Race is still open

Saw the Liverpool vs Leicester City match. Thought Liverpool was well on the way to securing three valuable points when they scored in the third minute. Then they were holding possession, passing the ball like it was their own. Leicester was hardly in the match. Unfortunately, they were undone by letting in a silly goal at the end of the first half. Try as they might in the second half but couldn't find the net. In the end, they had to be satisfied with a point which can be considered as two points lost. More importantly, they failed to widen the gap between them and Manchester City to seven points as they would have like. So, the race for the title is still on with fourteen matches to come.

Cutting the grass

Been doing some cleaning up of the land beside the house. Mostly its the grass. It has grown long and untidy. How could I have let them be for so long? Finally decided that enough is enough. So I got dressed like a farmer, took the hoe and hacked away. Tiring job but it needs to be done. Alhamdulillah, I can see so progress. I have cleared about half of what need to be cleared after two days. Maybe by this weekend, I can clear the rest. No need to call the grass cutter. Saved me a few ringgit. Worked my muscle as well!

Visitors to the house

My elder and younger sisters. All in the sixties already including me.

Political divide

The political climate in the country is now clear. The battle line has been drawn. On one side we have PH consisting of PKR, Bersatu, Amanah, DAP and Warisan as a partner while on the other side, we have BN consisting of Umno, MIC, MCA and PAS. Looking at the composition deeper, we can see that the divide is more or less racially motivated. The non Malays are mostly with PH while the Malays are with BN. That's what clearly happened in Cameron Highland. The reason BN won is nothing more than because all the Malay voters from PAS went to BN. That carried them through. PH held its ground while BN also was able to do the same. The difference was PAS. PH has to work hard to get the more Malays on their side. Otherwise, we will see a battle royal in GE 15.

What to do

Just one day after I mentioned about my longest streak without break doing the prayers in a congregation, the sequence was broken caused by a situation I could hardly have anticipated. It was the Asar prayers. I was already at the mosque and had just completed the sunnah prayer before the Asar prayer. While waiting, suddenly I had stomach ache. I wanted to stay, tried to stay, do the prayer before rushing home to the necessary. Unfortunately, I couldn't hold anymore. Had to go home immediately to relief myself. So that was how it was broken. What to do?

seven years ago

At the mosque in Melaka when I was doing the tourist guide course. Never got to be one cause as soon as I finished the course, sat for the exam and passed, I received an offer to work.

A good stretch

This must be the longest stretch that I have been able to muster since I started going to the mosque five times a day. I think it's eight straight days without any break and counting. Usually, after maybe two or three days, there will always be a time when I couldn't make it to the mosque for at least one of the prayer. It may be the afternoon prayer or the evening prayer or whatever. Always it will be like that but this time, I have been able to go for every prayer without fail. I went to KL twice during this time but I have managed to plan my time such that I can be at the mosque come prayer time. There was once when I felt so tired after coming back from KL that I almost wanted to give it a miss for the afternoon prayer. Alhamdulillah, I managed to summon my energy and go for to the mosque.

Eight straight wins

Man U has improved by leaps and bounds ever since they appointed a new manager to replace Maurinho. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has done wonders to the team. Maurinho has always said that the team is not good enough but eight straight wins from eight matches says otherwise. They have scored plenty of goals too. This only goes to show that Maurinho has played it wrongly with this bunch of players. Maybe too restricted. The over emphasis on defence is over whelming. Plenty of attacking talents but not allowed to display their game freely. With Solskjaer, they are now playing like kids suddenly let off the leach. They can express themselves, play freely, let their talent do the talking. Now they are playing to their potential.

Its BN for Cameron Highland

BN won the Cameron Highland by election. It's not a surprise given the composition of the voters in the constituency and the party they support. The Orang Asli especially has always been voting BN while the Malays are split but the PAS votes this time went entirely to BN. Its a no brainer for them given the BN candidate is a Malay and Islam while the PH candidate is not. So to me, there is no significant change in the voting trend from GE 14. What makes the BN candidate win by a bigger majority is because the PAS votes went almost totally to them. The other factor is the percentage of voters voting. Only slightly more than 60%. This means that the outstation voters did not care to return to vote. They are mostly PH supporters who would have make a difference had they come back.

