My grandfather passed away last Sunday, Dec 27th morning.
He suffered a heart attack on Christmas eve and again later in the afternoon. He was admitted to Selayang Hospital and that evening he was transferred from A&E section to CCU.
I was on my way to my parents' house for Christmas dinner when I came to know that he was admitted to the hospital, as apparently I was not informed earlier about him. I decided to make a U-turn at Sungai Buloh interchange and headed straight to Selayang Hospital with my son, and my wife was waiting for me near my parent's place.
Besides having histories of heart attack, his kidneys were not functioning that well and he was supposed to go for dialysis, to which he told me the week before that he doesn't plan to undergo since the whole treatment may be too taxing for him, i.e. thrice a week and 4 hours for each session of hemodialysis.
He was like a fatherly figure to me since my sister & I were under our grandparent's care since both our parents couldn't afford to hire a maid to take care of both of us, and both of them are working full-time. I've heard testimonies from a dear friend of my uncle, to whom he said my grandfather loved me the most and he sacrificed a lot to see me healthy (I was diagnosed with bronchitis). My sister & I stayed with our grandparents till we were 8 years old, since we were just few months old.
Tears just ran down freely when I remembered many, many things that he had done for me and how his lifestyle had influenced mine, be it getting my identification card when I was 12, getting an ATM card for me also at 12, taking me to the best barber to get my haircut, getting up early to send my sister & I to school when we were 7, using chopsticks when I was 6 or 7, paid and encouraged me to obtain my driving & motorcycle license, tendered to me when I was sick (he came back in the afternoon to bring me food and cared for my medical needs), gave me pocket money when I started going to school, always buy the things that I longed for (toys basically, when I was still a kid), giving me 1 to 1 driving lessons and letting me drive his only car when I was still pursuing the driving license, cook for my sister & I when my grandma was away at work, encouraged me to drive his working van (during his retirement he helped my uncle to sell clothes at pasar malam & pasar pagi), etc.
Although he is quick & hot tempered, he had never scolded us (my sister & I) just as he did so to his own children when they did something wrong. He was a great man, a former police who had sacrificed a lot for his country (notably busting communist cell groups and going after drug dealers) and his eight children, to which he had never complained about having my sister & I as an addition to his immediate family (i.e. children).
Being a cop in this country isn't easy. From Tanjung Malim in the early eighties, he was transferred to Slim River, after which he was transferred to Kuantan. Kuantan was his last posting before retiring in the mid eighties, when I was still 5 or 6 years old. And throughout these relocations, we (grandma, my sister & I) were with him. We can see how he has suffered a lot being a CID in the police force, and due to the stress at work he drinks & smokes heavily. But he never forsake his family and the two of us (my sister & I), as he was the main breadwinner of the family.
Kung-kung, I feel honoured to be your grandson and I hope your soul will find peace and mercy in the eyes of our Creator. I promised that I will take good care of po-po in your absence. Love you, Kung-kung.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Casting
Had a fall at the driving range last Thurs after whacking 200 golf balls. Slipped on my way to the car, wearing my new golf shoes with artificial/plastic spikes. Luckily my wife was there to console me, and got me some f&b to help me overcome the 'shock' from falling.
Felt extreme numbness at first on the entire arm, my face was pale as if i've just saw a ghost, and looked like the elbow had been displaced. Could barely straighten or bend 90 deg, and decided to retain 60 deg or 45 deg until i've got home, and drove with my right hand (single-handedly).
Tried to recall how i fell, but apparently i was still in the state of shock for the next 1 hour or so and after a while I realized that my left foot slipped and fell into the drain while I'm holding my golf bag (with complete clubs in it) and my left elbow had to endure the weight of my body & the golf bag. My right leg wasn't in the drain, and to my amazement (Thank God!) my legs were unhurt, it is just that my left arm was a bit awkward and tightness can be felt around the elbow area and muscles in the vicinity of the elbow.
Went for X-Ray the following day at a private hospital and confirmed there is a small fracture at the head of radius bone at the joint with humerus (upper arm). Got the diagnosis from orthopedic who later fooled me into believe that a simple push and casting would do the trick at the cost of around RM1K. But eventually the whole thing, including rental of OT, ballooned up to RM2K++ and bcos I had both Great Eastern & Berjaya Sompo medic card, I settled for GE bcos the co-insurance is 10% as compared to 20% if I use BS.
