Beyond words

My visit to the dentist got me thinking. It takes six years to be a dentist. I cannot imagine what in the world they learn in dentist school that take six long years. The more I think, the more I marvel. Its only the teeth. What about the rest, like the brain, the eye, the ears, the hair, the nails etc etc. God is Great. We admire man made inventions but the inventions of God are simply, beyond words.

A matter of time

Its still hanging in the balance in Egypt. One way or the other, its anybody's guess. However, I sense that the people are gaining in strength and believe. Perhaps its only a matter of time. Meantime on TV I watch the story of how housewife Cory Aquino precipitated the downfall of President Marcos with the help of people power. I can't help but marvel at the similarities of the events that are unfolding in Egypt!

Toothache!

One of my teeth has been giving me a lot of pain. Thought I could just bear it out while hoping it will go away sooner or later. Turned out the pain got worse. I will have to visit the dentist today. Can't bear another day of the pain. Its terrible!

Opportune time to take leave

This week, for those working in Wilayah, Tuesday is a holiday because its Wilayah day. Thursday and Friday is also a holiday because its the Chinese New Year. All you need to do is to take leave on Monday and Wednesday, giving you the whole week off. If you include the two weekends, that will mean a total of nine days off. Now, who in the right mind wouldn't want to do that?

The mosque with a difference

The Al Ghurfan mosque at TTDI fascinate me. For a start, it is four storey tall, which is not normal for a mosque. On the lowest floor, it has a very happening cafeteria, with a nice view of Mutiara Damansara to boot. On the second floor, it has a seminar room while on the fourth floor, it has bedrooms. Both are available for the public to rent. With all these facilities, this mosque embodies the spirit of what a mosque should be, rather than just a place to pray.

Cameron by night

Turmoil in Egypt

Countries across the Middle East are facing unprecedented turmoil. Inspired by their brothers in Tunisia, protesters are taking to the street in numbers never seen before. I'm watching with interest at what's happening in Egypt. Will they be successful like in Tunisia?

Lamenting again

Watching Japan play Korea in the semi final of the Asian Cup, I couldn't believed that at one time not too long ago, both of them got beat by Malaysia. The way they play their football, they have certainly improved by leaps and bounds. In the meantime, we have been running on the spot. Our playing field is still the likes of Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia etc. Even the Middle East countries have passed us by. The World Cup 2014 qualifying is starting soon. Can we at least get through the first round!

Roadside Nasi Lemak

Everyday on my way to work, I will pass through Bangsar Baru. Its coming to three years now since I first started to use this route. Its also three years ago when I first noticed this vendor selling 'nasi lemak' by the roadside. Back then, customers were few and far between. However, he has come a long way since. Nowadays, every morning I can see people crowding around his stall. Sometimes there are layers of them. While other roadside vendors come and go, he is still standing , and selling. His 'nasi lemak' must taste real good!

Money proposals

Yesterday I received three e mails telling me I've won millions of dollars. Two supposedly came from banks while the other from a lucky draw. Then there's two more e mails from two individuals telling me they've got millions but need my help in order to transfer it out. Still another e mail said I have inherited even more money but they need my particulars. Counting them all, I'm a millionaire many times over! How I wish they were true.

Going for the Slam

The Rafa slam is still on. So far he has sailed through his matches. In the quarters, that's when the real matches begins. Can he do it? Tough but not impossible. To be the holder of all four Grand Slam titles is a feat indeed. Some people play their hold life and never win a Slam! Now is the best chance and perhaps the only chance to hold all four at once. Let's see if he can do it.

Simple, isn't it?

I started with my room. Now I'm moving on to the store. Removing loads of rubbish collected over so many years. Actually not rubbish but over the years I suppose they become rubbish because I never touch them. They were just lying around, taking up space and collecting dust. If I didn't need to touch them all these years, it means I don't need them. When I don't need them, it means they can go. If they can go, it means they are all rubbish! Simple, isn't it?

Putting thoughts to paper

This morning, I went to a friend's do, celebrating his first grandchild. I am at an age now where, on a happy note, friends are either marrying off their children or experiencing their first grandchild while on the flip side, friends are on their sick bed or have passed away. That's the way it is now. Life move on together with the time. I wonder what it is like to live a long life, well into the eighties or nineties. Friends must have all gone by then!

Football at its best

The match between Japan and Qatar last night got me all excited. What an pulsating match, with the Japanese having to come from behind twice before they finally got the better of Qatar. The way the Japanese play their football, its like watching Spain in the World cup once again. I can only think of two other teams who play the same way, Barcelona and Arsenal. Holland, in the days of Cyruff and company also play a similar game.

Strawberry and ice cream

I was halfway up the mountain in Cameron Highland two days ago. There, for the first time in my life, I ate strawberry with ice cream. It was a great experience, tasted really delicious especially after a heavy lunch. Never thought the combination could be so inviting. Must try again whenever I'm there!

Malaysia for the Asian cup

Looks like there's no surprises in the Asian cup except for Saudi Arabia, who lost all their matches. The others namely Japan, Korea and Australia are still there. If I were a gambling man, I would put my money on the Blue Samurai, Japan. I think they will go all the way to the final and win the cup! As for Malaysia, maybe at the next edition of the Asian cup, we will be there!

Everybody is a hoader

Been busy tidying up the room the past few days. What is astounding is the amount of garbage that I have been keeping all this while. Mountains of them. Sometimes you tend to keep this things somewhere, thinking that later they might be useful. After a while, you totally forget about them and they'll be just lying somewhere, gathering dust. Not only that, they take up space and clutter the house! If you have seen the show 'hoarders' on Astro, you will know what I mean.

