming back to the eurozone although its early days yet. US futures are up as well. Now does that means we are looking at some light already. However, there's a theory about skyscrapers and the economy. The more skyscrapers you built, the more you are likely to have an economic crash. Remember Dubai and the Burj Khalifa? Now its China and India. The two countries are busy building skyscrapers at the moment. Are they facing a crash?

Living the leisurely life

2012-01-12T18:41:00.004+08:00

What a difference a year can make. This time last year, I was still working. Early in the morning I was already on the road heading for the office. There, I had meetings to attend, programs to execute, reports to complete, KPIs to meet and so on. I'II only be back home by about six in the evening. Today, I was still on the road early in the morning. Only this time, I was jogging. After that I had a leisurely breakfast at home, took my bath and later drove up to PJ to meet a friend. By noon I was back at home. The rest of the day was spent at my own pace and leisure.

Where to find friends?

2012-01-12T16:28:00.003+08:00

If there's one thing that I miss in retirement, its the friends that I have while working. Since my retirement, I hardly contact any of them, much less meet to chit chat over a cup of tea or something. Day in day out, I used to see them, talked to them, discussed with them etc. Suddenly, they are not a feature of my life anymore. They disappeared completely. That's the difficult part of retirement. If before, every time I moved on, I find new friends. From primary school to secondary school to college to university to the different phases of my working life. Now, in retirement, where to find friends?

Catmen?

2012-01-12T08:58:00.001+08:00

You're wanted

A shootout

2012-01-11T09:39:00.002+08:00

Yesterday in the afternoon the Tmn Melati LRT station was out of bound for a few hours. Police put up road blocks, cordoning off the area from all directions. Motorists had to make detours elsewhere. I was one of them. This morning it was in the papers. Apparently, there was a shootout at or near the station where two of them were injured. They were later found dead. Another one got away. Police believed he killed his accomplices who were injured in the shootout to avoid being identified.

Joke of the year

2012-01-10T19:54:00.002+08:00

When you criticise your own party policies, continue giving press statements that openly defy your party president and act in manners that are not in line with your party's wishes, then you can only expect to be given one thing, the boot. Thus I am shocked that he express shocked at his sacking. It must be the joke of the year.

An international surau

2012-01-10T19:46:00.002+08:00

I had the opportunity to pray at this truly international 'surau' in Gombak. Africans, Arabs, Indonesian and lastly Malaysians make up the congregation. I have never seen anything like it, at least not in Malaysia. Perhaps there might be scenes like this in the universities but not in a housing estate. It really is unique.

Jotting

2012-01-10T09:17:00.003+08:00

The Chinese New Year is coming soon. In China, millions of people will travel during this period, jamming all the roads, railways and even airports. It will be the biggest movement of people in the world, 25o million of them.
Over here, I'm anticipating a pre-Chinese New Year market rally. Yesterday was great but I hope that was just the start.
After the euphoria of Anwar's acquittal yesterday, we woke up today to a new beginning. It will still be a long hard struggle, no doubt about it but the signs are there of a new dawn. The light after the dark.
It also rain a bit yesterday. What a relief after the heat that was getting to be unbearable. So what next?

An unexpected victory

2012-01-09T17:43:00.002+08:00

In front of the High Court

Speakers working up the crowd

Some were there as early as 5am. I was a bit late. Minutes after I reached the court complex, heard the words 'bebas' being spread around by the supporters. Smiling faces could be seen all round. I didn't believe it until I saw some of the party leaders looking jubilant.

A last hurrah?

2012-01-09T17:41:00.002+08:00

At Kampong Pandan

The night before. Thousands were there to show support. Could this be the last 'pidato'?

Well done!

2012-01-08T18:40:00.003+08:00

It has been a long time coming but finally it happened. I'm relieved. He has become a liability. I agree fully with the decision to sack him. This guy has been too much, for far too long. He should have been sack a long time ago for going against the party's policy. Well done! A very correct decision.