Seeing the doc again tomorrow, dunno whether want to complain about the high fees before or after the check-up. Anyway I hope the casting can be removed so that I can move my left hand without any hindrances.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
OB car wash
OB - out of bounds
Here it is:
http://www.enginelounge.com/2009/10/05/pictures-singapore-topless-car-wash/
Small, but worth the curiosity I guess... for the participants & contest winners I mean ;-)
BSO - Buat Susah Orang
Was requested to handover the Kia Sportage 2006 today, and in exchange I could take home Honda Accord 2.0 VTi 2007. But what a hassle to remove personal things from the KIA - umbrella, toddler's car seat, lubrication oil, cards (access card, Touch n go, etc.)
So does it worth the swap?
Nope.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Golfing
Been lazy to put up any post in this blog.
Anyway, just a quick update. Went to driving range after being absent (i.e. at a driving range) for more than 5 years. Everything seemed to be ok... had the swing & groove coming after 10 hits or so. The last time I went to a golf driving range was more than 5 years ago. RM10 for 100 balls... and took just more than one hour to whack them. Colleagues planned to visit a public golf course next week, likely 9 holes and asked me to practice twice next week if I want to join them. But don't think I can make it, cause feeling stiffness around my neck and upper abdomen muscles. Didn't spend time warming up or stretching before I whacked the first ball... and now seems like I have aches all over on the upper body... and feel kinda pain in my stomach when I cough. Damn... should have done some warming up first....
Well, how did I start golfing, or rather picking up the golf club and whack that teeny weeny ball? Years back I had some basic lessons when I was working at a golf department in an established shopping mall at Bukit Bintang. Here, some golf pro are available to teach me... and corrected me if my swing is bad. Furthermore there was this machine that assists in swinging the club... hard to describe... just have to see for yourself. Being in the golf department for 2 months (while waiting for my STPM results), I was exposed to golf terms and equipments, so much so that I have these knowledge embedded in my head.
Been itching to play golf since graduation, and bought the first few clubs at Cash Converter near Ampang Point. Not few actually, just 3 - one iron no.5, driver and woods no. 3. Nothing serious after that... just a couple of visits to the driving range in Setapak and the fire seemed to be gone after getting hitched.
Anyway, the idea of getting involved came about when a Danish colleague asking me out to the driving range and directed me to a golf store near Kelana. Bought a complete golf set last month - one driver, 2 woods, 1 hybrid, 6 irons & 1 putter... not very branded but should be okay for a beginner like myself.
Feel unprepared for a 'flight' at the golf course... feel inadequate... training,
etiquette and equipments. Wanna get some rubber tees, wooden tees, better glove, golf cap/hat, sunglass, etc. Hopefully by the next post, I would be golfing at the real golf course already - perhaps just 9 holes for a start!
Anyway, just a quick update. Went to driving range after being absent (i.e. at a driving range) for more than 5 years. Everything seemed to be ok... had the swing & groove coming after 10 hits or so. The last time I went to a golf driving range was more than 5 years ago. RM10 for 100 balls... and took just more than one hour to whack them. Colleagues planned to visit a public golf course next week, likely 9 holes and asked me to practice twice next week if I want to join them. But don't think I can make it, cause feeling stiffness around my neck and upper abdomen muscles. Didn't spend time warming up or stretching before I whacked the first ball... and now seems like I have aches all over on the upper body... and feel kinda pain in my stomach when I cough. Damn... should have done some warming up first....
Well, how did I start golfing, or rather picking up the golf club and whack that teeny weeny ball? Years back I had some basic lessons when I was working at a golf department in an established shopping mall at Bukit Bintang. Here, some golf pro are available to teach me... and corrected me if my swing is bad. Furthermore there was this machine that assists in swinging the club... hard to describe... just have to see for yourself. Being in the golf department for 2 months (while waiting for my STPM results), I was exposed to golf terms and equipments, so much so that I have these knowledge embedded in my head.
Been itching to play golf since graduation, and bought the first few clubs at Cash Converter near Ampang Point. Not few actually, just 3 - one iron no.5, driver and woods no. 3. Nothing serious after that... just a couple of visits to the driving range in Setapak and the fire seemed to be gone after getting hitched.
