Never despair from the blessing of God

More often than not, we make decision that we think are the best for us base on the facts that we have. Sometime these facts are too personal to tell. As a result, people misunderstood our decision and might not agree or be happy with it. They may say many many things but only we know why we made that decision. As long as we keep our faith in God, I believe things will turn out all right in the end, if not here, then in the hereafter.

One for the memory

World golfer number one title up for grabs!

With Tiger seemingly still lost in the woods, the position of the world number one golfer has been changing hands like never before. First it was Lee Westwood, then Martin Kaymer, then Lee Westwood again and now its Luke Donald. Like Westwood and Kaymer before him, I believe he will not hold it for long. The title will ding dong for now until somebody strong enough will have a strangle hold on it just like Tiger did previously. Will it be Mr Woods?

How to play winning football

As I have mentioned it earlier, football is a simple game. All you need to do is to keep possession of the ball. Deny your opponent the ball. Don't let them even touch it. Guard over it like its your life. Without the ball, your opponent can't do much. That's how Barcelona played against Man U and that's how Spain played to win the World Cup. Can Malaysia play like that?

Know the real life

Life can definitely spring surprises every now and then. No matter what age you are at, surprises can happen, especially when you least expect it. If the surprise is a pleasant one, well and good but if it is the opposite, then one just has to take it on the chin and move on. No use fretting over it. Life in this world is short and temporary. Its life in the hereafter that we should be striving for cause its forever.

Wither Nuclear power?

Germany has decided it does not want to have anything to do with nuclear come 2022. Don't know if other countries will follow suit but I sure won't be surprise if it happen. No matter what, its a big decision for Germany to make knowing that other forms of energy are not exactly problem free.

Head I win

My head wins the day. Brilliant Barcelona destroyed Man U with the help of Messi who was totally unplayable. With him playing like that, Man U stood no chance. Man U should have man marked him, even if that wasn't their style.

Tragedies waiting to happen

After so many tragedies involving houses near hill slopes, lives are still being lost because of the same happening. Lessons learned from the earlier tragedies are not enough to prevent another one from happening. What gives? We now know that the orphanage was built without permit. I see many houses by hill slopes, like tragedies waiting to happen. Do these houses have permits?

What a struggle

I saw the match last night. Nadal was clearly struggling against Isner. He was almost upset by the big serving six foot seven player. Somehow, like all great players, he got going when the going gets tough and won by the skin of his teeth. Another display like that he will be history!

French open thoughts

With Federer in decline, I thought the French open would be plain sailing for Nadal. He just needs to turn up and the title will be his but wait, another player has suddenly changed the equation. Djokovic has made the best of starts this season. Unbeaten, seven titles along the way and more importantly, getting the better of Nadal four straight times with twice of those on clay. Can he do it in Paris?

Time is precious

Thought I would have plenty of time to do my errands now that I'm retired but as I found out, time is still a precious commodity. I need to plan carefully. Otherwise a day would be gone just like that without anything significant done. As for errands that need to be done, there's always something, everyday!

What I've always wanted

Its been almost a month since I got my 'freedom'. So far, so good. I do as I like, go as I like, live as I like. My time is my own. No more the morning rush or the Monday blues. No deadline to meet nor the KPIs to achieve. No meetings to attend and no presentations to give. I'm living a dream. Enjoying every minute of it!

Punctuality, symbol of a winning society

Since small, I have always been a sticker for time. To me, if you say 10 o'clock, it means just that i.e. 10 o'clock. Unfortunately, it is not so for most people. For them, 10 o'clock means 10 plus plus. So if the appointment is at 10 o'clock, they will come at 10.15, 10.30 and even at 11. Worse, they'll feel nothing about it! That has always been my problem cause I'II come at 10 o'clock sharp. You would not believe it but this laid back attitude with time is causing us millions!

For want of better things to do

What a difference a year can make

Learning the Korean nuclear experience

Just over a year ago, the nuclear power industry was on the upswing. Countries after countries decided that nuclear was the best option. How time has changed. These days, its struggling to regain its footing after the near disaster in Japan. I guess it will take a while. Meantime, back home, the long saga of the Bakun hydro power look set to continue. I'm afraid its going to be as long as the transmission line, if not longer!

It boggles the mind

There's one date that I really look forward to. Can't wait for it to come but at the same time, it is also a date that I dread. How I wish it would not come. What? How can that be? Can't wait for it to come but in the same breath wish it would not come! This is mind boggling!

Finally I got it right!

Didn't I say so! For once, I got it right although it was not much of a brainer. Congratulations! Double celebrations in the city of Manchester.

Glory

Man U to win the Premier League tonight. Man C to win the FA cup tonight. The city of Manchester will rejoice in cup glory tonight although if you ask Alex Ferguson, he will say there's only one Football club in Manchester. No prize for guessing which club he has in mind!