Damn hot

2012-01-08T08:26:00.002+08:00

The weather has been very very hot these days. I thought just a few days ago we were getting floods in a few states namely Johor, Pahang and Trengganu. Even in the Klang valley, it was raining frequently in the afternoon. KL was flooded! Suddenly it changed. Yesterday I drove to Seremban under a blazing sun. It was very hot. At night I have problem sleeping because of the unbearable heat. It sure is hot now, just like what is happening to our the political scene.

Samsung sales hit new high

2012-01-08T08:15:00.003+08:00

I like Samsung smartphones. My Samsung Galaxy II have given me much pleasure. Its fast, light, with a bright and beautiful screen, easy to use and great applications. Somehow, the applications available in the Android system suits me better as compared to the one in Apple. So its not a surprise to know that I'm not alone. Millions of others feel the same.

My story today

2012-01-06T21:08:00.003+08:00

I wanted to go to the bank this morning but didn't. After jogging I had my bath, took breakfast, read the papers, scan through the internet, study the stock market, watch the ever moving currencies and ...... fall asleep. It was already eleven when I woke up. Time for the Friday prayers. In the afternoon didn't feel like going out therefore stayed in the house. Maybe tomorrow I'II do my errand at the bank. Meantime my appointment at the court on Monday is still on.

The icing on the cake

2012-01-06T10:31:00.002+08:00

Will you be there? I believe thousands and thousands will be there. It may be a loss cause in terms of the verdict but it matters not. The fight will go on, no matter what the outcome will be on Monday. What is important is not to lose heart even if it is an uphill battle. The last GE has opened the door. The next one will be the icing on the cake!

Need I say more

2012-01-05T08:05:00.002+08:00

Three and half million for millions of families but two hundred and fifty million for just one family. That says it all...sigh.

Early morning traffic

2012-01-05T07:26:00.002+08:00

Its a few minutes to seven. Cars are already filling up the road leading to MRR2. How glad I am not having to join the morning rush anymore. Those days are over. I have done my part and paid my dues. I deserve the break.

Its back to school

2012-01-04T09:08:00.002+08:00

Boys and girls attending the morning school assembly on the first day of school. Watching them I am reminded of own school days. Those were happy time despite the numerous homework, exams and some over enthusiastic teachers. I just love those times. Having to leave school was a wretch. It means the end of the carefree days when the worrying was very much left to the parents.

A beautiful night

2012-01-03T22:51:00.000+08:00

And so it will

2012-01-03T10:13:00.002+08:00

Today is the real beginning of the new year. People taking long holidays at the end of last year are back, the schools are opening again in a day or two while the traders and investors are back to where they belong. The markets should be lively again with the volume much higher. It all points to an exciting year ahead. I look forward to the days and weeks ahead with great anticipation. I am expecting a good year. Never mind the worry over the Euro or whatever. I have decided it is going to be a good year for me, and so it will Insha Allah.

I am not swayed

2012-01-02T18:42:00.003+08:00

In the world of politics, friends are never forever. So are enemies. Thus I am hardly surprised with the latest turned of events that has happened in our political scene. A prominent blogger have been hitting the limelight, giving views completely opposite of what we expected of him. The national newspapers received him with opened arms. Again hardly surprising. Me, I am not swayed no matter what. I stay true to my conviction.

A new financial year

2012-01-02T09:22:00.002+08:00

This year is going to be my first full year of not working. I will not have to join the mad rush in the morning anymore. I will not have to attend meetings anymore. I will not have KPIs to meet anymore. But I still need to live. I still need to have an income. As such, I need to have a business plan. I need to have objectives, set targets and chart out ways to meet those targets. Yeah ..... I need to do them before its too late. Ground zero was 31/12/11. Now, its 2012, a new financial year.

