Astaghfirullahal'adzim
4 tahun lalu seorang bapa dijatuhi hukuman penjara 38 tahun dan 12 sebatan atas 2 sabitan merogol anak kandungnya yang berusia 14 tahun. [Utusan Malaysia]
16 Julai 2010 Mahkamah Tinggi menerima rayuannya dengan mengetepikan sabitan dan hukuman kerana mendapati Mahkamah Sesyen telah terkhilaf dari segi fakta dan undang undang semasa menjatuhkan hukuman tersebut.
Sewaktu membacakan keputusannya, hakim Mahkamah Tinggi menyatakan laporan perubatan yang dikemukakan tidak boleh diterima sebagai bukti kerana tandatangan padanya disahkan palsu oleh seorang pegawai perubatan.
Malah, pegawai perubatan yang sama mengesahkan mangsa tidak dirogol dan kesan koyakan pada kemaluannya akibat tusukan objek tumpul seperti belakang pensil.
Kesimpulannya pihak pendakwa gagal membuktikan kes prima facie.
Menggerunkan.
Bagaimana laporan perubatan dipalsukan dan dapat disahkan palsu kemudian. Kenapa kepalsuan itu tidak dapat dibongkar lebih awal oleh defenden? Kelemahan peguam bela kah atau kehebatan peguam pendakwa atau kelemahan sistem?
Bagaimana pula dalam kes berprofil tinggi yang melibatkan ketua pakatan pembangkang yang telah 20 kali ditunda. Kehebatan peguam bela kah, kelemahan pendakwa kah atau sistem dipermain mainkan?
Negara ini semakin kucar kacir.
Tangan tangan ghaib berjaya memecah belahkan keharmonian rakyat seterusnya menimbulkan prasangka terhadap sistem perundangan. Ketua Polis Negara telah lama berjaya dipalitkan dengan pelbagai situasi negatif. Perlembagaan ditafsir mengikut kehendak masing masing. Demonstrasi jalanan dirangsang. Isu perkauman digunakan untuk melaga lagakan rakyat. Anak muda diulit dengan budaya hedonisma. Seks bebas berleluasa. Kebendaan disembah.
Bangun lah anak bangsa ku. Jangan nanti jadi Pak Kadok, menang sorak kampung tergadai.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Hallelujah! Long Live 1Malaysia
China Press reported that there was a lack of Chinese-speaking counselling teachers in SMJK San Min in Teluk Intan, which has some 1,600 students.
The only Chinese-speaking counselling teacher had to take up 80% of the workload because students would ask for him.
The school’s board of directors chairman Chen Hong Ji said he hoped that the Education Ministry would look into the issue and assign more Chinese-speaking counselling teachers.
“Some students could not converse well in English or Malay, so they were not able to communicate with the non-Chinese speaking teachers about their problems, which in turn affect their studies,” he said.
> Nanyang Siang Pau reported that Kuantan might soon have its long-awaited first independent Chinese school.
Pahang Chinese guilds and associations had been looking for a suitable independent Chinese school in Klang Valley to open a branch in Kuantan.
Frankly, I think it will be difficult for the corrupted Malay chauvinist Malaysian Government to find a suitably qualified counselor locally. In the interest of the poor 13-17 year old students who cannot converse well in English or Malay after 6 years of primary education and without doubt are excellent students who scored perfect A in UPSR, I strongly suggest that they be sent to mainland China
Better still, in the interest of Malaysia 's future generation, the government SHOULD built the whole school in mainland China Malaysia
Hidup 1Malaysia!!!
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Salute To Friends
Was blog hopping and came across this posting on Doctor2008's Weblog .
Love the academic approach to this write up.
It ties my sentiments in many of my postings regarding friends especially here and here.
I have asked for permission to reproduce the article here. Thank you doctor.
What Are Good Friends For? A Longer Life!
By doctor2008
There has been countless quotes, poetry and songs on the virtues of a good friendship. In the song co-written by Burt Bacharach What Are Good Friends For? , these lyrics that often keep repeating in one’s mind:
The video below shows how Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross and Whitney Houston appreciate what good friends are for...
An Australian study on older people discovered that those with a large circle of friends were 22% less likely to die in the 10 years of the study. A similar Harvard research showed that strong social ties will promote brain health as one ages.
I agree. The role of friends to one’s health has been under-appreciated, compared to marriage and family. Sure, there can be rotten apples in the barrel, but with good friends, they can bring a positive psychological impact on one’s well-being, as the above studies demonstrate. Another study of 3000 nurses with breast cancer even showed that friendship had an even greater positive effect on health than a spouse or family member.
Exactly why friends have such a big effect on health isn’t too clear – could it be the ‘feel-good’ factor? Or the physical and psychological support which lessens one’s stress levels? Whatever it is, the message that these studies point out is that friends do make your life better and healthier.
Love the academic approach to this write up.
It ties my sentiments in many of my postings regarding friends especially here and here.
I have asked for permission to reproduce the article here. Thank you doctor.
What Are Good Friends For? A Longer Life!
By doctor2008
There has been countless quotes, poetry and songs on the virtues of a good friendship. In the song co-written by Burt Bacharach What Are Good Friends For? , these lyrics that often keep repeating in one’s mind:
Keep smiling
Keep shining
Knowing you can always count on me,for sure
That’s what friends are for..
The video below shows how Dionne Warwick, Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross and Whitney Houston appreciate what good friends are for...
An Australian study on older people discovered that those with a large circle of friends were 22% less likely to die in the 10 years of the study. A similar Harvard research showed that strong social ties will promote brain health as one ages.
I agree. The role of friends to one’s health has been under-appreciated, compared to marriage and family. Sure, there can be rotten apples in the barrel, but with good friends, they can bring a positive psychological impact on one’s well-being, as the above studies demonstrate. Another study of 3000 nurses with breast cancer even showed that friendship had an even greater positive effect on health than a spouse or family member.
Exactly why friends have such a big effect on health isn’t too clear – could it be the ‘feel-good’ factor? Or the physical and psychological support which lessens one’s stress levels? Whatever it is, the message that these studies point out is that friends do make your life better and healthier.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Corn: Ripe?
Started this year's observation for PMR School Base Oral Assessment at SMK Kuala Tembeling. Driving back in the late afternoon, I noticed stalls selling freshly harvested corns and groundnuts. Bought some cobs of corn and a kilo of groundnuts ... thinking of son at home.
Reached home and son told me of his grandma's call about ten minutes earlier asking him to go over to take care of a snake in her kitchen. Told him to go right away. Forgetting the corns and the groundnuts in the back of the car.
He came back couple of hours later. It was a cobra that apparently got its tail snapped in a rat's trap. He is not a snake whisperer so he had to kill the snake.
Asked him if he wants to have corn on the cob and boiled groundnut for dinner. He declined. He doesn't mind corn in a cup but not 'jagung tak masak' [raw corn which he meant as "UNRIPE" corn]. He actually thought the corns were not ready yet because the husks are still green.
In Bahasa Melayu, 'masak' could mean cooked or ripe.
I rolled out in laughter. My Bachelor-in-Engineering-Automotive Mechanical-major-24-year-old son actually thought that one should wait for the corn to ripen in the field.
No wonder ten years ago when he was 14, I bought some boiled corn in the husk and offered him some. He declined saying he'd rather wait for the corn to 'masak' [meaning ripen].
I tried telling him then that the corns were 'masak' [cooked] but he said he'll eat them later when they are 'masak' [ripened]. I laughed and explained to him that the corn were cooked and can be eaten but he insisted he didn't like to eat 'young' unripe corn.
And I thought my explanation was sufficient.
Was it my short coming or was it his thick skull?
Hmmphhsss!!!
Corn and groundnut from the hawker, durian, rambutan and mangosteen from Baba's orchard.
Reached home and son told me of his grandma's call about ten minutes earlier asking him to go over to take care of a snake in her kitchen. Told him to go right away. Forgetting the corns and the groundnuts in the back of the car.
He came back couple of hours later. It was a cobra that apparently got its tail snapped in a rat's trap. He is not a snake whisperer so he had to kill the snake.