A visit to Selangor Fruit valley

Took the kids to Selangor Fruit valley near Bertam Jaya (Batang Berjuntai). As the name implies, fruits are a plenty. Acres and acres of land planted with all kind of fruits. Nonetheless, the highlight of the visit for me was the stop at the 'rumah kampung'. The house is typical of a kampung house with the steps, verandah, the kitchen etc. The place is on top of a hill with beautiful view of the valley surrounding it. The wind was breezy. It was really cooling. Felt like not wanting to leave. Not only me but the others in the group as well. I had to remind them that we need to go. Otherwise they were all enjoying it and we could have stayed the whole day.

more photos

more photos

How to lose a crown

Immediately after winning the crown, this lass went for a spree with like minded friends to celebrate. They went to a pub or disco to enjoy the occasion. Within days or shall I say hours, a video clip appeared showing them having fun during the celebration. It looked like they were having a lot of fun........while holding glasses with beer in their hands. I have not seen it myself but that video is enough to cause a furore. Almost immediately she was strip of her crown. Hmm......what a way to lose a hard won crown.

Too many

Since the general election in May i.e. about eight months ago, there have been four by elections. Another one is ongoing while there's another is waiting in line. That will make it six. That's a big number by any standard. Four of them were because the elected representatives passed away. One was because of a resignation to pave the way for Anwar to come back. Another one was because it was declared null and void due to money corruption. Going by the proceedings so far, there will be yet another one. It has gone to the appeal court but I believe the by election will be held. So that makes it seven in total in less than a year after the general election. I don't know when the government can start governing when you have by elections every now and then.

Unbelievable

It seems to me that the American people has elected a joke as their president. He cannot be taken seriously nor trusted in whatever he do or say. He plays golf all the time at the expense of the people. Now he is embroiled in a losing battle to build the wall but try telling him that and you will get an earful. Because of his antics, the US of A is in a midst of partial shutdown which don't look like ending anytime soon. What a way to run a country. Yet, there are people supporting him. Just like back home. We have a former PM who stole money from the people. Billions of them and yet there are people still supporting him. Just can't believe it's true but yes, its happening. These people cannot tell the forest from the trees. Sigh......

Long ride again

Had to go to Pantai medical Hospital in Bangsar yesterday for my quarterly check up. Decided to ride my bike as the traffic will be bad in the morning. Been a long time since I take such a long ride. Ever since moving to my new house, the rides were mostly to the mosque and back plus now to the school and back. Both take about two to three minutes only. I was a bit apprehensive at first but as soon as I started riding, the negative thoughts were all gone. In the end, I enjoyed the ride. Left the house just a bit after eight and reached home at about eleven. About three hours in total including the time spent at the hospital.

After eight days

In about a week or two, if it progresses well, I will have to transfer the shoots to a pot. At the moment I can see about 8-10 of them. Some are close to each other so I am not sure how I can take them out one by one as their root might be entangled. I will cross the bridge when I come to it. For now I will enjoy seeing them grow.

Coming on nicely

The chili trees are coming on nicely. This morning I saw two shoots with two leaves. Many others are jut coming out of their slumber. It will be great. In a week or two I can transfer them to pots so that they can grow better. If everything goes well, I will have my first chili in about two months. If this planting experiment proves a success, I will go for other vegetables. In sha Allah.

Happy all the time

Planting new chilli seeds

My first try at planting any kind of tree. I am trying to plant chili. Now I am at the stage of putting the seeds in a container. After four days the shoots are beginning to show already.

Crazy

The PBM man who openly asked for government contracts to be given to them has got me riled up. What was even worse was that he got a standing ovation for saying that. Don't they know that it was because of exactly that that we kicked the previous government out. Obviously he has not learned a lesson! He might be no more an UMNO man but he can't forget his roots it seems. This patronising kind if thing is a thing of the past. It is also corruption to be frank. It is government money. It is government contract. It means it is the rakyat's money. So you simply cannot give it to anybody you like. It has to be properly done. If it is your money, then you do what you like!