A bad buy

2012-01-02T09:11:00.002+08:00

I had my doubts when Liverpool bought Andy Carrol for such a big figure. He was largely unproven, having played less than a season in the premier league. I couldn't understand how they were willing to pay so much for such a player. Its bad business. Now, a year later, my doubts have become reality. Andy Carrol is struggling to establish himself in Liverpool first team. His goals have been few and far between. His movement sluggish and cumbersome. Only his locks flows smoothly every time he runs. How long does he need to prove himself?

What will it bring forth

2012-01-01T09:56:00.002+08:00

From high above, I could see the KL skyline lighted up by hundreds of fireworks as soon as the clock reached midnight. From KLCC, from Dataran and from various other places I presumed to be the outskirts of KL, colourful balls of fire reached up for the sky, burst and dispersed in the most beautiful of ways. It went on for almost half an hour. In Shah Alam I heard they had a great thing going at the Sultan Salahuddin mosque. Also at the mosque near KLCC. At home I relax while enjoying the show from afar. Its a beautiful night while at the same time, a new day of the new year is dawning. What will it bring forth? Insha Allah, everything will be allright.

This is the new year

2012-01-01T09:44:00.003+08:00

A disturbing news from the internet. A student leader was beaten unconscious in a police lockup. He is now in critical condition at a hospital. Earlier some thugs of a political party have been threatening these students in video clips. What has become of these people. Really sad thing to happen. Is this the way to welcome the new year? I worry about the future of this country. We are fast going down the drain the way I see it unless a drastic changed happened.

Being punctual

2011-12-30T17:43:00.002+08:00

For as long as I can remember, I have always been punctual. That has been me from small till now but that also has been and still is my problem because most of time, I am the only one on time. Others are late. What is worse is they feel nothing about it. It is normal. So, most of the time, I am made to wait. I would make sure I arrive on time only to be disappointed because the other party is nowhere to be seen. Its frustrating! If only we can changed this rubber time of ours.

Time keeping

2011-12-30T17:27:00.002+08:00

Yesterday, very early in the morning I was already on the road. I had an appointment at eight in the morning. To avoid the morning jam, I left my house at 6.45am, just like I used to when I was still among the work force. I reached my destination by 7.30am. After taking my breakfast, I was ready for the appointment. As usual, I waited and ....... waited and...... waited. The person I was to meet only arrived at ten past nine. Sigh.....

Emerging market

2011-12-28T22:12:00.002+08:00

Every time I read about emerging markets, Indonesia will always be mentioned as one of them. The country is a favourite of investors for the moment. Don't be surprised if the country emerged as the new economic frontier in the next decade. Vietnam has lost its lustre while China, India, Brazil and Russia has reached their pinnacle already. They are not expected to expand much further, at least not in the scale seen before. Malaysia? Political and market reform need to take place first.

2011

2011-12-28T09:50:00.002+08:00

A lot of things happened in 2011.
My number one disaster for the year has to be the earthquake followed by a tsunami followed by a near nuclear meltdown that happened in Japan. The fight to prevent a nuclear horror was certainly one of the greatest human stories of the year.
2011 was also the year of the Arab spring. Who would have thought that a death of one person would trigger a reaction that reverberated throughout the Arab world. It is still being felt even now with Syria the latest country under siege. I'm sure it won't be the last.
The sporting event of the year must be the Rugby World Cup with New Zealand deserving winners after twenty four heartbreaking years. Favourites every time but fail when it matters. This time they come good.
As for me, 2011 is the year to remember for ...........

Didn't I say so

2011-12-27T21:21:00.002+08:00

Didn't I say so! The market went up although not as high as I expected. Nevertheless, it broke through the 1500 barrier. That's definitely a good sign. As I'm writing, the markets in Europe are all positive. We are still waiting for the market in the US of A to open in a few hours time as well as some important figures that are due. Whatever, I believe the good times are here, at least until the new year. Tomorrow I am anticipating another good day. Cheers!