Asked him if he wants to have corn on the cob and boiled groundnut for dinner. He declined. He doesn't mind corn in a cup but not 'jagung tak masak' [raw corn which he meant as "UNRIPE" corn]. He actually thought the corns were not ready yet because the husks are still green.
In Bahasa Melayu, 'masak' could mean cooked or ripe.
I rolled out in laughter. My Bachelor-in-Engineering-Automotive Mechanical-major-24-year-old son actually thought that one should wait for the corn to ripen in the field.
No wonder ten years ago when he was 14, I bought some boiled corn in the husk and offered him some. He declined saying he'd rather wait for the corn to 'masak' [meaning ripen].
I tried telling him then that the corns were 'masak' [cooked] but he said he'll eat them later when they are 'masak' [ripened]. I laughed and explained to him that the corn were cooked and can be eaten but he insisted he didn't like to eat 'young' unripe corn.
And I thought my explanation was sufficient.
Was it my short coming or was it his thick skull?
Hmmphhsss!!!
Corn and groundnut from the hawker, durian, rambutan and mangosteen from Baba's orchard.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
WORDS -Part 2
Read a nice entry on OutSyed The Box [here] which reminds me of my previous entry concerning words [here]
Will edit this entry later but wish to highlight few points I found interesting.
There has never been a priest hierarchy in Islam, there have never been "head of Islam" allowed in Islam. There is no equivalent to a Pope, Vatican, installation rituals for religious clergy etc. There is no headquarters for Islam anywhere in the world, comparable to the Vatican for Christianity, the Pope for Catholics or other such beliefs in other religions. There is nothing comparable in Islam. There is no Chief High Priest in Islam.
There is not one single institution anywhere in the Islamic world that can certify anyone as an ulamak. There is no such thing. The only exception to this rule is the Persatuan Ulamak Malaysia, where by paying a few Ringgit registration fee, one is deemed an 'ulamak'. That is a joke not understood by those with impaired oxygen intake into the grey matter.
In Islam there is a direct relationship between man and his Creator. The Quran says "Allah is nearer to you than the veins in your neck". We do not need intermediaries.
Here is some info about the word 'ulama' from the Quran.
"Do you not see that GOD sends down from the sky water, whereby we produce fruits of various colors? Even the mountains have different colors; the peaks are white, or red, or some other color. And the ravens are black. Also, the people, the animals, and the livestock come in various colors. This is why the people who truly reverence GOD are those who are knowledgeable (al ulama). GOD is Almighty, Forgiving." Surah 35: 27-28
The Quran says the people who see all this Nature and observe all this Creation and appreciate all this handiwork of the Creator are called the 'ulama'. Clearly then this is a description of scientists. An ulama is therefore a scientist.
The word science of course comes from the Latin word 'scientia' which means knowledge. And the arab word Ulama is the plural of the arab word alim. Alim comes from the arabic word "Ilmu" which ALSO means knowledge or science.
An alim is therefore a knowledgeable person and ulama is plural meaning 'many knowledgeable people'. Ulama are therefore scientists who study everything around them and appreciate all the things that the Creator has created in this universe. Those are the ulama.
But will a Book such as the Quran fail to provide a proper name for the priests of religion, those guys who wear beards and robes, who dress funny, talk funny and behave funny who are part and parcel of every "religion"? Not at all. Here is the Quran again :
Surah 9:31 "They have set up their religious leaders (habar) and rabbis as lords, instead of GOD. . . "
The Quran refers to 'religious leaders' and the priests as HABAR. They are not referred to as ulama.
Habar are the religious priests who wear strange clothes, wear beards, speak strange and say that they are "closer to God". They can promise things like the keys to paradise. They are best given doodle pads to draw on and be locked up in asylums. If allowed to roam free, they can become "mursyidul am", ayatollah, pak sheikh and so on (in extreme cases).
Will edit this entry later but wish to highlight few points I found interesting.
There has never been a priest hierarchy in Islam, there have never been "head of Islam" allowed in Islam. There is no equivalent to a Pope, Vatican, installation rituals for religious clergy etc. There is no headquarters for Islam anywhere in the world, comparable to the Vatican for Christianity, the Pope for Catholics or other such beliefs in other religions. There is nothing comparable in Islam. There is no Chief High Priest in Islam.
There is not one single institution anywhere in the Islamic world that can certify anyone as an ulamak. There is no such thing. The only exception to this rule is the Persatuan Ulamak Malaysia, where by paying a few Ringgit registration fee, one is deemed an 'ulamak'. That is a joke not understood by those with impaired oxygen intake into the grey matter.
In Islam there is a direct relationship between man and his Creator. The Quran says "Allah is nearer to you than the veins in your neck". We do not need intermediaries.
Here is some info about the word 'ulama' from the Quran.
"Do you not see that GOD sends down from the sky water, whereby we produce fruits of various colors? Even the mountains have different colors; the peaks are white, or red, or some other color. And the ravens are black. Also, the people, the animals, and the livestock come in various colors. This is why the people who truly reverence GOD are those who are knowledgeable (al ulama). GOD is Almighty, Forgiving." Surah 35: 27-28
The Quran says the people who see all this Nature and observe all this Creation and appreciate all this handiwork of the Creator are called the 'ulama'. Clearly then this is a description of scientists. An ulama is therefore a scientist.
The word science of course comes from the Latin word 'scientia' which means knowledge. And the arab word Ulama is the plural of the arab word alim. Alim comes from the arabic word "Ilmu" which ALSO means knowledge or science.
An alim is therefore a knowledgeable person and ulama is plural meaning 'many knowledgeable people'. Ulama are therefore scientists who study everything around them and appreciate all the things that the Creator has created in this universe. Those are the ulama.
But will a Book such as the Quran fail to provide a proper name for the priests of religion, those guys who wear beards and robes, who dress funny, talk funny and behave funny who are part and parcel of every "religion"? Not at all. Here is the Quran again :
Surah 9:31 "They have set up their religious leaders (habar) and rabbis as lords, instead of GOD. . . "
The Quran refers to 'religious leaders' and the priests as HABAR. They are not referred to as ulama.
Habar are the religious priests who wear strange clothes, wear beards, speak strange and say that they are "closer to God". They can promise things like the keys to paradise. They are best given doodle pads to draw on and be locked up in asylums. If allowed to roam free, they can become "mursyidul am", ayatollah, pak sheikh and so on (in extreme cases).
BIGGGG Crisis
Need to post this pronto . Will edit later
Obesity Rates Jump in 28 States, Report Shows
And, as the report also shows, income is a major driver of the obesity epidemic. More than 35 percent of adults bringing in less than $15,000 a year were obese, vs. only 24.5 percent in the over-$50,000 income bracket
...In addition to geographic and economic differences, this year's report also focused on racial and ethnic disparities, finding that blacks and Latinos bear the brunt of the obesity problem. Blacks and Latinos outweighed whites in at least 40 states plus D.C.
...Racial/ethnic differences are closely intertwined with economic inequalities.
"The link between poverty, race and obesity is undeniable," Glover Blackwell said. "For example, Mississippi, the poorest state in nation with an African-American population of more than 37 percent, has the highest obesity rate of any state and highest proportion of obese children."
Poor and minority neighborhoods lack safe streets and parks in which to exercise and many are also so-called "food deserts."
Obesity Rates Jump in 28 States, Report Shows
And, as the report also shows, income is a major driver of the obesity epidemic. More than 35 percent of adults bringing in less than $15,000 a year were obese, vs. only 24.5 percent in the over-$50,000 income bracket
...In addition to geographic and economic differences, this year's report also focused on racial and ethnic disparities, finding that blacks and Latinos bear the brunt of the obesity problem. Blacks and Latinos outweighed whites in at least 40 states plus D.C.
...Racial/ethnic differences are closely intertwined with economic inequalities.
"The link between poverty, race and obesity is undeniable," Glover Blackwell said. "For example, Mississippi, the poorest state in nation with an African-American population of more than 37 percent, has the highest obesity rate of any state and highest proportion of obese children."