A miracle happened again

After ten days of 'slumber', my desktop is suddenly up and running. Not that I do anything. By the grace of God, it came to my mind this morning to try and on the computer. Who knows, it must just be okay again. After all, when it went 'kaput', it went off just like that. It might come back on....... just like that! When I turned on the computer, immediately I could hear the familiar sound of the computer buzz. Its alive! I could hardly believed it but believe it I must cause it came back on....just like that!

Returning to the days of glory

The top sixteen Asian teams are battling it out in Qatar at the moment for the Asian cup. Malaysia, as we all know, is not there having not qualified. In the days of glory, we were among the top in Asia, winning the bronze once in the Asian games. These days, we play in the lower rung tournaments, such as the recent AFF Suzuki cup. Having won it, our next target is obviously to qualify for the Asian cup. That, I'm sure is not too tall an order!

Money, money money

Going by the number of e mails I have received telling me I have won this and that, I am now a millionaire many times over. Almost everyday I received e mail telling me I have won money. All I need to do is to contact them with my particulars. Sometimes I am tempted but I dare not. I might end up losing money instead of winning!

School holidays and weddings, is there a correlation?

The school holidays have long gone but the weddings apparently, have not! These days, school holidays or not, people will marry. Who cares if its the school holidays or not. All I care is I want to marry. This weekend I have wedding invitation. Next weekend I have wedding invitation. The weekend after next, I have wedding invitation. The weekend after next after next after ......... hey, wait a minute. I'm getting all muddle up!

Overdoing it

I enjoy watching Arsenal. They play a brand of football that to me is a delight to watch. Slick little passing, intelligent running off the ball plus incredible close control that only they can makes Arsenal the team to watch, every time. However, they can also get me very frustrated. Many, many times when I thought the trigger is ready to be pulled but instead, they continued on with their passing. Very frustrating! Maybe they are missing somebody like Messi or Ronaldo, goal scorer extraordinare!

Finally!

This week I finally managed to jog three times i.e. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Its been weeks or even months since I was last able to do that. That is actually my target but the rain and sometimes outstation work ensured that the target is more often than not, unrealised. Anyway, I enjoyed this week although at times I felt really tired.

Five days of nothing

Been busy the last few days with household chores. Then my desktop went 'kaput' all of a sudden. Before I knew it, its already five days since I last wrote anything in my blog. That's how fast time flies. Time waits for nobody as we all know. Its we who are chasing time, all of the time!

Signs of progress

The younger sister with her mother in front of their stall

Almost a year ago, while driving up to C Highland, I stopped at Lata Iskandar for a short break. Somehow I got into a conversation with two orang asli sisters who were manning their parents store. Last week I passed through the same place and what did I find? The younger sister is still manning the store but is now driving a new car while the elder sister is not there anymore. She is now an air stewardess with MAS! Wow! Not bad!

Spiralling downwards

Don't know what is happening at Chelsea but they seem to be in a free fall. After a brilliant start to the season when at one time they look like running away with the title, suddenly they have forgotten how to win matches. Its still basically the same players that are playing and the same manager but they look a completely different team now. How can that happened? Its a mystery to me!

Into new territory

Looks like the market is into new territory. According to statistics, it has gone up 31% in 2010. That's a very good performance but wait! Markets in Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines have gone up even higher over the same period, more than 50 %. Does it mean our market still has room for growth?

Increasing slowly but surely

The price of petrol is going up again. Just when I was getting myself comfortable with the new price, it is going up again. I am playing catching up all the time. It may not be one big increase like before, nevertheless, slowly but surely, it will be increasing and ......increasing and increasing......until it becomes big.

Selama Perak, Selama Kedah

My hometown is Selama in the state of Perak. Just across the border is another Selama town in the state of Kedah. The Krian river separate the two Selama towns. When I was small, I used to ride my bicycle and every once in a while, cross the bridge into Kedah. Immediately I will know that I am now in a different state by the way the local speak. The people of the two towns speak different dialects although its only the river that separate us!

Heavy heavy rain

The rain was terrible this evening. I'm sure many in KL were caught in a jam on the way back from work today. Even my usual 'safe' route was not spared although not as bad as others. I noticed on the other side of the road, the cars were not moving! I reached home at 6.30 pm, just a little bit later than usual. Alhamdulillah.

Pleasant memories

In my years of living, I have done many things. Some I have been proud of, some I would rather forget while there are others that will linger on fondly in my memory. Recently I went back to the place where I had lived before I moved to my present house in Sg Buloh. I took the opportunity to say my afternoon prayer at the local surau. Instantly it brought back pleasant memories. I was the Imam there for a few months.

How not to grow old

My one week of leave is almost over. Had planned to do so many things but in the end, didn't do any of them. Just stayed in the house and do nothing most of the time. Actually not nothing but watch TV, read the papers, books, internet, sleep, eat and drink. Before I knew it, the week is over and its time to get back to the routine of work. Come to think of it, working helps to discipline me in many ways. The time I wake up, morning bath, breakfast, lunch, exercise, even the time I visit the toilet! That's why I guess when people retire, they grow old faster. The regimented life is gone!

The morning after

The first morning of the new year started badly for me. The internet connections decided to take a break leaving me frustrated. Anyway, last night I attended yet another wedding. On the way back, I noticed on the other side, the road was jam packed with cars. Must be the new year revellers, heading towards KL.
2011 will be a defining year for me, that much I can say for now. Let's see how it goes.