Stranger than fiction!

Read in the papers recently about a woman who gave more than a million ringgit to a friend from the internet she has not even met. How in the world it could happened just beats me. Then there are people dumb enough to believe in 'bomoh' such that they allow their teenage daughters alone with the bomoh in a locked room. You and I know what will happen! Crazy! These things happened again and again.........

The learning never stops

In life, one never stops learning. As the prophet SAW says, the learning only ends when you are in the your grave. I am fifty four going on fifty five but I am still learning new things everyday. They may be simple, mundane, everyday things but they are still new things. For example, I am discovering parts of KL which I have never been before. Its exciting for me actually, a retiree with nothing much to do. I am learning something new!

A Tiger lost in the Woods

When will the old Tiger reappear? Since his infamous car incident, he has not been the same. The Tiger of now is still loss in the 'Woods'. He needs to get out soon. Otherwise, he never will be able to surpass Jack Nicklaus record of eighteen majors. He has fourteen already. Only four to go but this four seems like a long way away!

Modern football

These days, there's no more a first eleven when it comes to a football team. Just look at Man U for example. I can't tell who is the first eleven cause their manager has been rotating the players to suit the situation. All in all, I think there are more than twenty of them. Its all about the squad now, no more the first eleven. Maybe three or four of them are regulars i.e. Vijic, Rooney, Evra and Van Der sar. The rest plays when the occasion suits them!

Monkeys galore!

Since setting a trap for the monkeys that choose to make the compound of my house their playground, I have caught almost twenty monkeys. With the help of a government department that deals with this kind of things, they have been transfered to another location, possibly deep in the jungle. The trouble is, one group is gone, another group takes over the territory and causing the same problem!

Rejuvenated!

After more than ten days, I finally found the time to do my favourite past time, jogging. Jogging gives me piece of mind, a body that's rejuvenated plus lots of satisfaction. After a good run, I feel fresh and ready to face the world again. Come what may, I'II take them on, Insha Allah.

When you have Monkeys as neighbours

The temperature around Merbau Sempak is a bit cooler than the rest, especially in the morning and at night. Perhaps its because of the trees and little jungles that abound in this little village. The cool air is soothing and refreshing. That's the privilege but on the flip side, the little jungles are the abode of mischievous monkeys that can be quite a nuisance. They create havoc around the house, causing damages everywhere. Much as I hate it but I have to do something to lessen this unwarranted attention.

Nothing is impossible

The past one week has been like a dream. I went through things that I could not have possibly envisage, even in the wildest of my wildest dream. Then again, never forget the Almighty for it is He who decides and make things possible, even if it is impossible in our mind. For He is Allah, the All Powerful.

Wembly here I come

As expected, Man U will take on Barcelona in the Champions League final. Its a no brainer actually. After the first leg results, the final result was more or less decided. So who will win. My heart says Man U to win but my head says Barcelona to win!

In the crowd no more

Its 7 am on a Thurday morning. Here I am leisurely writing this piece while all around me, I can hear noises that can only mean one thing. Another day is dawning and people are busy rushing off to work. Sound of cars, buses, motorcycles, LRT, voices of children, surely on their way to school etc etc. They all sound so familiar. Only two weeks ago, I was part of the crowd but now I'm watching from the sideline........a big change indeed!

Where's the R and R?

Thought retirement life would be an R and R kind of thing. Sleep, watch TV, sleep, read papers, eat, sleep, jogging and more sleep but wow! how wrong was I! Since my last day at work about two weeks ago, I have been very busy. Don't even have time to follow the full news. Only catching them in bits and pieces. However, one thing is definite. Life has taken a very different turn. No complain...I am enjoying it.

Some things cannot wait

One of the things I wanted to do upon retiring is to give more attention to the spiritual part of life. While working, this part of life is more often than not neglected. We are too busy living our life in this world, for this world, that we tend to ignore the more important life in the hereafter. All praise be to God for He has given me the opportunity to correct myself. Others might not be so lucky. That's why don't wait until you are retired cause it might be too late. Take the decision. Do it now! It will be the best decision you'II ever make in your life.

The ultimate goal

Two days ago, I was caught in a massive traffic jam in Shah Alam. It was very frustrating especially for a retired man like me. Thought one of the luxuries of retired life is never having to face traffic jams again. I choose my own time when to go out. Just avoid the peak hours and I'II be okay. Simple isn't it!
Well, it is not always that simple. I guess that's what makes life interesting. Sometime things happened when you least expected it. You just have to take it as they comes. Come what may, life has to go on. As long as we know that the ultimate goal in life is actually outside of this life i.e. heaven, then I believe everything will work out fine.
Don't forget, never ever lose sight of the ultimate goal cause it will decide how you live your life in this world.