Hazy

Blackout happened everywhere. Even in the advanced countries like the US of A and Japan, blackout happen. So its not a surprise there was a blackout in Sarawak recently. I'm still hazy as to what actually happened. First reports said there was a line trip. Then it was said that Bakun could be the cause. Until now I am still not clear as to what actually happened. Official news from Bakun has not come yet. Hopefully by this Monday, everything will be clear.

Resting

Tell me

I'm ready. Tell me what to write.

Blackout, this time its for real

Sarawak went all dark yesterday. I first heard about it at about 615pm, about half an hour after it happened. My first thought, is Bakun the cause of it? The plant have been doing commissioning testing on unit 4 the past few days. Maybe something could have happened that triggered the blackout! Was relief when I finally heard it was not because of Bakun although still anxious to know what caused the Bintulu Kemena line to trip.

Shocking?

Nadal out, Federer out. Looks like the coast is clear for Djokovic and Murray to meet in the final. Nadal has always been vulnerable on grass although he would not like to admit it. Federer is past his peaked. He is on the way down. So it is not really a surprise that both went out early. I have a feeling its going to be Murray unless some tragedy struck.

Traveling to Kucing

This is the plane that flew me from Bintulu to Kucing. A fokker I think, by MASwing. The last time I went to Kucing was years and years ago. That time to look for business and visiting a coal power plant. This time it was for a small event at a hotel. Years ago Sabah was my frequent destination. Now its Sarawak. Next time, who knows?...

View from my office

This was the view yesterday, if you can call it one. So terribly bad. Its a yearly occurrence, not a one off thing. The powers that be must do something about it!

Rain brings relief

Yesterday it rained for a short while. Not enough to wash away the haze but its a relief anyway. After seeing no rain for days and end, it was a welcome sight. Hopefully it will rain again today. Meanwhile I was caught with work again the whole day. Meetings to attend and papers to write, they all added up to make it a super busy day. At my age, it sure keeps the brain active. Anyway, today I hope for some respite. It has been too hectic the last few days.

Hazy days

Yesterday I went jogging in the morning thinking that the haze has got better. Little did I know that in fact it got worse. KLCC disappeared in the clouds. Everywhere else you cannot see anything. Don't know whether it was decision or not to go jogging. The thing is I saw many people jogging as well. They seem oblivious to the haze!

Mischievous

Akid is really becoming a handful these days. Can't do anything when he is around. At restaurants we can't eat peacefully having to attend to his antics. In the house he is climbing everywhere and everything. He doesn't know the word afraid. It is not in his mind.

What next?

Tomorrow I have to attend an event in the morning before flying back to KL in the afternoon. That's it for this trip but I'm pretty sure I will be back in Sarawak again in no time. That has been the story of my life the past five months. Its something that will be going on for quite sometime yet. I used to go to Sabah during my earlier working days. Now its Sarawak. Only God knows where it will be after this.

A tiring two days

After two whole days of meeting in Bintulu, I am now in Kucing. Took the evening flight out and reached Kucing about 9pm. Been a tiring two days, exhausting on the mind as well as the body. Anyway, great to be in Kucing once again. The last time I was here was years ago. Can't even remember exactly when but that was the one and only time. What is surprising is that the hotel rooms in Sarawak are all big. The one I stayed in Bintulu was big. Now in Kucing, its also big.

That's me

That's the best I can get when taking my own picture. Can't see much but I'm at KLIA fourth floor, away from the madding crowd.

KLIA again

I'm back at KLIA this morning, quietly sitting at my favourite place while waiting for my flight. Its hours away but I had to leave home early to avoid the jam. If you are wondering where I'm going, its Sarawak again, where else? Will be there till Friday, in Bintulu and Kucing. That's my life now, something I never envisaged even in my wildest dream. Every two weeks, I fly to Sarawak. Its a change from the routine at least. 

The pinnacle

I have been following the career of Justin Rose ever since he burst into the scene at the British Open many years ago as a seventeen years old amateur. He hog the limelight then with his matured display well beyond his years. Immediately after, he turned professional and went on to miss twenty two straight cuts. Anyway, that is old story now. Since then he has won a few times all over the world. Yesterday, he won the US Open. That must be the pinnacle.

Friends I don't know

Every once in a while I get requests from total strangers wanting to be my friend in Facebook. Don't know them at all! The funny thing is why would they want to be my friend? I cannot see any connection at all. No mutual friends, no nothing. It really is mind boggling. In the past I just say yes. That's why when I look again at my list of friends in Facebook, half of them I don't know who they are! Now I'm a bit more careful.

A tough day at the office

Can't imagine what it's like to play in the US Open championship. Must be very very tough when even the top professionals are playing over. From what I saw on TV, its the pin placing that is the killer. None of the players can get the ball to within one foot of the pins. They are spraying all over the green but not at the pins. On top of that, if you miss the fairway, a bogey is almost a done thing. When Tiger Woods is playing nine over, when Rory Mcllroy is playing eight over, you know it has been a tough day at the office.

Chalets out in the sea

This is the much touted golden palm tree to rival what they have in Dubai. Not very impressive from first look. Anyway, can give it a try someday.

At Bagan Lalang

Decided to take a drive to Bagan Lalang. Quite a nice place for a picnic. Unfortunately, this is one beach where the wind is absent. A mystery to me cause I have always associated a beach with wind. Not only wind but strong wind. However, this is not the case here.

Two weeks here and there

Since I started work, Sarawak has been like a second home to me. Every two weeks, I will be flying to Sarawak, either to Bintulu only or straight on to Bakun. I have been flying a lot lately so much so that I have got bored with the food that they serve on board. Its the same combination every time. I'd prefer the food at the road side stalls anytime. Next week I will be in Sarawak again In sha Allah. This time it will be for a whole week. It might be a good idea to set up an office there. Then I can spent two weeks here and two weeks there.