Brighton in my heart

Last night I watch the Liverpool vs Brighton match. I have a heart for Brighton because Brighton was the town I lived in when I first came to England to further my study. A beautiful seaside town south of England about an hour's train ride from London. However, Liverpool is the team I like to watch ever since Klopp became their new manager. It was Man U before but Man U has lost their way since Ferguson retired so I switch to Liverpool. It was an enjoying match more so because Liverpool came out the winner. Now they are seven points clear at the top. There's sixteen matches to go. Anything can happen but I fancy Liverpool to take the title.

Bloody clinic

A visit to the doctor keeps the pain away but this time it was the opposite. The visit left us very much in pain. Why? Because the bill came to RM170, an unbelievable amount considering the reason for the visit. My son Akid was sick, that's all. No, not even sick. Just the temperature a little bit high. Otherwise he was okay, playing around just like normal. We have made these kind of visits many times before. No problem. The bill was never higher than a hundred. Most of the time it will be about RM40-RM60. However, this time I got the shock of my life! Bloody clinic! They will suck you if they can.

Historic 9th May

Long queues. People coming out in droves. They want to make a difference. They want to show that they hold the power. A government that think they can do what they like will soon know that it is not so. The people will kick them out!

Cameron Highland by election

The Cameron Highland by election is gong to be interesting. For the first time after after four earlier by elections, BN is the incumbent. The question is can PH wrest this seat from BN. Looking at the results of the 2018 election, it was a close fight then. However, things are very much different now. PH is the government. BN is the opposition. In the four earlier by elections, PH retained their seats easily despite low voter turnout. Can BN do the same with theirs? My earlier thinking was that PH will win hands down but BN came out with a surprise. Their candidate is an orang asli. With orang asli making up 22% of the population, that is a good strategy but it can also backfire. Traditionally, orang asli has been BN supporters. So maybe it will not make much difference. Instead other races like the Indians, might feel alienated as before, the candidates has always been from their race. BN also has a new leader who is much more focus and knows what he is doing unlike the previous one who was going everywhere but nowhere. So, this might be an additional factor.

Sunny days

The rainy season is over I think. Its the hot season now. Most days it is hot and sunny. The rain still comes but only for a few minutes. So the worry about flooding is over. Now the worry is how to keep cool when the sun is unforgiving. Best is to stay at home. Don't go out unless its necessary. Unfortunately for me, many times its necessary like sending and fetching the kids from school. Then there's my daily prayers at the mosque.Most of the time, I use the bike. Its convenient. Its cheap. Its fast. The only setback is there is no respite from the sun.

Busy days

Wow! This must be the longest time I didn't update my blog. Never before has it been so long. More than a week. I was quite shocked when I realised it cause I thought it was only a few days. Must be the new year and the new routine. With Akid starting proper school and Maisarah in preschool, my time has changed a lot. Now its early morning getting them up to be ready for school. Altogether its five times to and fro school everyday. The wife send them in the morning. The rest I take over. That means four times. At 11.30am fetch Maisarah from school. At 12.50am fetch Akid from school. At 2pm send Akid to school. At 5.30pm fetch Akid from school. Wow! Alhamdulillah the school is only two to three minutes away and I mainly use my bike.

School days are here again

Morning

Afternoon

Bad start

The new year started rather badly for us. Right in the middle of the night, while we were all enjoying our sleep, Akid suddenly coughed loudly and then vomited. Plenty came out of his mouth. I looked at the clock. It was just after midnight. Hmm.....  like it or not, we had to clean up. Thought that was the last of it but then later he vomited again.....and again and again. Wow! This is bad. No. Terrible! As a result, I didn't have any sleep the whole night long, except for the first few hours before he vomited the first time. Don't know why he vomited. Could be the food he took but he only ate rice and fried egg.