Poor and minority neighborhoods lack safe streets and parks in which to exercise and many are also so-called "food deserts."
Monday, June 28, 2010
Yesterday When I Was Young
Charles Aznavour
Yesterday When I Was Young
Yesterday when I was young
The taste of life was sweet like rain upon my tongue,
I teased at life as if it were a foolish game
The way an evening breeze would tease a candle flame,
The thousand dreams I dreamed, the splendid things I planned
I always built to last on weak and shifting sand,
I lived by night and shunned the naked light of day
And only now I see how the years have run away
Yesterday when I was young
There were so many songs that waited to be sung,
So many wild pleasures that lay in store for me
And so much pain my dazzled eyes refused to see,
I ran so fast that time and youth at last ran out and
I never stopped to think what life was all about,
And every conversation that I can recall
Concerned itself with me, and nothing else at all.
Yesterday the moon was blue
And every crazy day brought something new to do,
And I used my magic age as if it were a wand
And never saw the waste and emptiness beyond,
The game of love I played with arrogance and pride
And every flame I lit so quickly, quickly died
The friends I made all seemed, somehow, to drift away
And only I am left on stage to end the play.
Yesterday when I was young
There were so many songs that waited to be sung,
So many wild pleasures lay in store for me
And so much pain my dazzled eyes refused to see,
There are so many songs in me that won't be sung
Cause I feel the bitter taste of tears upon my tongue
And the time has come for me to pay for yesterday
When I was young.
More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/c/charles_aznavour/#share
The irony is ... here I am wishing I have done all that ... being adventurous, having all the fun. Haihhh!!!
Yesterday When I Was Young
Yesterday when I was young
The taste of life was sweet like rain upon my tongue,
I teased at life as if it were a foolish game
The way an evening breeze would tease a candle flame,
The thousand dreams I dreamed, the splendid things I planned
I always built to last on weak and shifting sand,
I lived by night and shunned the naked light of day
And only now I see how the years have run away
Yesterday when I was young
There were so many songs that waited to be sung,
So many wild pleasures that lay in store for me
And so much pain my dazzled eyes refused to see,
I ran so fast that time and youth at last ran out and
I never stopped to think what life was all about,
And every conversation that I can recall
Concerned itself with me, and nothing else at all.
Yesterday the moon was blue
And every crazy day brought something new to do,
And I used my magic age as if it were a wand
And never saw the waste and emptiness beyond,
The game of love I played with arrogance and pride
And every flame I lit so quickly, quickly died
The friends I made all seemed, somehow, to drift away
And only I am left on stage to end the play.
Yesterday when I was young
There were so many songs that waited to be sung,
So many wild pleasures lay in store for me
And so much pain my dazzled eyes refused to see,
There are so many songs in me that won't be sung
Cause I feel the bitter taste of tears upon my tongue
And the time has come for me to pay for yesterday
When I was young.
More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/c/charles_aznavour/#share
The irony is ... here I am wishing I have done all that ... being adventurous, having all the fun. Haihhh!!!
Saturday, June 19, 2010
First Taste of THE Cup: World Cup that is
I was born on this day fifty years ago.
When I was 15, I wondered how would it feel to be 50.
Well, I am 50 today.
When I looked at myself in the mirror this morning
I still see the same 'old' me
the 'me' I've always seen in the mirror
I never noticed when I gain height or weight
I never noticed when I grew up and grew old
'Coz, everytime I look into my eyes in the mirror
I always see 'me'
The one I have known since I was born
Half a century ago
I do have some more to pour out here
But I did not sleep until 6 am today
Watching a delayed telecast of World Cup
something I have never done my entire life
Last night, my girl came back
and got very excited watching the match
between French and Mexico
While I was trying to finish the 'spring cleaning' job
I started months ago
she went ...'haaa! haaaa!!! ahhhhhh!!! ISHKKKKKK!!!!!
haaa cantikkkkk [beautiful] ... nice one! come on!
I casted few glances at the 42" plasma Panasonic
and noticed
the players, all of them, both teams
have a very strong, confident control
over the ball
with their legs!
very much unlike the games
I saw my students played on the school fields
or the local games I saw on tv years ago.
And there I was
my cleaning job forgotten
instead, I cooed over the beautiful games
taking over from my girl
who eventually fell asleep on the sofa
with a surgical mask over her nose
[for she suffers rhinitis and I was 'cleaning']
she has been sneezing her nose off non stop
since she arrived in the late evening.
To think that when my friend sms'ed me
on the first day of the games
I replied ... "thanks but not my cup of tea!"
hehehehe!
Guess, after half a century,
I am learning to savour
THE cup
But now
this old lady
is going to take her afternoon nap.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Attitude
Huarrgghhh!!! Masuk minggu kedua cuti sekolah. Ada tiga kelas lagi nak kena siapkan tanda kertas. Mak aih! Bosannya!!! Nak lepas stress kat Farmville, dah berminggu tak leh access.
Orang pejabat telefon pepagi lagi. Kacau betul lah! Cuti pun tak senang. Ada ada je! Menyampessssss! Nak muntah.
Untuk jimatkan kos, terus ke hospital ambil ubat darah tinggi. Patutnya pergi hari Jumaat. Farmasis ok jer tka banyak songel.
Tengah jalan balik, nampak orang jual petai kat tepi jalan. Gecor air liur teringat makan petai jeruk kat rumah Tim di Maran bulan lepas. Baru minggu lepas telefon Tim minta dia belikan kat pekan sari Maran. Tim gelak. Bukan dibeli tapi dia buat sendiri rupanya. Dia ajar camana nak buat.
Harganya RM5 seikat. Seikat ada lima papan. Bulat bulat mata petai ... cam mata Uji Rashid ... hahaha! [jangan saman kak!]
Kalau ambik dua ikat, tak de diskaun ke dik?
Senyap.
Keluar not lima puluh ringgit. Budak tu pulangkan empat puluh ringgit.
Kat sebelah budak jual petai tu ada orang jual tembikai. RM1.30 sekilo. Minta dia belah nak tengok elok ke tak. Tak ada pisau. Tak pe lah. Timbang. Lebih sikit dari 5.6kg.
"Bayar RM7.50 dah lah kak".
Ok lah.
Hulurkan not sepuloh ringgit.
"Tak de duit kecik ke kak?"
Laaaa .... sepuluh ringgit, bukan seratus ...
"Kak pergi tukar dulu lah kak"
&@#**+^&&%%$$$##@@
Tak payah lah.
Hidupkan kereta dan terus berlalu.
Kenapa?
Sakit hati.
Nak berniaga .. pisau tak de, kalkulator tak de, duit kecik tak de , budi bahasa tak de.
Eh???
Rasional aku...
Kalau aku di tempat penjual tembikai tu ... aku yang akan ikhtiar untuk tukarkan duit tu ... tukar ngan budak jual petai tu ke ..tukar ngan orang jual goreng pisang ke ... habis tak de .. aku akan menyeberang jalan ke kedai Caltex beli lah gegula sebiji, janji dapat tukar duit. Ringkasnya, aku akan pastikan aku dapat jual tembikai tu.
Hmm...
Entah entah penjual tembikai tu dok kutuk aku bertambun ... apa hal le mak cik tu ... ingat beso sangat ke duit dia ... kete pun wira buruk ... berlagakkk!!!
Aku bengkek sebab rasa attitude penjual tembikai di tepi jalan tu tak kena.
Mungkin dia pun bengkek kat aku sebab rasa aku ada 'attitude'.
Tapi kan ... 'customer is always right'
HEHEHEHE !!!
Friday, June 11, 2010
Raison d'etre
Been trying to finish marking the mid year exam papers. The whole week of the school holidays is gone. A rendezvous at Swiss Garden Resort has been cancelled due to the World Cup. Nothing much to look forward to. There is so much to get done.
18:03 a message came in. From Z. " I'm going for J** mp. What say u? Which platform shall I take?
I responded - "MasyaAllah! Take d right one. I believe ur choice is d right one."
He replied - "tq. I need your support k"
And I responded - " U have it. Always have. May Allah's blessing's b with u."
