Wishful thinking

A party is having its convention today. Looking at the rhetoric, I just don't know what is in their mind. Its totally adrift from reality. Historically, the party has never done well when on its own. Yet, that's what they are talking about now. Winning a few states on their own and winning about forty parliamentary seats. I find it difficult to comprehend their thinking. I am not a political expert but even with my limited knowledge, I find it hard to believe what they are talking about. It is more like wishful thinking. On the other hand, I think the opposite will happen. They will lose a lot of seats.

Can I reached 100?

At 101 years old, an Indian lady can still run the 100metres. Remarkable. Of course not as fast as Usain Bolt or even you and me but still, she managed to complete the run and won the gold medal. She is the only runner in the competition by the way. At 101 years old, there's not many competitors left. They are either dead or even if they are alive, running is out of question. I am sixty years old. Can I reached 100?

What now?

After about a month of doing absolutely nothing, I am beginning to feel a bit bored already. It is good staying at home looking after the kids and helping with the house chores but after a while, I am feeling a bit restless. I need to go back to work but as what? Where? How? I tried driving Uber (read taxi). I tried selling houses. For one reason or another, both didn't last long. What else can I try? I go jogging once in a while. That helps to ease the mind. Other than that, what else? I update this blog regularly. I continue my effort to memorise more of the Quran. I still carry out my Imam duty whenever I am at the surau although I have stopped giving talk. This after a friend of mine was fine for giving a talk at a surau when he don't have the authority. 

Extra cool

This morning the weather is a bit cooler than normal. I had to put on an extra shirt in order to keep warm. Usually when it rains the weather is like that but this morning, it is cooler than usual. I even off the air condition at three in the morning. Usually I will have the fan on after shutting the air condition but this morning, it is not necessary. If only everyday is like this. It will be great.

A holiday that is not

I have learned to avoid popular holiday resorts during school holidays or long weekends long long ago. The places will be crowded with people it will render your holiday useless. Cameron Highland is one such place. The one and only road passing through Tanah Rata and Brincang will be full of cars, making driving an impossible task. The minute you leave the hotel driveway and onto the road, the jam will start. Eating places and popular tourist areas will also be packed with people. Finding a parking space is a nightmare. The problem is if you have school going children, that's the only time you have for holidays. Sigh.......

Holiday woes

When you are retired, public holidays are a non event. That's what happened to me. Didn't realise Monday will be a public holiday until yesterday. By then it was too late to make any holiday plan. Just as well as all the popular places will be extra crowded. It is a known fact but we still decided to try a day trip to Genting on Sunday. Sure enough the traffic was unbearable. The road leading up to Genting was impossible to drive, jam packed with cars. Finally ended up at Bukit Tinggi. The place was also crowded although not as bad.

Bukit Tinggi....

Bukit Tinggi ...

Thinking of a scooter

I am thinking of getting a scooter with an electric starter but a few things are putting me off. First of all, I have no place to park it. The front porch is small. That space has been taken up by the car. Then there's my Honda Ex 5 which is already taking the only other available space. Second, I don't want to buy something but end up using it only occasionally. In a time when my economic situation is not in the best of health, it is not a prudent move. Next, when the money situation does not allow, how can I buy? I can but it will add more burden to the weight I am already carrying. I love my Ex 5 but my knee is feeling the strain of kick starting it every day.

Time out at Titiwangsa

Titiwangsa

Sleep

The past three days, the TV has been showing football live starting at 4am in the morning. My heart is saying I should be awake in order to see the matches but my head tells me otherwise. I should be sleeping. Otherwise, it will affect my health if I stay awake three days in a row. Yes, I can sleep during the day as I am not working anymore but with the children around, it is impossible. Alhamdulillah, I followed my head although last night I woke up at 4.30am and couldn't sleep anymore after that. Managed to catch the match between Man U and Anderlecht but not all of it. Only the last few minutes.

Jogging

I wanted to go jogging yesterday bit it rained. Then I thought this morning I will go but it rained again. Looks like it will have to be tomorrow then but that means its more than four days in between jogging. I was last at Titiwangsa on Monday. I managed to jog for a while but the rain stopped me in my tracks. I need to jog in order to feel fresh and healthy. If I don't jog, I feel tired and lethargic.

Shocked

These days I am at home most of the time yet I find it difficult to update this blog. Like today for instance. I was shocked to find out that my last update was on Monday, four days ago. All along I thought it was only one or two days. Before, when I was working, I update almost everyday but now, its usually about once in a few days. Not that I want it to be that way but somehow, it turned out that way. Actually, I have all the time in the world to update. I am doing nothing now apart from helping the wife with the house chores and looking after the kids.

An old man

Its Monday once again. I don't have Monday blues anymore but the days and weeks and months seem to come and go in a flash. I guess that's how life is as well. From being a baby to a kid to a teenager to an adult to a senior citizen, time goes just like that. Before I knew it, I am now already sixty years old. A pensioner. A grandfather. Sometimes, I even forget that I am a gold class citizen! I can get half price for many things. On trains, people give up seats for me. When that happens, I suddenly become aware of my status, an old man.

Can be heard miles away

With the kids around, having a quiet and peaceful time at home is almost impossible. Kids being kids will have a lot of energy. They never seem to get tired. I get tired just watching them. They make all kind of noises, do all kind of things, its a real bonus if I can have a quiet time with them around. Only when they are sleeping will I have some peace. Otherwise, the noise coming from the house can be heard miles away.

