Challenge is greater

Bringing up children twenty years ago is very much different from now. Then we don't have the pampers. We have but they wee expensive so we don't use them every time. So the house stinks sometimes. Nowadays, there's no such things. But the biggest challenge I can foresee is the internet thing. All the gadgets like the handphone, the pad, the laptop, the computers, the TVs etc. You cannot keep them away from all these. Akid at less than three years old is adapt at playing with the I pad. Nobody taught him. He taught himself. I worry about the years ahead. The challenge is greater now than before.

Undone by Klopp

So Bayern will not win the treble this season. Last season they were knocked out in the semis of the Champions league. Hence no treble. This season, its the semis of the German cup. Undone by one Juergen Klopp, through Borussia Dortmund off course. By the way, this Klopp will be a free man next season. Already the football world is buzzing. Which club is going to snap him or rather, which club will he choose. Not always you get a manager of his calibre available. We will wait and see. I think he is going to be in England next season. Meantime, I'm amaze! How can Bayern missed four penalties in a row?

Get use to it

Ever since they put up the sun shade on the glass panes, my office has become dark and dull. It keeps out the sun all right but it also makes my view to the scene outside darker. Sometime I can be mistaken thinking it is going to rain because I see only darkness outside but when I open the window, its all bright and sunny. Well, I will have to get use to it, won't I?

Need to enjoy

Can't wait till Thursday when I will on leave, followed by the weekend and the public holiday on Monday. That's how I'm feeling these days. I just longed for the weekend or for when I'm on leave. Working is slowly becoming a drag. Its becoming to feel like those days when I was a few years away from retirement. I was tired of working then. Now, that feeling is back. It haven't quite reached that stage yet but its coming, slowly but surely. Its a bit more than two years since I started working again. It was fine in the beginning. It fact I was enjoying the second wind. Now however, that feeling is gone. So, I need to find the motivation again before its too late. I need to enjoy working again. 

Growing up

In a few days time, Akid will be three years old. He is learning to talk now. He knows many words, can express himself in short sentences although sometimes it takes quite a bit to understand him. His range of vocabulary is increasing all the time. Sometimes he will say something that will surprised us. We never knew when he learned it. He is growing up all right. In aha Allah, grow up to be a humble servant of Allah. 

Not a good thing

 The pressure of having to lead the prayer is getting to me sometime. No, not sometime. All the time. It builds up long before the actual time. By the time I get to the surau, it has become unbearable. I will get extremely nervous. I am so afraid to make a mistake. It is something I need to take care of. Ten years ago, when I was also regularly leading the prayers at another surau, I felt the same thing. Don't know how I can get it off me. Its disturbing me, making me unable to read clearly, making me forget what I have memorised. Perhaps it is because I am trying to reach new heights by reading a new verse every time. I can keep on repeating the same few verses but that will not be a good thing, would it?

Small piece of cloth

The 'Tudung' fascinates me. So small an attire, yet, it generates big business for some. Why? Because small it may be but the designers have created all kinds of Tudung. For such a small piece of cloth that the ladies put on their heads, the design runs into thousands. I may be exaggerating a bit but there are all kinds of Tudung with all kind of fashion. It has created business opportunities for many people, giving millions to some. Yet, it is just a small piece of cloth.

Shallow

I don't understand what were in the mind of the protesters when they protested against the cross. It seems  that the level of thinking is getting to become shallow. I guess the problem mainly stems from their low level of understanding of Islam itself. Put me in any mosque and if I were to ask how many can read the Quran, I dare say only half will say yes. Of the half that say yes, only a quarter can read it properly, with 'tajwid' and all. Of the quarter that can read properly, I can count with my fingers those that can understand what they are reading. Sigh…….. I have not even ask how many have really studied the Quran. 

Bayern to win

The way I see it, Bayern Munich is the strongest of the last four clubs left in the Champions League. They have players who can provide that extra intuition when needed, they have players who can grind it out if necessary, they have players with speed, with creativity etc. In other words, they have everything. They can change their game plan in any way to suit the occasion because they have the players who can carry it out. Last but not least, they have in Pep Guardiola, the best manager in the world. So, I stick my next out by saying, it will be Bayern to win the Champions League.

Don't know why

Its raining cats and dogs outside. From my office I can see that it's already dark outside although it's only a few minutes past six. Its going to be a long road home. I will most probably leave the office at about seven. Will reached home by half past seven I hope. In time for a bath and the Maghrib prayer at home. For Isya, most probably I will go to the Surau, a short walking distance from my house. Nowadays I have the added responsibility of leading the prayer, unofficial as it may be. Don't know why but I feel it is a heavy burden to carry. Maybe I'm trying to do what is beyond me,  

Sigh

The bloody internet has been keeping me away from updating my blog the past few days. Can't get through because it was so damn slow. Only now it suddenly becomes okay. Hmm…..