And then I burst into tears.
Sadness and anger intertwined.
Why did he tell me that? What was it for?
For support? Yeah I can give him my vote. ONE vote. I don't have anything to bring him other's.
How much support is that?
Is he SMSing everyone?
In that case, the one I received was just a politician's game
... when I read more between the lines ...
*sighhhhh*
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Ketupat Sotong
Last month I had a sudden craving for a local Kelantanese delicacy called Ketupat Sotong. A strange sweet dish made from glutinous rice stuffed into squids.
Went to the 'nearest-to-a-supermarket' we have in this quaint little town to get my squids. They only have the large ones. Ketupat sotong is best made with small sized ones. Large ones tend to be tough and chewy. I bought two anyway. Just got to get over the craving. I might die 'kempunan' [unfulfilled wish]. Hehehe!
I used only one squid. Washed it real good, making sure to take out the 'mandible'. Then I half filled it with cleaned and soaked glutinous rice. Put it in a pot, covered with thick coconut milk and sweetened with palm sugar. Half a teaspoon of fenugreek, julienned ginger and a crushed lemongrass are used to take away the fishy smell from the squid. The pot was left to boil on slow fire until the coconut milk was reduced to about a quarter.
It took some times to get the liquid reduced. I forgot all about it until I smelled caramel [burnt sugar]. Well, the ketupat ended up slightly overcooked. The caramelised sugar gave it a slightly concentrated taste. But, the squid was just a wee bit too big and I probably have filled it a bit too much ... the middle part failed to cook properly. The ketupat ended up being a bit too chewy.
The endeavour became a great conversation piece with friends and family. Really. The delicacy is becoming extinct. It is a weird kind of food. Squids in sweet sauce? That is not strange to me. I grew up savouring it. Why, those Japanese chefs never have any problem coming up with such food on their menu [couldn't recall any at the moment but I know I saw them on Iron Chef].
Saturday, Epit came home. Took the opportunity to take the TV to be repaired. It's been turning green, red and yellow for some time now. Had had to resort to banging it to watch my fav shows. Robin Hood hit cinemas last week and Prince of Persia opened on Thursday. Hmm ... a good excuse to go to town.
First, took the TV to the repairman. He said it could be ready in one hour. What???
I have had to send it for repair every year. I was kind of hoping it would be BEYOND repair this time so I have a great excuse to go shop for a new one. HAHAHA!!!
Anyway, I wanted to watch Robin Hood and Prince of Persia. So I went to East Coast Mall in Kuantan. Had more than an hour before the show started. I was in a shopping mall. There were lots of TV shops. We stopped at Panasonic outlet. Well, we ended up with a Viera 42" HD plasma seconds before prince of Persia started at hall 9.
Sunday morning I was still in bed in Kuantan when Ma called. Wanted me to drop by her place on my way back.
And this is the reason.
TA DAAAA !!!!!!! Ketupat Sotong
Sweet, juicy, yummy!!!
Went to the 'nearest-to-a-supermarket' we have in this quaint little town to get my squids. They only have the large ones. Ketupat sotong is best made with small sized ones. Large ones tend to be tough and chewy. I bought two anyway. Just got to get over the craving. I might die 'kempunan' [unfulfilled wish]. Hehehe!
I used only one squid. Washed it real good, making sure to take out the 'mandible'. Then I half filled it with cleaned and soaked glutinous rice. Put it in a pot, covered with thick coconut milk and sweetened with palm sugar. Half a teaspoon of fenugreek, julienned ginger and a crushed lemongrass are used to take away the fishy smell from the squid. The pot was left to boil on slow fire until the coconut milk was reduced to about a quarter.
It took some times to get the liquid reduced. I forgot all about it until I smelled caramel [burnt sugar]. Well, the ketupat ended up slightly overcooked. The caramelised sugar gave it a slightly concentrated taste. But, the squid was just a wee bit too big and I probably have filled it a bit too much ... the middle part failed to cook properly. The ketupat ended up being a bit too chewy.
The endeavour became a great conversation piece with friends and family. Really. The delicacy is becoming extinct. It is a weird kind of food. Squids in sweet sauce? That is not strange to me. I grew up savouring it. Why, those Japanese chefs never have any problem coming up with such food on their menu [couldn't recall any at the moment but I know I saw them on Iron Chef].
Saturday, Epit came home. Took the opportunity to take the TV to be repaired. It's been turning green, red and yellow for some time now. Had had to resort to banging it to watch my fav shows. Robin Hood hit cinemas last week and Prince of Persia opened on Thursday. Hmm ... a good excuse to go to town.
First, took the TV to the repairman. He said it could be ready in one hour. What???
I have had to send it for repair every year. I was kind of hoping it would be BEYOND repair this time so I have a great excuse to go shop for a new one. HAHAHA!!!
Anyway, I wanted to watch Robin Hood and Prince of Persia. So I went to East Coast Mall in Kuantan. Had more than an hour before the show started. I was in a shopping mall. There were lots of TV shops. We stopped at Panasonic outlet. Well, we ended up with a Viera 42" HD plasma seconds before prince of Persia started at hall 9.
Sunday morning I was still in bed in Kuantan when Ma called. Wanted me to drop by her place on my way back.
And this is the reason.
Sweet, juicy, yummy!!!
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Ring: Pessary -revisited
Last December, I had a ring fitted to address stress incontinence problem. Most of the times i believed it helped a lot. Sometimes though, I wonder if it really addressed the actual stress problem. Anyway, I was happy for a while.
That was until I had the great fly through the air and landed on my bottom few weeks ago which left me at the embarrassing end of a walking stick to aid me up the stairs in school.
For a while, I thought I was done. First it was shingles and then the knee crunching touchdown. Well, I am still waiting for the outcome of the MRI done last month. The orthopedist warned me to be prepared for the another major surgery - the spine. That was enough to plunge anyone into despair.
To make matters worse, after the touchdown event, I started having pain in the lower abdomen. It got worse and I had to resort to taking celebrex. However, it got so bad on Thursday and I spent the whole night counting the hours for morning to come. Friday was Wesak day and I was not sure if the nearest gynae clinic [which is in Mentakab] would be opened. I called the clinic and thank God, it was opened.
My son smsed earlier that he was coming home on Friday. First I thought of waiting for him to arrive and then go to the clinic with him. However, the pain became unbearable and I had to drive myself. Called Pae to ask if she knew the place since she is a local there.
Took celebrex before starting the drive to Mentakab, about 60 km away. Had trouble keeping my eyes open along the journey. Reached Pae's place and she ended up driving me to the clinic and insisted on accompanying me. Thanks Pae. I really really appreciate the company.
Turned out I had a slight infection and the gynae advised me to remove the ring.
It was such a great feeling of relief the moment the ring was taken out. The abdominal pain subsided immediately
Then he sent me home with a 5-day course of antibiotics.
And here I am, 11 hours after the first dose of antibiotics. I have not taken any painkiller since and the pain is getting duller by the minute.
Thank you Pae for being there.
My son arrived in the evening. We went out for dinner. He had Nasi Goreng USA and I had grilled chicken.
One old lady is happy again.
That was until I had the great fly through the air and landed on my bottom few weeks ago which left me at the embarrassing end of a walking stick to aid me up the stairs in school.
For a while, I thought I was done. First it was shingles and then the knee crunching touchdown. Well, I am still waiting for the outcome of the MRI done last month. The orthopedist warned me to be prepared for the another major surgery - the spine. That was enough to plunge anyone into despair.
To make matters worse, after the touchdown event, I started having pain in the lower abdomen. It got worse and I had to resort to taking celebrex. However, it got so bad on Thursday and I spent the whole night counting the hours for morning to come. Friday was Wesak day and I was not sure if the nearest gynae clinic [which is in Mentakab] would be opened. I called the clinic and thank God, it was opened.
My son smsed earlier that he was coming home on Friday. First I thought of waiting for him to arrive and then go to the clinic with him. However, the pain became unbearable and I had to drive myself. Called Pae to ask if she knew the place since she is a local there.