Friday already!

So fast its Friday already. Thought it's only a day but when I opened my blog this morning, wow! it was Tuesday when I last wrote anything. That means three days. Days come and go in a flash. Now that I am working again, the days are even faster. Everyday early in the morning after the Subuh prayers, I leave for work. I won't be back home till about 7.30-8pm. Last night it was 10pm. That's how it has been the last few months. With the work mounting, the problems rising, I don't see it ending soon.

Its tough but.....

Bringing up a child is hard enough. Bringing up a child when you are fifty six years old is even harder. It harder still when it is the second time around, after a break of twenty years. It is starting all over again. The big difference is, you are not young and energetic anymore. Perhaps the enthusiasm is also missing a little bit. Still, its a life I have chosen. I will go through it, no matter what and do the best I can. To Allah I pray always that I remain on the straight path, always grateful and always the obedient servant.

As long as I enjoy

Been updating my blog for five years already. I started in 2008. Now is 2013. Don't know how long I will go on. I have no problem putting words onto the blog. They just flow in my mind. Only thing is, it can be rubbish but as I have said many times, it doesn't matter to me. I blog for my own pleasure, not for people. If people enjoy reading them, well and good. If not, it don't matter to me. I will continue blogging as long as I enjoy doing them.

Recuperate

The weekend was spent resting in the house. Any thoughts of going somewhere for a break has to be vanished from the mind. The roads on Sunday will be heavy with traffic because people would be rushing back to KL from their holidays as the school will reopen on Monday. Furthermore, my wife is having morning sickness. So, better to stay at home, recuperate, to be ready for Monday. 

I wish I could fly

Its Monday once again. Worse, the school holidays have ended. What it means is that the roads will once again be full of vehicles, causing traffic jam everywhere. Not that it was any better during the school holidays anyway. Going to work in the morning was good but going back in the evening was just the same. The construction going on with the MRT add to the already congested road. In times like this, I wish I could fly....

Changing his sleep pattern

The past two nights, Akid has been waking up at 12 midnight and stay awake until almost 3am before he goes to sleep again. That really has disturbed my sleep cause I also had to stay awake. Otherwise, I don't know what mischief he will get himself into. So much so, the past two days, I didn't get up until 6am in the morning. Missed my early morning prayers plus also the 'Subuh' prayers at the mosque. I don't know why he suddenly changed his sleep pattern. Hope he will get back to normal soon.

Great stamina

I saw the Nadal vs Djokovic match. In the fourth set I thought Djokovic was down and out. Somehow he survived. In the fifth set I thought Nadal was down and out. Somehow he came back and eventually won the match. Cannot imagine how they can play for almost five hours and still look strong and healthy. Maybe being young has its advantages. At my age, to finish one set playing at their level would be a miracle!

20% is enough

How come it don't surprise me anymore. Winning 112 of the seats with just 20% of the vote. In other words, winning the election with just 20% of the vote. Wow! Whatever my feelings, I must salute them. Anybody who can do that must be admired, no matter what! Never mind if they have cheated. Must be the only party in the world who can do that. Wow! Malaysia Boleh!  

Done me over

Been feeling tired and lethargic the past few days. Perhaps the hectic schedule has done me over. Maybe I need a break. Since I started working again four months ago, it has been work and more work. I only took one day leave during the period. Otherwise it has been non stop work. Still, my plan is to have a break only during Hari Raya. Till then I will continue working, In sha Allah.

A study in contrast

Tony Fernandez is a study in contrast. In Air Asia, he is a soar away success. In QPR, he is the ultimate failure. He built Air Asia from almost zero to what it is today, turning an airline nobody wanted into a success story, flying to hundreds of destination, making profits every year. This story would make a great MBA study on how to succeed. However, in QPR, the failure is deafening. Despite spending millions, running through three managers and buying players like nobody's business, they were rock bottom at the end of the season. This story would also make a great MBA study on how to fail.

I'm grateful

Was at the office from two in the afternoon till almost nine at night. I need to finish a paper for submission Monday morning. No choice but to complete it last night. My second working life is proving to be tougher than I expected. I have to work my socks out. I'm earning every cents that I get. This is something I never anticipated but then again, at least I'm using my brain to its fullest. As long as I can still contribute and in the process earn a decent pay, its okay with me. I'm happy. I'm grateful to Allah..

No 6 on the way

I will be fifty seven in about a month and ten days from now but that's just one part of the story. The other part is more interesting and was confirmed this morning. Baby no 6 is on the way. Wow! Putting two and two together, its a miracle. Another gift from Allah! Ya Allah.. the Almighty. Let me be your humble servant, to obey you all the time. let me be the most grateful of your servant for all the things you have done to me!

Never thought......

Now I know never to say never to anything in life. Too many times it has happened to me. Things I never anticipated to happen, happened. Never thought I would end up living like I am living right now but it happened. Never thought I would be working at fifty six years old but it happened. Not only that, I'm back doing technical, something I never thought I would be doing again having left all those stuff many many moons ago. Never thought I would be having a child again but it happened. Never thought I would be flying to Sarawak every so often at this stage of my life but it happened. never thought......ahh.....there's too many of them!

Fade into the sunset

Just came back from a flying visit to Bakun. Something urgent cropped up. Had to make the trip like it or not. Reached Bakun about 11 at night. Next morning meeting, and in the afternoon already on the way back to KL. Didn't reached home till 11pm. That was my seventh trip to Sarawak in a space of about four months, meaning every two weeks I'm traveling either to Bintulu or Bakun. A turn of event never anticipated. Thought when I retired two years ago, that's it. I'II fade into the sunset but then God has other plans.........