That's the life

Attended a wedding do at Shah Alam of a former university friend. His son's wedding, the last of three.  After that, he will be left with only his wife. That's how life is. You started with your parents and brothers and sisters, then alone as you set out living your own life, then a wife, then children. When the time comes, one by one they will be gone. You will be left with your wife once again. Then one day, either  of you will be gone and soon both will be gone. That's the life.

A trip on the KLIA transit

Decided to take the kids on a train ride. Rode on the KLIA Transit to KLIA 2. Took them for a look around. Something different for a change. They had a great time.

Maisarah

She is a big girl now, one year four months. Getting to be very active, very energetic, very playful.  Becoming a handful now wherever we go. Akid is almost three. He understand a bit what is good behavior and what is not but Maisarah! Hmm……. she only knows what she wants. How fast she has grown. 

All over me

On the way

There's one in the afternoon and one at night. I'm talking about wedding 'do'. I'm at the age where many of my friends are marrying off their children. There's two this weekend. There's another two in the coming weeks. Some are held during the day time while some are held at night. These days I try to attend all of the invitations unless I am somewhere else which makes it impossible for me to go. Otherwise, I will be there, in sha Allah.

Too many people

First of May is still two weeks away but I'm already thinking of where to go during the holiday. Or perhaps just stay at home. No, I must go somewhere. Have a break outside of KL. That will be a lot more fun. Explore new things, new places but must not be too many people.Our last holiday was in Gambang. It was good but to me it was too crowded. Too many people.

That's the dilemma

The trouble with going to favourite holiday destination like Cameron Highland is that if you go on weekends or during the public holidays or during the school holidays, the place would be teeming with people. The place would be so crowded you can hardly move. Therefore you choose to go on other days but the problem is that some of the shops would not be opened. There's not many tourist so they remain closed. Sometime getting a decent place to eat would be a problem as the eateries are mostly closed. So, that's the dilemma.

The experience is priceless

Having worked in a big organization with a long history for over thirty years, I find that I carry with me a lot of experience to the small organization that is just beginning where I'm working now. Many of the things my new company wants to do, I have done it before in my previous company. From strategic planning to risk management to key performance index to quality programs to computerized maintenance program to training need analysis to procurement practices to many many other things, I have gone through them all before. Its nothing new to me. I can draw from my previous working experience. Its helps a lot. I must really thank my previous company. The experience is priceless. 

Keep on blogging

This is my year number eight of blogging. When I first started, blogging was the 'in' thing. Then came Facebook and the likes. Blogging quickly came out of fashion. It became outdated. Nevertheless, for me, I keep on blogging. Sure, I have Facebook. I have Whatsup but blogging gives me much pleasure. As I have always said, I enjoy the few minutes that I spend everyday blogging. I blog what I feel like blogging. Wether it make sense or not, people read or not, that's not a matter for me. I will keep on blogging in sha Allah. 

There's a big hole

This morning I drove the car again having received the new key yesterday evening. The key maker almost didn't make it to my house after losing his GSP due to battery problem. I had to guide him towards my house in Gombak while in my office in PJ. Alhamdulillah, he made it. That's why I am driving this morning. Otherwise, the car would still be stuck in the garage for another day.  That would mean eight days without starting the engine. I worry for the battery. Anyway, all well that ends well, except for my pocket off course. There's a big hole!

Far from satisfactory

After three days, I still cannot start my car because the key got wet in the washing machine. The key maker came yesterday to take something from the car. That will allow him to make the new key. Hopefully today, I can start driving the car again. 

For the first time yesterday, I rode my bike at the speed of 70km/h, sustained for more than five minutes. Normally, its only 50km/h. I reached seventy once in a while but only for a few seconds or minutes. Never long.

The IMDB saga is making headlines everyday now. There's so many questions but so little answers. Even that, the little answers that we know is far from satisfactory. It created more questions.  

Its all part of parenting

Akid has been sick the past few days. Hopefully he will recover soon but now, it looks like Maisarah has got the bug as well. One of the worse things about bringing up children is when they are sick. As parents, you are always worried. My four children have grown up now but when they were sick in the days when they were kids, I can hardly sleep. The whole night I will be awake, looking after them, making sure their body temperatures don't go up so high. A bucket of water plus a pice of wet cloth will be by my side. Staying up the whole night is the norm. Then the next day I have to go to work, tired body, sleepy mind and all. That's how it was and that's how it is now with Akid. Its all part of parenting.  

Great sporting day

That Spieth or whatever his name is, is a real talented player. Still young, barely out of his teens but already a major winner. A commanding performance, wire to wire. I honestly thought he would blow up on the third or fourth day but he didn't. He kept his composure, played brilliantly throughout. The others don't stand a chance. It was fun watching the Masters although the time was not really that great. In fact, last Saturday, the sporting events was like one after another. The F1 grand prix, football followed by golf. For a sporting fan, it was hard to be going anywhere except be sitting in front of the TV. 