Took celebrex before starting the drive to Mentakab, about 60 km away. Had trouble keeping my eyes open along the journey. Reached Pae's place and she ended up driving me to the clinic and insisted on accompanying me. Thanks Pae. I really really appreciate the company.
Turned out I had a slight infection and the gynae advised me to remove the ring.
It was such a great feeling of relief the moment the ring was taken out. The abdominal pain subsided immediately
Then he sent me home with a 5-day course of antibiotics.
And here I am, 11 hours after the first dose of antibiotics. I have not taken any painkiller since and the pain is getting duller by the minute.
Thank you Pae for being there.
My son arrived in the evening. We went out for dinner. He had Nasi Goreng USA and I had grilled chicken.
One old lady is happy again.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Down Memory Lane: The Pain
Read a friend's blog. Left comments here and there. On one posting, my comment was the lyrics of Broery Marantika's Senandung Rindu [youTube here]. The blogger's response about the intense feeling portrayed by the lyrics triggered a long lost memory.
Gosh! To dream but not make dreams your master. To think but not make thoughts your aims. To watch the things you gave your life to ... broken. And stoop and build 'em up with worn out tools. To heap all your winnings, and risk it all on one pitch-and-toss, and lose and start again at your beginnings, and never breathe a word about your loss. And to force your heart and nerves and sinews to serve your turn long after they are gone. And to hold on when there's nothing in you except the will which says to them ... "hold on"
And after ALL those, you lose to a GRO. The pain was and still is indescribable.
If I should stay
I will only be in your way
So I'll go but I know
I'll think of you
Every step of the way
And I will always love you
i will always love you
My darling you
Bitter sweet memories
That is all I'm taking with me
So goodbye
Please ... don't cry
We both know
I'm not what you need
I hope life treats you kind
And I hope you'll find
All you've wished for
And I wish you joy and happiness
But above all these
I wish you love
Gosh! To dream but not make dreams your master. To think but not make thoughts your aims. To watch the things you gave your life to ... broken. And stoop and build 'em up with worn out tools. To heap all your winnings, and risk it all on one pitch-and-toss, and lose and start again at your beginnings, and never breathe a word about your loss. And to force your heart and nerves and sinews to serve your turn long after they are gone. And to hold on when there's nothing in you except the will which says to them ... "hold on"
And after ALL those, you lose to a GRO. The pain was and still is indescribable.
If I should stay
I will only be in your way
So I'll go but I know
I'll think of you
Every step of the way
And I will always love you
i will always love you
My darling you
Bitter sweet memories
That is all I'm taking with me
So goodbye
Please ... don't cry
We both know
I'm not what you need
I hope life treats you kind
And I hope you'll find
All you've wished for
And I wish you joy and happiness
But above all these
I wish you love
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Hari Guru 2010
Sempena hari Guru 2010, Kementerian Pelajaran menganjurkan GOTONG ROYONG PERDANA.
Seorang guru memulakan hari kerja dalam kelas dengan memastikan kelas bersih dan teratur dan semua pelajar berada di tempat masing masing beruniform lengkap mengikut peraturan. Menjadi tugas guru juga memastikan setiap pelajar BERSIH dan SIHAT.
Kalau lantai dan tingkap kotor, cikgu perlu pastikan kekotoran tersebut dibersihkan terlebih dahulu sebelum memulakan pelajaran. Semenjak jadi cikgu dari1982, sekali sekala aku sendiri menyapu lantai kelas dan membersihkan debu di tingkap bila ingatan pada pelajar seperti mencurahkan air ke daun keladi. Kononnya nak mengajar melalui teladan.Hampehhhh!!!
Heran sungguh aku. Pengalaman aku di negara orang putih, tukang cuci mencuci segala permukaan dan celah hingga berkilat. Tukang kebun amat bangga dengan hasil kerja tangan mereka. Bukan setakat potong rumput dan cantas pokok, malah mereka amat teliti menjaga keseluruhan 'sistem' laman/taman/kebun. Termasuk longkang dan tangga/bangku taman, air pancut dan sebagainya. Berbeza amat dengan tukang kebun kat tanah tumpah darah ku ini.
Setengah dari mereka jadi tukang kebun kerana masa sekolah dulu mungkin jenis yang suka ponteng kelas. Bila kerja pun biasanya masalah disiplin mereka tetap sama. Kalau bukan ponteng waktu, 'ponteng' tugas. Masa aku di Gemencheh N9, tukang kebun datang kerja pukul 8.00 pagi tapi selepas jam 10.00 pagi dia dah pergi kerja luar ... kedai tayar.
Tak seperti sekarang di mana tukang sapu dan tukang kebun bekerja untuk kontraktor pembersihan, dulu, mereka ni berjawatan pekerja am. Bergaji bulanan, tetap dan berpencen. Boleh tuntut elaun kerja lebih masa. Jawatan pekerja am termasuklah budak pejabat dan pembantu makmal. Masa aku di Dabong, hari pertama ke sekolah dengan keretapi, aku duduk menghadap [dalam koc keretapi dulu dulu, tempat duduk terakhir dipasang] seorang perempuan muda bergincu merah. Seorang pemuda duduk di sebelahnya.
P= Pemuda; PGM=Perempuan gincu merah
P : Kerja ke?
PGM: Ha ah.
P : Kerja kat mana?
PGM: I staff kat sekolah ....
Memang aku selalu jumpa perempuan gincu merah kat pejabat sekolah duduk di sebelah meja yang salah ... maksudnya bukan sebelah bekerja tapi sebelah pelawat. Masa tu umur aku baru 27 tahun ... ta'kulan aku tidak anggun ... sekadar ada mata tengok, ada telinga dengar, ada mulut diam. Hanya bila aku terpaksa menumpang di asrama, barulah aku tahu dia tukang sapu asrama. Itupun bukan kerana NAMPAK dia menyapu tapi teman sebilik yang bagitau. Hampir setahun aku di situ ... memang setiap hari lah aku jumpa dia DUDUK di pejabat bukan nya membersihkan asrama.
Tujuan cerita aku ni hanyalah nak meluahkan rasa sedih yang teramat sangat kerana tahun ini, sempena Hari Guru, para guru di kerah bergotong royong membersihkan kawasan sekolah. Ini termasuklah longkang dan tandas. Memanglah gotong royong bersama pelajar, tapi cuba bayangkan jika dalam kelas pun, walaupun setelah mengajar melalui teladan, guru menyapu lantai membersihkan tingkap, namun masih gagal menerapkan nilai kebersihan kepada pelajar, ingat bila buat gotong royong pelajar akan berebut rebut membersihkan tandas yang telah mereka kotorkan?
Rasa sayu sangat.
Terasa betapa nilai penghargaan kepada guru seperti sampah.
Menyedihkan!
Seorang guru memulakan hari kerja dalam kelas dengan memastikan kelas bersih dan teratur dan semua pelajar berada di tempat masing masing beruniform lengkap mengikut peraturan. Menjadi tugas guru juga memastikan setiap pelajar BERSIH dan SIHAT.
Kalau lantai dan tingkap kotor, cikgu perlu pastikan kekotoran tersebut dibersihkan terlebih dahulu sebelum memulakan pelajaran. Semenjak jadi cikgu dari1982, sekali sekala aku sendiri menyapu lantai kelas dan membersihkan debu di tingkap bila ingatan pada pelajar seperti mencurahkan air ke daun keladi. Kononnya nak mengajar melalui teladan.Hampehhhh!!!
Heran sungguh aku. Pengalaman aku di negara orang putih, tukang cuci mencuci segala permukaan dan celah hingga berkilat. Tukang kebun amat bangga dengan hasil kerja tangan mereka. Bukan setakat potong rumput dan cantas pokok, malah mereka amat teliti menjaga keseluruhan 'sistem' laman/taman/kebun. Termasuk longkang dan tangga/bangku taman, air pancut dan sebagainya. Berbeza amat dengan tukang kebun kat tanah tumpah darah ku ini.