Anyway, the idea of getting involved came about when a Danish colleague asking me out to the driving range and directed me to a golf store near Kelana. Bought a complete golf set last month - one driver, 2 woods, 1 hybrid, 6 irons & 1 putter... not very branded but should be okay for a beginner like myself.
Feel unprepared for a 'flight' at the golf course... feel inadequate... training,
etiquette and equipments. Wanna get some rubber tees, wooden tees, better glove, golf cap/hat, sunglass, etc. Hopefully by the next post, I would be golfing at the real golf course already - perhaps just 9 holes for a start!
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Farewell email to colleagues
My corporate email account was frozen few days before my departure from my previous company and I suspect it is the CM's malice intention to stop me from saying goodbye to fellow colleagues and clientele. But little that she know that I have done backups from time to time and as of today I have them on my external HDD and I CHOSE not to disclose any P&C details or contact any of the previous clientele - not because I cannot, but I think it is not right to do so. Conscience is something dear to me and I realized that many ppl don't actually listen to that small voice that I call CONSCIENCE. Anyway I've sent out the following email using my personal email account, and there were some who had responded and there was one who was glad to see the quotes and left the company soon after me. Here's the email.... with some words censored to prevent myself being sued for whatever reason:
// Here's the email:
E*** Malaysia
Dear all,
My journey with E*** ends today and I would like to take this opportunity to say goodbye. I hope I will be remembered as someone who is willing to share my priceless skills, experiences and knowledge, rather than being remembered as a controversial and individualistic person.
For some, thank you for your support and companionship throughout my stay here and surely I will treasure the good times that we shared together in my short 16 months stint with E***.
Would like to share with you these 'brainy' quotes:
'People ask the difference between a leader and a boss. The leader works in the open, and the boss in covert. The leader leads, and the boss drives.' - Theodore Roosevelt
'Being busy does not always mean real work. The object of all work is production or accomplishment and to either of these ends there must be forethought, system, planning, intelligence, and honest purpose, as well as perspiration. Seeming to do is not doing.' - Thomas A. Edison
'Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. Believe you can and you're halfway there.' - Theodore Roosevelt
'Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get.' - Dale Carnegie
Best wishes to all.
// End
// Here's the email:
E*** Malaysia
Dear all,
My journey with E*** ends today and I would like to take this opportunity to say goodbye. I hope I will be remembered as someone who is willing to share my priceless skills, experiences and knowledge, rather than being remembered as a controversial and individualistic person.
For some, thank you for your support and companionship throughout my stay here and surely I will treasure the good times that we shared together in my short 16 months stint with E***.
Would like to share with you these 'brainy' quotes:
'People ask the difference between a leader and a boss. The leader works in the open, and the boss in covert. The leader leads, and the boss drives.' - Theodore Roosevelt
'Being busy does not always mean real work. The object of all work is production or accomplishment and to either of these ends there must be forethought, system, planning, intelligence, and honest purpose, as well as perspiration. Seeming to do is not doing.' - Thomas A. Edison
'Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. Believe you can and you're halfway there.' - Theodore Roosevelt
'Success is getting what you want. Happiness is wanting what you get.' - Dale Carnegie
Best wishes to all.
// End
Saturday, May 16, 2009
FOUR trophies in the bag already!!
Hoorraayyy!!
Four trophies are already in the bag for this season!!
Let's recall again the competitions/silverware that MU is vying for this season 2008/9:
1. FA Community Shield (against Portsmouth, Aug 10) - Won!!
2. UEFA Super Cup (against Zenit St. Petersburg of Russia, Aug 29) - Lost
3. Club World Cup (against LDU, Dec 21) - Won!!
4. Carling Cup (against Tottenham, March 1) - Won!!
5. FA Cup (out on penalties against Everton)
6. English Premier League - WON!!
7. Champions League (against Barcelona, May 27)
Hoooray!!! Champions of England, Champions of Europe, Champions of the World!!
Manchester United - best football team in the world!!
Four trophies are already in the bag for this season!!
Let's recall again the competitions/silverware that MU is vying for this season 2008/9:
1. FA Community Shield (against Portsmouth, Aug 10) - Won!!
2. UEFA Super Cup (against Zenit St. Petersburg of Russia, Aug 29) - Lost
3. Club World Cup (against LDU, Dec 21) - Won!!
4. Carling Cup (against Tottenham, March 1) - Won!!
5. FA Cup (out on penalties against Everton)
6. English Premier League - WON!!
7. Champions League (against Barcelona, May 27)
Hoooray!!! Champions of England, Champions of Europe, Champions of the World!!