I enjoy it

What happened when you accidentally put your car keys in the washing machine? It went through the motions, came out all wet inside. The car refused to start! That's what happened to me. Now I have to get another key as that was the only key I had. It is costing me a bomb. They tried to dry it, cleaned it but all to no avail. Meanwhile, ride my bike to work. Not that I mind, actually. I enjoy it.

Feeling bored

Meetings over. I'm in the room feeling a little bit bored. The flight home is at 7pm, meaning the drive to the Bintulu airport will be at 2pm. Meantime, I have nothing much to do except laze around the room, doing nothing. That's why I'm bored. Still it is much better than flying home tomorrow, which was my original plan thinking that the meetings would drag on till Saturday. There are times when I am so busy I feel like I can do with some free time for myself. Ironically, this is one of those time but after just a few hours, I am already feeling terribly bored. Hmm….

Still do not know

This year I have only took three days leave so far. Two days were replacement leave while one day was annual leave. Other than that, I have been ever present at work. There are plenty of things to do in the office. I am planning to take a long leave sometime soon, only I don't know when. There's plenty of things to do as well out of the office. Most of all, I need to take leave to visit some banks for a few deals. That got to be done soonest possible. The fasting month is coming soon meaning Hari Raya is imminent. I hope to take a long leave during the Hari Raya holidays. Where I will go, I still do not know.

The journey

Yesterday it was meeting till late at night. I was only able to go back to my room at about 12 midnight. The day started in KL early in the morning with me driving my car to the LRT station to take the train to KL Sentral. At KL Sentral I took the KLIA express to KLIA. Then it was the two hours flight to Bintulu. On reaching Bintulu, I drove a four wheel to Bakun, about three hours away. Reached Bakun at about 6pm. After that it was dinner and meeting.

Its over at last

Again three days gone by without me realizing it, at least in the blogging sense of the word. It was Tuesday when I last blogged. Now its Friday. In between I was busy with an important appointment at on Wednesday. Alhamdulillah, after three and half years, its finally over. It took sometime for it to sink but I was truly overwhelmed. Can't believe that it is finally over. Dusted and settled. Only God knows how difficult it has been. On Thursday I flew to Bintulu to where else but Bakun. There's a meeting to attend.  

Must be

Due to lack of time, I have not been doing much exercise these days. On weekdays, I can forget about exercising as I will be working. I won't be back till its about 8pm. By then its too late to do any exercise anymore. On weekends, I am usually busy with other things to do, household chores, the kids, banks etc. No time as well for jogging. So, I really am press for exercise time. Somehow, I need to find the time. Cannot let this situation drags on. There have to be a solution. Yes, there must be.

The Masters

The Masters is on this week. It will be interesting to see if world no. 1 Mcllroy can win it for the first time. That will complete his grand slam of golf. If he wins, it will also means he will be the current holder of three of the slams. Another win in the US Open next will mean he holds all four of the slam. That will be a feat, only achieved by Tiger before. Talking about Tiger, I think he will struggle again. His game is gone, at least for now. Maybe in a few years time, when he is fully fit, than we will see him at his best again. Meantime, its for Rory to lose.

Three days gone by

I thought yesterday I wrote something here only to realize this morning that I have not been blogging since last Friday. That's three days without blogging. How could it have happened? Hmm… how time flies. Sure yesterday I was busy at work with important meetings such that I had to focussed fully towards it but the weekends? Where was I? What was I doing? I was at Felda Perdana on Saturday night for a daughter of a friend wedding. Other than that I was at home most of the time. There was the  helicopter crash on Saturday which was on my mind for quite a while. One of the victims is an old friend on mine. 

Sleep

Is there anything better than to be sleeping after a hard days work? With the kids sleeping by your side as well. Otherwise they will be all over you such that you can't sleep! 

Not worth the effort

Everytime the public thinks the prices are going to go up, they will create a scene like there's no tomorrow. On 31st march, the supermarkets were like refugee camps. So crowded with people rushing to buy cheaper goods before midnight strikes. The same with petrol increase. The queue at the petrol stations would be so long, its unbelievable. The thing is, how much can they save. RM10, 20 or 30? Burning the petrol while waiting for their turn would have taken half of it! Its not worth the effort.

Mind boggling

All these talk about the GST has got me wondering what the hype is all about. I never really followed what GST really means. All I know is you will be charge 6 % on top of the normal price on every goods that you buy, except for a few that are exempted. Apparently, it is more complicated than that. Where I am working now, the implementation of GST has been discussed in many meetings. Still, I am told, there are areas that needs to be discussed further. Its all a bot mind boggling!

Internet TV

I bought a TV internet box two days ago. On reaching home, I immediately tried to get it going only to find out the power supply cord is missing. What a letdown! I had to go to the shop again to ask for it. Last night I was finally able to put it on. Now I am debating wether to get the MiTV application or not. It will cost me some money but very much cheaper than Astro. Even without the MiTV application, I am already able to access to hundreds of other channels. So, at home now, I have Astro, Hypp TV from TM and internet box. There's more than a watchful!