Setengah dari mereka jadi tukang kebun kerana masa sekolah dulu mungkin jenis yang suka ponteng kelas. Bila kerja pun biasanya masalah disiplin mereka tetap sama. Kalau bukan ponteng waktu, 'ponteng' tugas. Masa aku di Gemencheh N9, tukang kebun datang kerja pukul 8.00 pagi tapi selepas jam 10.00 pagi dia dah pergi kerja luar ... kedai tayar.
Tak seperti sekarang di mana tukang sapu dan tukang kebun bekerja untuk kontraktor pembersihan, dulu, mereka ni berjawatan pekerja am. Bergaji bulanan, tetap dan berpencen. Boleh tuntut elaun kerja lebih masa. Jawatan pekerja am termasuklah budak pejabat dan pembantu makmal. Masa aku di Dabong, hari pertama ke sekolah dengan keretapi, aku duduk menghadap [dalam koc keretapi dulu dulu, tempat duduk terakhir dipasang] seorang perempuan muda bergincu merah. Seorang pemuda duduk di sebelahnya.
P= Pemuda; PGM=Perempuan gincu merah
P : Kerja ke?
PGM: Ha ah.
P : Kerja kat mana?
PGM: I staff kat sekolah ....
Memang aku selalu jumpa perempuan gincu merah kat pejabat sekolah duduk di sebelah meja yang salah ... maksudnya bukan sebelah bekerja tapi sebelah pelawat. Masa tu umur aku baru 27 tahun ... ta'kulan aku tidak anggun ... sekadar ada mata tengok, ada telinga dengar, ada mulut diam. Hanya bila aku terpaksa menumpang di asrama, barulah aku tahu dia tukang sapu asrama. Itupun bukan kerana NAMPAK dia menyapu tapi teman sebilik yang bagitau. Hampir setahun aku di situ ... memang setiap hari lah aku jumpa dia DUDUK di pejabat bukan nya membersihkan asrama.
Tujuan cerita aku ni hanyalah nak meluahkan rasa sedih yang teramat sangat kerana tahun ini, sempena Hari Guru, para guru di kerah bergotong royong membersihkan kawasan sekolah. Ini termasuklah longkang dan tandas. Memanglah gotong royong bersama pelajar, tapi cuba bayangkan jika dalam kelas pun, walaupun setelah mengajar melalui teladan, guru menyapu lantai membersihkan tingkap, namun masih gagal menerapkan nilai kebersihan kepada pelajar, ingat bila buat gotong royong pelajar akan berebut rebut membersihkan tandas yang telah mereka kotorkan?
Rasa sayu sangat.
Terasa betapa nilai penghargaan kepada guru seperti sampah.
Menyedihkan!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Wake Up
I read on NST Online yesterday,
RM242,000 for 'TAY 1' plate
2010/04/27
KUALA TERENGGANU: A businessman thought the "TAY 1" vehicle registration number plate was in his pocket when he submitted a record bid of RM220,000.
But, how wrong he was. Another businessman from Kuala Lumpur
State Road Transport Department director Abdul Rahman Emang Anyie however, declined to reveal details of the businessman, who is from Puchong.
He said the same businessman had also successfully won the bid for the number "TAY 9" for RM50,600.
He said the list of winners was on display at the RTD office here since last week.
In December, Abdul Rahman said the department received two verbal offers of RM200,000 for the number plate "TAY 1", which were offered by a businessman from Kuala Lumpur
This one person spent almost a quarter of a million RM for one car registration number plate and another RM50,000.00 for another.
I may be wrong, but automatically, my common sense tells me the bidder is one of the 26% of the population. I justify my sense with this [from here],
"Dr Chua said the party needed to relook its approach as just providing allocations for Chinese schools, halls and better drainage systems was no longer enough"
A huge proportion of this population are city dwellers to whom breakfast is McDonald, coffee is Starbuck. Free WiFi. Broadband with full 3.5G.
Couldn't help but agree with a blogger's thought here
"Or as one theory being bandied around is saying, the Chinese has already met material wealth and dominated the economy thus are now aiming political dominance?
They saw what they can acquire and be oblivion to the compromise and need of other communities inPenang and for a short while in Perak. When in power, the Chinese enrich their peers.
Sabahan still remembers the lavish giveaway of 100 years forest concession of almost 1 million acres during Chinese CM turn on the rotation.
While not in full power, Chinese Pakatan exco knows well to dominate with Chinese interests.
But is this the way forward disguised as Malaysian Malaysia or now rebranded as Middle Malaysia? Will this ensure racial integration and unity expounded by Pakatan's claim of multiracialism and multireligion?
Government has bend backward to satisfy the Chinese voters. They have introduced the concept of 1Malaysia, New Economic Model, more financial assistance to Chinese schools, scholarship to all races, and liberalising to business sector. Economy is recovering and more promising economic growth.
Is the Chinese telling that these does not mean anything? What they say they wanted is not really what they wanted. Are they saying they will respond only to a cruel emperor or a Mao Tse Tong like leader?
The Chinese is telling out loud to all Malaysans that it doesn't matter to them the reaction of other races.
They do not care if other races react similarly and the whole country vote along racial line with Chinese for Chinese, Malay for Malay, Indian for Indian, Kadazan for Kadazan, Dayak for Dayak, etc., Chinese will vote according to racial line irrespective of its impact on the country.
MCA and Gerakan can't be blame any more for their continual failure to deliver votes because the power shift within the Chinese community have moved to the head of clan and Chinese associations."
They saw what they can acquire and be oblivion to the compromise and need of other communities in
Sabahan still remembers the lavish giveaway of 100 years forest concession of almost 1 million acres during Chinese CM turn on the rotation.
While not in full power, Chinese Pakatan exco knows well to dominate with Chinese interests.
But is this the way forward disguised as Malaysian Malaysia or now rebranded as Middle Malaysia? Will this ensure racial integration and unity expounded by Pakatan's claim of multiracialism and multireligion?
Government has bend backward to satisfy the Chinese voters. They have introduced the concept of 1Malaysia, New Economic Model, more financial assistance to Chinese schools, scholarship to all races, and liberalising to business sector. Economy is recovering and more promising economic growth.
Is the Chinese telling that these does not mean anything? What they say they wanted is not really what they wanted. Are they saying they will respond only to a cruel emperor or a Mao Tse Tong like leader?
The Chinese is telling out loud to all Malaysans that it doesn't matter to them the reaction of other races.
They do not care if other races react similarly and the whole country vote along racial line with Chinese for Chinese, Malay for Malay, Indian for Indian, Kadazan for Kadazan, Dayak for Dayak, etc., Chinese will vote according to racial line irrespective of its impact on the country.
MCA and Gerakan can't be blame any more for their continual failure to deliver votes because the power shift within the Chinese community have moved to the head of clan and Chinese associations."
I wish to share a verse taken from here
I looked out the window.
And I saw
Their houses.
Have no windows
And I saw
Their houses.
Have no windows
Why do I feel so betrayed ...
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
The Train : of thoughts - past and present
I was starting to feel a lot better than I had been the past few years. Having a lot less pain in the knees. Gaining speed in walking. Getting hold of the hormonal roller coaster. Listening to the birds' morning orchestra while getting ready to work. My girl, settled in her own place. My boy, o'well ... he has to commit his own mistakes and come out wiser hopefully. My parents' health improving. My brother's food stall still standing. The compound is clear of weeds and bushes. After a long time, I get to see the boundaries again. An officer from the land office came to take measurement of the lot for the purpose of issuing permanent title. Slowly and cautiously exhaling ... wishing for that creeping shiny streak to be the silver thread weaving between the thick dark cloud.
Attended a reunion of batchmates in celebration of turning 50 last week. Yup! We were born in 1960. The Year of the Rat. We are half a century old this year. [fb album here]
Lost my mobile phone on the way back from the reunion. Never lost one before. Has always been able to squeeze every mobile of its last juice. This one was a China mobile. At RM250, I got a touch screen, double SIM card and all other standard functions including a webcam. Yes, I could hook up the mobile to my laptop using USB and voila! I have a webcam [that I have to hold]. Never got any use for a webcam, though.