Manchester United - best football team in the world!!
Friday, May 1, 2009
Been busy and happy about it
Work. 'It is a never ending process' - quoted this from a forwarded email that I've received quite some time ago.
Whatever lar ;p
But it makes a lot of difference if you're having fun in your work.... time flies so fast and there will be little time to ponder about negative things and entertaining unnecessary stress(es). I'm just glad I've made a very important decision back in 2007 and am now reaping benefits from that 'move'.
If there are two things that I've missed the most from that 'move' would be... firstly my good-honest-funny-reliable buddies and secondly, traveling abroad.
And I think I am more suited to work in a MNC-working environment, where there are more qualified & experienced farangs/gwailos/mat sallehs around to discuss technical issues and non-technical issues like golf, football, food, cultures etc. And some how I like the way they work... there is some sense of flexibility, calmness and prudence. And not forgetting - I admire their firmness in setting aside time for the family after office hours, unlike some narrow minded and hypocritical supervisors in the local companies that I've worked before that would like to see their subordinates staying over in the office (after the stipulated working hours in the employment letter) even when there's not much to do and not getting paid for 'overtime'. I remember the stares that I've got from the CM & GM for leaving on time (5.30 pm) and I am perceived negatively for leaving 'early'. My conscience is always clear when I leave the office, knowing that I've fulfilled my duties to the best of my ability for the day and satisfies the total working hours stipulated in the 'contract'. Like in my previous company - some who comes late and check-out late (e.g. comes in at 9.30pm and leaves at 6.30pm; 8 hours of working time excluding 1 hour break) gets 'good' appraisal from upper management, but ppl like myself who comes to office before 8am and leaves 5.30pm sharp (at least 8.5 working hours excluding the 1 hr break) gets the stares as if I've committed something wrong and not worthy of a promotion/increment/praise. Perhaps it is just a common & bad perception (hypocritical or psychological in nature) that an employee leaves on-time is seen or deemed to be calculative and not contributing enough to the company or short in terms of giving their 'output' at work or in the office. But like I said, my conscience is clear and the principle of fulfilling the 'stipulated' working hours still remains with me till today after working for about 9 years now. And I think leaving on time to be with the family far superceeds the work obligations as I know we can never turn back the clock and say 'Geez... how I wish I am not drawn to much in my never ending work that I forgot my son's birthday or I forgot to water the plants today'. Friends, if you're reading this blog entry of mine, pls remember that everything in this world/life must be done in a moderate sense, be it eating, exercising, work, socializing, gossiping (heheheee!!) etc.
All in all, I am glad tat I'm paid to do what I like the most now and hope that it will carry on until the end of my career - 45 perhaps?. Feel contented and blessed... reminds me of the sermon on The Beatitudes... all glory to God!
Whatever lar ;p
But it makes a lot of difference if you're having fun in your work.... time flies so fast and there will be little time to ponder about negative things and entertaining unnecessary stress(es). I'm just glad I've made a very important decision back in 2007 and am now reaping benefits from that 'move'.
If there are two things that I've missed the most from that 'move' would be... firstly my good-honest-funny-reliable buddies and secondly, traveling abroad.
And I think I am more suited to work in a MNC-working environment, where there are more qualified & experienced farangs/gwailos/mat sallehs around to discuss technical issues and non-technical issues like golf, football, food, cultures etc. And some how I like the way they work... there is some sense of flexibility, calmness and prudence. And not forgetting - I admire their firmness in setting aside time for the family after office hours, unlike some narrow minded and hypocritical supervisors in the local companies that I've worked before that would like to see their subordinates staying over in the office (after the stipulated working hours in the employment letter) even when there's not much to do and not getting paid for 'overtime'. I remember the stares that I've got from the CM & GM for leaving on time (5.30 pm) and I am perceived negatively for leaving 'early'. My conscience is always clear when I leave the office, knowing that I've fulfilled my duties to the best of my ability for the day and satisfies the total working hours stipulated in the 'contract'. Like in my previous company - some who comes late and check-out late (e.g. comes in at 9.30pm and leaves at 6.30pm; 8 hours of working time excluding 1 hour break) gets 'good' appraisal from upper management, but ppl like myself who comes to office before 8am and leaves 5.30pm sharp (at least 8.5 working hours excluding the 1 hr break) gets the stares as if I've committed something wrong and not worthy of a promotion/increment/praise. Perhaps it is just a common & bad perception (hypocritical or psychological in nature) that an employee leaves on-time is seen or deemed to be calculative and not contributing enough to the company or short in terms of giving their 'output' at work or in the office. But like I said, my conscience is clear and the principle of fulfilling the 'stipulated' working hours still remains with me till today after working for about 9 years now. And I think leaving on time to be with the family far superceeds the work obligations as I know we can never turn back the clock and say 'Geez... how I wish I am not drawn to much in my never ending work that I forgot my son's birthday or I forgot to water the plants today'. Friends, if you're reading this blog entry of mine, pls remember that everything in this world/life must be done in a moderate sense, be it eating, exercising, work, socializing, gossiping (heheheee!!) etc.