A good day today

2011-12-27T08:01:00.002+08:00

I'm expecting the market to be up today. Boxing day sales in England has been brisk despite the tube strike. Earlier, John Lewis, the biggest retailer in Britain reported a surge in sales during the run up to Christmas. These plus the fact that markets in Europe and US closed in positive territory just before the holidays add up to my optimism. It will be a good day today.

Its a passion

2011-12-26T08:34:00.002+08:00

Its been almost four years since I first started blogging. When I started I never thought I would last this long. It was just something I wanted to do as every other people were doing it. Besides, starting a blog is as easy as one two three. Today, almost four years later, I'm still blogging. It is kind of an outlet for me. I write what I want to write. Even if nobody reads them, it is not my concern. As long as the passion remains, I will continue blogging.

A story to tell

2011-12-25T18:14:00.004+08:00

The final of the TV reality series 'Solehah' was really something. Some of the finalists moved me to tears with their presentation. Yesterday I watch a movie on TV. Again tears flowed freely from my eyes. Somehow nowadays, I'm easily moved. Perhaps as one gets older, this is normal because it never happened to me before. Or perhaps its because of the emotional experiences that one acquire as one goes through life. A story to tell, a scar so deep, an event etched forever in the heart. Like everybody else, I have had my share too.

The year that was

2011-12-25T07:54:00.002+08:00

Nobody saw the phenomena now known as the Arab spring coming. It brought down four governments. Nobody foresee the money woes that would affect the Euro zone countries at the beginning of the year. It also brought down four governments. Nobody thought there would mass protest in Russia. How will this story play out? All these happened in 2011. What have 2012 in store for us? I really can't wait to know.

Trading in oil

2011-12-25T07:31:00.003+08:00

Investing in equities is risky especially now when markets all over the world are struggling. What more when predictions for next year are all negative. 2012 is going to be a difficult year economically. So, where can you put your money? Arts? Gold? Properties? How about trading in oil? Some are predicting it will hit 150US dollars! Why? Iraq is in turmoil. Just one week without the US army, the political tension is rising while the killing mayhem has started again. In addition there's Iran with its nuclear ambition, Saudi Arabia possibly facing a belated Arab spring while Libya is still recovering. All these factors will push up the oil price higher. Sure?

Its nothing

2011-12-24T08:33:00.003+08:00

I don't understand what's all this fuss about bringing down a picture. The way they say it, it is as if an illegal act or a great sin has been committed. Funny the way some people see it. To me it is nothing but a spontaneous act that happened in the heat of the moment. Why...they even had the courtesy to put the picture back! I don't see much wrong in it. Juts a few students who got overzealous, that's all.

What a strange wolrd

2011-12-24T08:25:00.003+08:00

A psychopath of a mother killed two of her daughters with the help of her two sons. A daughter lost during the tsunami came back out of the blue after seven long years. A man was caught for stealing women stockings. Apparently he has a craving for it. There are hundreds or thousands more of these kind of stories. What a strange world this is. Perhaps that's why it is only temporary. The permanent life is in the hereafter.

Finding the consistency

2011-12-23T07:54:00.002+08:00

After a long time, I am now finding the consistency again in my exercise routine. I used to jog every other day. Then I got lost a bit, jogging only once or twice a week or sometime not at all. This went on for almost eight months, since my retirement to be exact but now I am back to doing it every other day. I will try to maintain this consistency for as long as I can. Nothing beats the healthy feeling after a good jog.

Retirement has its advantages

2011-12-23T07:51:00.002+08:00

Among them, enjoying a quiet read ........on a lazy afternoon

Time waits for nobody

2011-12-22T23:01:00.002+08:00

I thought time would pass by at a snail's pace once in retirement. I would while away the time reading the newspaper, watching the TV and surfing the internet while fighting away the boredom of the days that would be slow, long and dragging. How wrong was I. For all I know, time seems to move at just the same pace now, if not faster. Tomorrow is Friday already while it seems only yesterday I was performing the last Friday prayer. Soon, the new year is upon us already. Wow! Come to think of it, its frightening sometime the way time moves. Just like what the Quran says.