The SIM card was easily replaced. Cost me a mere RM10 to get a replacement. But the list of contacts and other info that I did not save elsewhere are lost forever. There were some sms I have kept since the first day I got the number way back in 2000. Sweet short messages from friends and family that I peep into whenever the low hits me. And as the number on the age increases, my time of drawing comfort from them increases too.
I lost my mobile.
I do have another one, a Samsung SGH E950 which I used as a modem. I make calls from it whenever I run out of battery on my China mobile. I hate to use it for sms. The screen is simply too small for me.
That was how it went ... I was starting to feel better about my life in general and I lost the mobile. No big deal. Went to look for something to serve my need for mobility in internet and communication. Considered IPhone. Service provider is too restricted. Blackberry? Don't like the candy bar appearance. Also comes with heavy contract. Spotted Omnia. Hmmm ... another Samsung. My present Samsung couldn't accept bluetooth file transfer from other makes .i.e Nokia. Omnia ... Narnia ... insomnia ... hmmmmmmm ...
Felt strong enough to plan a bbq evening with colleagues last Friday. Wanted to share newly concocted sunquick laced bbqued beef sauce.
So I went to bed early that night. Thinking of reserving energy for the long evening.
Had a pedicure before the reunion. It's been more than a week and the heels were drying up fast in the extra hot weather and cracks were appearing. So, to cool them I smeared some Ellgy hyper rehydrating cream before hitting bed.
Must have been past midnight when my full bladder woke me up. Half asleep, I staggered to the bathroom and realized too late that my 'creamed' heels would have a problem on wet tiles. Found myself flying through the air and landed on my well padded bottom.
Touch down was ok.
However, the spread of the legs was a wee bit too wide for my arthritic knees and the crunch that followed seared the knees and I only managed a short holler before escaping into blackness.
Didn't know how long I passed out. Coming around to two throbbing knees on fire, I crawled out of the bathroom and managed to get on bed. Son called earlier and I was expecting him to be home at any time. Not bothering to find out the time, I put the BioDisk on one hour timer and gritted the teeth to arrange both knees to get the rays. I must have fallen asleep through the pain when son rattled my bedroom window and called from outside.
Took me forever to get to the door, opened it, told son I had a fall in the bathroom and went back to bed. Son asked if I wanted to go to hospital. I said I wanted to sleep first. It was 4.00 am.
At 6.00 am the alarm went off. I sent sms to the bosses telling them I won't be coming to work. Took Celebrex on empty stomach and went back to sleep. At about nine, got ready to go to hospital. The knees were still burning but I could walk. Well, wobble was more like it. Making some distance moving from side to side while putting out one foot after the other avoiding any slightest bending of the knee.
Went to outpatient. Long wait. Doctor asked why I didn't come to emergency earlier. Wanted to tell him that had I came to emergency, he would ask me why come to emergency for non emergency case. After all, there were no visible injuries and I was able to 'walk'. Instead, I answered - I was staying alone, couldn't drive and had to wait for my son to come back and drive me to hospital.
Doctor decided to have me admitted for observation because of the passing out. Sighhhhh!!! Student nurses sticked needles into me like I was a pin cushion and yet couldn't get the vein to stick the drip in. Until I couldn't take it anymore and asked them to stop.
A staff nurse took over. She whispered 'aloud' - kekadang ada orang ada ilmu ... sebab tu susah nak aambil darah ... sampai dia 'buka' dulu baru dapat [sometimes, some people practised certain rituals which made it impossible to draw their blood until they themselves let it].
I swallowed a chuckle.
Finally she managed to get a pink needle in.
She also needed to draw blood for lab test. Twice the blood clotted and the third draw was short so she had to do a fourth one.
I was put on complete fasting. No food no drink. Last drink was when I took Celebrex in the morning. The hot weather chaffed my lips.
I drifted into sleep until almost midnight. After that I couldn't sleep. The legs were getting swollen and my whole body ache. Chatted with the staff nurse.
Then came an sms - I'm in J******t this Saturday. You have I**'s number? Shall we have tea? Who other xsmspian is around?
Responded - I'm replying from hospital bed. I can get I**.
Reply - Hospital? Y? Who's sick? Hope not you.
Responded - I fell in the bathroom last night. Admitted for observation.
Couple more messages which ended with - Ok. See you tomorrow evening.
Saturday afternoon, I was discharged. Son took me home and then he left to go back to university.
I was alone.
And gosh! It was lonely being sick alone.
Suddenly another sms - Oops! Couldn't make it this evening. Let's have breakfast tomorrow. Name the place and time.
The night was long and loneliness prevailed.
9.00 am. Couldn't park near enough to the restaurant. Hate to 'wobble' in front of other patrons.
Went into the restaurant, hoping no one has arrived yet. Fat chance. They were already seated. A** was having fried bihun with sunny-side egg. I** ordered roti canai teh tarik. Z ordered roti canai and hot lemon tea with no sugar. I asked for warm lemon tea. They ran out of lemon. Ordered apple juice instead. Z asked for hot apple juice. I argued the point of having hot fruit juice which defeats the whole purpose of having the juice in the first place. I opted for cold one.
Conversation was light and easy when suddenly Z said - she is my x gf.
I was stunned.
He went on to tell about how he waited for my letters every week when he first went to Nottingham University in 1978.
And other personal things ...his side of the story.
Why would he made such confession ... in public!
To cleanse his soul?
That it was my fault when I didn't turn up at the airport when he came back from Nottingham?
How could I? in 1982, I was a young lady of 22 years old. Our culture does not accept a young lady travelling alone from Pasir Mas Kelantan to welcome home a young man in the midst of two bus loads of his relatives. My parents would have killed me then [exaggeration of course ... but that is the general idea].
Anyway, the correspondence ... all the five years of it ... he asked me to write to him about Malaysia NOT about myself. All the correspondences were DEVOID of any personal feelings. Mine were twice a week summary of the newspaper reports. His were a sporadic [read: whenever he felt like replying my twice a week letters, the most is once a month] journal of his daily life, a student in a foreign land. What he did over the weekends, places he visited, people he met [there were 2 girls mentioned]
There was NEVER any indication of a romance.
After he came home that 1982, I received a letter from him telling me of his stint at one of the local universities. I wrote back but never heard from him again. I even tried his home address ... a remote village near the National Park, hoping one of his relatives staying in the village would somehow get the letter to him.
That was how I lost contact with him.
Until a reunion in 2003 at Pan Pacific Kuala Lumpur.
He attended with his wife.
He was an associate professor and me a junior DG41 teacher [3 years back from Nottingham myself, doing an in service course pertaining to a first degree]. Fate had it that I was sent to Nottingham University where he studied back in 1978. I went looking for the address I used to send letters to .. XX? Lenton Boulevard, Nottingham. Forgotten the house number. I was still married then, divorced the next year.
Trying to recapture the nostalgia of when I first stopped the bus and get down at Lenton Boulevard in the cold crisp autumn of 1996 and imagining someone I knew walking the pavement to the bus stop way back in 1978.
All the years of correspondence, he sent two photos. One of a guitar in his room, one of himself riding a bicycle into Nottingham.
And here we are ... 28 years later, sipping apple juice without sugar, his hot mine ice cold, reminiscing the secret of our youth at a table with two other people in a quaint little town.
The two friends made excuses to leave. Z wanted to visit the Sunday market to look for local childhood delicacies i.e smoked fresh water fish and preserved durian.
He was taking the 12.15 pm train home.
At 12.00, I arrived at the train station bearing a little gift of home made preserved durian.
A** was there too to send his daughter.
I** arrived with his wife, also with a gift of preserved durian. And left immediately.
I stayed and ordered a warm lemon tea at the station's cafe.
He gave me a draft of his latest book "Melayu & Perjuangan".
I asked him to autograph it.
The train came.
He got on it.
And I went home.
Alone.
Attended a reunion of batchmates in celebration of turning 50 last week. Yup! We were born in 1960. The Year of the Rat. We are half a century old this year. [fb album here]
Lost my mobile phone on the way back from the reunion. Never lost one before. Has always been able to squeeze every mobile of its last juice. This one was a China mobile. At RM250, I got a touch screen, double SIM card and all other standard functions including a webcam. Yes, I could hook up the mobile to my laptop using USB and voila! I have a webcam [that I have to hold]. Never got any use for a webcam, though.