All in all, I am glad tat I'm paid to do what I like the most now and hope that it will carry on until the end of my career - 45 perhaps?. Feel contented and blessed... reminds me of the sermon on The Beatitudes... all glory to God!
Monday, March 2, 2009
Three trophies in the bag already!!
Yippieeee!!
Three trophies are already in the bag for this season!!
Let's recall again the competitions/silverware that MU is vying for this season 2008/9:
1. FA Community Shield (against Portsmouth, Aug 10) - Won!!
2. UEFA Super Cup (against Zenit St. Petersburg of Russia, Aug 29) - Lost
3. Club World Cup (against LDU, Dec 21) - Won!!
4. Carling Cup (against Tottenham, March 1) - Won!!
5. FA Cup
6. English Premier League
7. Champions League
Hoooray!!! Champions of England, Champions of Europe, Champions of the World!!
Manchester United - best football team in the world!!
Three trophies are already in the bag for this season!!
Let's recall again the competitions/silverware that MU is vying for this season 2008/9:
1. FA Community Shield (against Portsmouth, Aug 10) - Won!!
2. UEFA Super Cup (against Zenit St. Petersburg of Russia, Aug 29) - Lost
3. Club World Cup (against LDU, Dec 21) - Won!!
4. Carling Cup (against Tottenham, March 1) - Won!!
5. FA Cup
6. English Premier League
7. Champions League
Hoooray!!! Champions of England, Champions of Europe, Champions of the World!!
Manchester United - best football team in the world!!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Bangkok trip
The above are some of my photos taken in Bangkok and its vicinity areas. Will soon upload more collages next week...
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Birthday treat...
Nothing beats a nice dinner with family, coupled with a smooth wine to go down with .... mmmhhmmm.... ssswwweeeeeettt!!
White wine (left) - bottle no. 1, sweet vin blanc doux
Red wine (Shiraz) - bottle no. 2 with chef ceramic dummy, with blue deco wrapped around the bottle. Did not open cos I know Shiraz is 'dry'.. perhaps another dinner?
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Beautiful view from home
My son pointed out the sky from our living room today... so immediately I pulled out my D80 and captured these. Undoctored pictures, mind you :-)
Monday, February 2, 2009
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
First blog entry for the year (2009)
Aisay.
This is actually my second post because the first one got lost after I had accidentally pressed the backspace button - so what I've written for the past 30 minutes has just lost like that....grrr...
Anyway what I wanted to share was my experience in getting my first DSLR, using and experimenting the settings in it, compared it to my point & shoot camera Nikon E4100 and the fact that the new camera inspires me to take better snap shots of my surrounding. And to record visually my experiences - sights, travels, observations etc.
Will update this blog as often as my flickr page (hopefully!).
Till then.
Happy Golden Niu Year ;-)
This is actually my second post because the first one got lost after I had accidentally pressed the backspace button - so what I've written for the past 30 minutes has just lost like that....grrr...
Anyway what I wanted to share was my experience in getting my first DSLR, using and experimenting the settings in it, compared it to my point & shoot camera Nikon E4100 and the fact that the new camera inspires me to take better snap shots of my surrounding. And to record visually my experiences - sights, travels, observations etc.
Will update this blog as often as my flickr page (hopefully!).
Till then.
Happy Golden Niu Year ;-)
Some photos on flickr captured using Nikon D80:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)