Must stop

The past one week or so, my sleeping time has gone haywire. Its a direct result of watching too much sports, live on TV. Last night for example, there were non stop football from 8.30pm till almost 1am. I watch the Liverpool vs West Brom and later Man U vs Chelsea. After that, it was European tour golf followed by the American tour. At the moment, I feel a bit worn out from lack of sleep. This cannot go on. I need to get back to the discipline of normal life but when you are not working, its does gets a bit difficult. Its not good for my well being in the long run. That's why I must stop.

Birthday celebration

Was at RSGC on Saturday to attend my brother's 75th birthday dinner. From nine, there are only seven now. A brother and a sister have left us. We are already in our sixties. I will sixty one this year and I'm the second youngest. Between the eldest and the youngest, the gap is almost twenty years. Our era is over. Now its the time for our children to bring up their children or our grandchildren except me of course. I still have small kids.

TPC KL

The top four Malaysian players are competing. I think one of them can win this tournament.

Soonest

Had a chit chat with my senior real estate negotiator at the Ampang office on Tuesday. He wanted to know what is my plan after I had quit the project team. Told him I am still not sure. I myself don't know. Anyway, he said it is up to me. After all, it is my business. He is there to assist should I need help. Otherwise, the choice is mine. As for me, at the moment, the interest is just not there anymore. I don't know what I want to do next. At sixty years old, I find myself at a crossroad. One thing I do know. I need to get an income, soonest.   

Yesterday

Yesterday I was in Subang Jaya at about 10am to get the official chop of the Public bank branch there on my bank statement which I had printed out from the internet. From there I headed to Cyberjaya to put in my request to change bank. I want them to bank in my pension to a different bank from what was previously. Alhamdulillah, everything went well. My request was accepted. It will start in May. By 11.30am I was done in Cyberjaya and headed for DBKL to pay a summon for having wrongfully parked my car a few days ago. Reached DBKL by about 12.20pm and  duly paid my summon. After that I decided to head to TPC KL to watch a little bit of golf. The Asian Development Tour tournament is being played there.

Life goes on

At Titiwangsa

Took the kids to Titiwangsa last Sunday. The place is nice but the problem is it gets too crowded on weekends. On Saturday and Sunday, it gets impossible. Everybody brings their family there for recreation. That's why we usually come early in the morning. By the time the crowd started to swell as the morning gets late, we are already on the way home. However, last Sunday, we were a bit late. That spoiled the fun a bit as there were already too many people. Akid for example had three accidents when the toy car he was riding in collided with two bicycles and another toy car.  

Three is enough

Careful does it

With the Masters showing live on TV starting at 3am, my sleep has been disturbed somewhat. My mind tells me not to watch it but my heart tells me otherwise. Thus, there is an on gong battle within me. Last week, it was the LPGA. Now its the Masters. Then, there's the live football matches every weekend. They are also sometime keeping me awake when I should actually be sleeping. I am conscious of the fact that at sixty years old, I cannot treat my body like a twenty years old. The body can't take it. I have to be careful, or the consequence will not be to my liking.

Not in it

Been two weeks now since I left the project group. Since then I have been doing nothing at all except stay at home. Meantime my mentor in Ampang has messaged me for a discussion next week. I said okay although in my mind I am not sure if I want to go back to doing sub sales. Before joining the project group, I was doing sub sales but was struggling as well. Can't even get a decent listing but I must admit, I wasn't trying my best. Anyway, I will be at the discussion. Let's see from there. However, at the moment, my mind is just in it.

Being a senior citizen

Suddenly I have a few outstanding things that I need to do. I need to take my regular supply of medicine from Pantai Medical hospital. I need to change my bank account with the pension department in Cyberjaya. I need to get my senior citizen card for half price rides on the buses and trains. This can be obtained at Pasar Seni KL. The last one is important. It will eventually lead to a lot of savings. So far I have not really cared about it. I seldom or never use my being a senior citizen to get half price tickets. Sometimes it takes the person at the ticket counter to remind me of my entitlement for half price. A recent example was the entrance to the upside down house at KL Tower. Now, I intend to make full use of the half price tickets, everywhere that I am entitled.  

A hard lesson

I followed the LPGA ANA golf tournament last week on TV. On the last day, Lexi Thompson was ahead by three strokes with six holes left to play. By all account, she was sure to win it as she was playing well. No sign of nervousness at all. Then, all of a sudden, while walking towards the thirteenth hole, she was told that she has incurred a four stroke penalty for playing the ball from the wrong place. That incident happened the day before. No one noticed it. Not her playing partners nor the officials and I am sure neither does she. The person who noticed it was a spectator like me, watching from a television. He or she mailed to the tournament directors who confirmed it after looking at the rerun. So, suddenly, from leading by three, she was trailing by a stroke. From a winning position, she was now trailing. Sigh.......Lesson from this. Never ever count your chicken before its hatch.  

Becoming a nuisance

Have been hanging around the house the past one or two weeks doing absolutely nothing ever since I quit the primary market group. At times I feel I am beginning to become a nuisance. Eat, sleep, lazing around, surf the internet, update the blog, help a little bit with the house chores and the kids, play with them, go to the surau, that's all I do now. Don't know how long this can go on. I need to do something but what? Don't ask me to go back selling houses cause at the moment, it's the last thing I want to do. I was serious when I ventured into it. I spent a few thousands to equip myself with the necessary skills and obtained the software but somehow, it just didn't click. Maybe I go back to driving the Uber or Grab car. That is something to ponder on.

While in JB

Hospital Rendezvous

Had a great time meeting with two former university and TNB mates at KPJ Damansara hospital. With all of us in the sixties, having a rendezvous at a hospital will be a common thing now and in the future, I would think. Alhamdulillah, the three of us are still healthy except for minor knots here and there that needs tuning.