The SIM card was easily replaced. Cost me a mere RM10 to get a replacement. But the list of contacts and other info that I did not save elsewhere are lost forever. There were some sms I have kept since the first day I got the number way back in 2000. Sweet short messages from friends and family that I peep into whenever the low hits me. And as the number on the age increases, my time of drawing comfort from them increases too.
I lost my mobile.
I do have another one, a Samsung SGH E950 which I used as a modem. I make calls from it whenever I run out of battery on my China mobile. I hate to use it for sms. The screen is simply too small for me.
That was how it went ... I was starting to feel better about my life in general and I lost the mobile. No big deal. Went to look for something to serve my need for mobility in internet and communication. Considered IPhone. Service provider is too restricted. Blackberry? Don't like the candy bar appearance. Also comes with heavy contract. Spotted Omnia. Hmmm ... another Samsung. My present Samsung couldn't accept bluetooth file transfer from other makes .i.e Nokia. Omnia ... Narnia ... insomnia ... hmmmmmmm ...
Felt strong enough to plan a bbq evening with colleagues last Friday. Wanted to share newly concocted sunquick laced bbqued beef sauce.
So I went to bed early that night. Thinking of reserving energy for the long evening.
Had a pedicure before the reunion. It's been more than a week and the heels were drying up fast in the extra hot weather and cracks were appearing. So, to cool them I smeared some Ellgy hyper rehydrating cream before hitting bed.
Must have been past midnight when my full bladder woke me up. Half asleep, I staggered to the bathroom and realized too late that my 'creamed' heels would have a problem on wet tiles. Found myself flying through the air and landed on my well padded bottom.
Touch down was ok.
However, the spread of the legs was a wee bit too wide for my arthritic knees and the crunch that followed seared the knees and I only managed a short holler before escaping into blackness.
Didn't know how long I passed out. Coming around to two throbbing knees on fire, I crawled out of the bathroom and managed to get on bed. Son called earlier and I was expecting him to be home at any time. Not bothering to find out the time, I put the BioDisk on one hour timer and gritted the teeth to arrange both knees to get the rays. I must have fallen asleep through the pain when son rattled my bedroom window and called from outside.
Took me forever to get to the door, opened it, told son I had a fall in the bathroom and went back to bed. Son asked if I wanted to go to hospital. I said I wanted to sleep first. It was 4.00 am.
At 6.00 am the alarm went off. I sent sms to the bosses telling them I won't be coming to work. Took Celebrex on empty stomach and went back to sleep. At about nine, got ready to go to hospital. The knees were still burning but I could walk. Well, wobble was more like it. Making some distance moving from side to side while putting out one foot after the other avoiding any slightest bending of the knee.
Went to outpatient. Long wait. Doctor asked why I didn't come to emergency earlier. Wanted to tell him that had I came to emergency, he would ask me why come to emergency for non emergency case. After all, there were no visible injuries and I was able to 'walk'. Instead, I answered - I was staying alone, couldn't drive and had to wait for my son to come back and drive me to hospital.
Doctor decided to have me admitted for observation because of the passing out. Sighhhhh!!! Student nurses sticked needles into me like I was a pin cushion and yet couldn't get the vein to stick the drip in. Until I couldn't take it anymore and asked them to stop.
A staff nurse took over. She whispered 'aloud' - kekadang ada orang ada ilmu ... sebab tu susah nak aambil darah ... sampai dia 'buka' dulu baru dapat [sometimes, some people practised certain rituals which made it impossible to draw their blood until they themselves let it].
I swallowed a chuckle.
Finally she managed to get a pink needle in.
She also needed to draw blood for lab test. Twice the blood clotted and the third draw was short so she had to do a fourth one.
I was put on complete fasting. No food no drink. Last drink was when I took Celebrex in the morning. The hot weather chaffed my lips.
I drifted into sleep until almost midnight. After that I couldn't sleep. The legs were getting swollen and my whole body ache. Chatted with the staff nurse.
Then came an sms - I'm in J******t this Saturday. You have I**'s number? Shall we have tea? Who other xsmspian is around?
Responded - I'm replying from hospital bed. I can get I**.
Reply - Hospital? Y? Who's sick? Hope not you.
Responded - I fell in the bathroom last night. Admitted for observation.
Couple more messages which ended with - Ok. See you tomorrow evening.
Saturday afternoon, I was discharged. Son took me home and then he left to go back to university.
I was alone.
And gosh! It was lonely being sick alone.
Suddenly another sms - Oops! Couldn't make it this evening. Let's have breakfast tomorrow. Name the place and time.
The night was long and loneliness prevailed.
9.00 am. Couldn't park near enough to the restaurant. Hate to 'wobble' in front of other patrons.
Went into the restaurant, hoping no one has arrived yet. Fat chance. They were already seated. A** was having fried bihun with sunny-side egg. I** ordered roti canai teh tarik. Z ordered roti canai and hot lemon tea with no sugar. I asked for warm lemon tea. They ran out of lemon. Ordered apple juice instead. Z asked for hot apple juice. I argued the point of having hot fruit juice which defeats the whole purpose of having the juice in the first place. I opted for cold one.
Conversation was light and easy when suddenly Z said - she is my x gf.
I was stunned.
He went on to tell about how he waited for my letters every week when he first went to Nottingham University in 1978.
And other personal things ...his side of the story.
Why would he made such confession ... in public!
To cleanse his soul?
That it was my fault when I didn't turn up at the airport when he came back from Nottingham?
How could I? in 1982, I was a young lady of 22 years old. Our culture does not accept a young lady travelling alone from Pasir Mas Kelantan to welcome home a young man in the midst of two bus loads of his relatives. My parents would have killed me then [exaggeration of course ... but that is the general idea].
Anyway, the correspondence ... all the five years of it ... he asked me to write to him about Malaysia NOT about myself. All the correspondences were DEVOID of any personal feelings. Mine were twice a week summary of the newspaper reports. His were a sporadic [read: whenever he felt like replying my twice a week letters, the most is once a month] journal of his daily life, a student in a foreign land. What he did over the weekends, places he visited, people he met [there were 2 girls mentioned]
There was NEVER any indication of a romance.
After he came home that 1982, I received a letter from him telling me of his stint at one of the local universities. I wrote back but never heard from him again. I even tried his home address ... a remote village near the National Park, hoping one of his relatives staying in the village would somehow get the letter to him.
That was how I lost contact with him.
Until a reunion in 2003 at Pan Pacific Kuala Lumpur.
He attended with his wife.
He was an associate professor and me a junior DG41 teacher [3 years back from Nottingham myself, doing an in service course pertaining to a first degree]. Fate had it that I was sent to Nottingham University where he studied back in 1978. I went looking for the address I used to send letters to .. XX? Lenton Boulevard, Nottingham. Forgotten the house number. I was still married then, divorced the next year.
Trying to recapture the nostalgia of when I first stopped the bus and get down at Lenton Boulevard in the cold crisp autumn of 1996 and imagining someone I knew walking the pavement to the bus stop way back in 1978.
All the years of correspondence, he sent two photos. One of a guitar in his room, one of himself riding a bicycle into Nottingham.
And here we are ... 28 years later, sipping apple juice without sugar, his hot mine ice cold, reminiscing the secret of our youth at a table with two other people in a quaint little town.
The two friends made excuses to leave. Z wanted to visit the Sunday market to look for local childhood delicacies i.e smoked fresh water fish and preserved durian.
He was taking the 12.15 pm train home.
At 12.00, I arrived at the train station bearing a little gift of home made preserved durian.
A** was there too to send his daughter.
I** arrived with his wife, also with a gift of preserved durian. And left immediately.
I stayed and ordered a warm lemon tea at the station's cafe.
He gave me a draft of his latest book "Melayu & Perjuangan".
I asked him to autograph it.
The train came.
He got on it.
And I went home.
Alone.
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