A Proud Father ...

...

Today, I decided to continue writing on my bloG both here and the other one at www.dari-seremban.blogspot.com.

It has been a long while since I posted anything up here. To Rozaimi, sure bro ... anytime you drop by at Seremban Court just drop me a note & I'll be happy to buy you breakfast.

To start off my posting here, today I am a proud father. My 2nd daughter Nana won 2nd place in a drawing and colouring competition held at Seremban Jusco, Seremban 2. Way to go, Nana!



She has been having this keen interest in drawing and colouring since small. Having her name being called out in the crowd gave me the moment. Although it was just an ordinary competition I suppose just like any other competition, this means a lot to me and the family. It brightens the gloomy days we have been having.

Anyway, she has given me permission to put up her pictures on my bloG as and when she approves it. Very stern person she is. Probably just like her mother.

Until then.

@ Home

Trying To Be Nice ...

...

Have you ever tried to be nice, especially to strangers?

For instance you are driving on a busy road and ahead of you there are cars lining up slowly moving ahead. Then there comes a car in front of you from the other side trying to cross over you to enter the road beside you. Would you stop and give way eventhough it is your right of way?

Would you offer your food or drinks to a stranger sitting next to you in a train? Or simply would you give a smile to people who look at you while walking & passing you in the street?

Well even if you wold, how many do you think are following you?

The fact is - nowadays it is so hard to be nice without a reason. Sometimes your gesture to be nice would be interpreted wrongly. It may also create suspicion in the mind of others.

Well definitely giving a smile to a stranger in the street will lead to nowhere. In fact it would give a boost in your energy and sometimes even your confidence. This is so when your smile is returned in kind. The feeling is always there when this happens.

So in a difficult time like I am having right now, being nice to others without a reason to do so really boosts my confidence and morale. I find that it creates the same energy to others as well. Try it once a while and you will notice a difference.

So, before entering the bus in your journey just grab a couple of small packets of peanuts and after you are seated and before having it just pass one packet to the person next to you. Yeah, do it for no reason and please don't expect anything in return. And if you ever be the receipient of this nice gesture from others, take it kindly but if you feel it is not quite right to accept this kindness, reject it politely!

I believe we all need to create this culture especially at time like this. Hey, I am just trying to be nice.

Why am I saying this? There's a reason ...

Recently I happened to have a super early breakfast with the wife at the canteen of a public place (actually in a court house). Just happenned that not many people were around in the canteen that day. And we both felt really good that morning for being able to go out early from our house. It's good to be early you know. As they say - early birds get the worms.

As we were having our meal we saw somebody we know just walked into the canteen to have her breakfast too. She wasn't alone but with 2 other friends. After exchanging pleasantries with us, she and her friends proceeded to order their food and then sat at a different table from us.

Since we started early so we finished early. Then my wife thought why not just be nice and pay for their food as well. Anyway, it's not always that we do get to go out early from home and have our breakfast like that day. And we it's been a very long time since we treat somebody.

Well, my wife not making it obvious went on to the counter and placed a $50 note to cover both our food and their food. She told the food operator to include them in our bill in other words we would pay for them. It was done quietly and subtlely as it wasn't such a big deal to both of us.

After that my wife returned to our table and waited for me to finish my meal. (Obviously I was still enjoying my 'fat rice' which is 'nasi lemak' or rice cooked with coconut milk.)

Then as we moved out from the canteen and my wife went to the counter to pick up her change, she was told that only the lady that we knew accepted our treat but the other two declined to be paid. One of them had said to the canteen operator that she did not know us therefore she couldn't accept our treat and the other simply said she can pay on her own.

Well, like I said we were just trying to be nice without any intention. Hey, we didn't even know who they were but we kind of knew they worked there. And it's okay that they refused our treat. No harm done. So, since it wasn't a big deal we just moved along quietly.

So the point is ... I do wonder, were we trying to be too nice maybe? Was it completely unnecessary? Coz I was thinking that the 1st thing I would do when I strike my 1st million (hehehe.. still keeping the ambition, Nicole) is that I will walk in a packed restaurant and have my meal and then when I pay, I would pay for everyone! If you ask me why, I would say I am just trying to be nice.

I am wondering how many people would allow me to be nice?

Note to self and others: Make sure you look at the circumstances before you try to do so, that is, try to be nice. If you are a lawyer and about to appear before a judge in his court for God's sake don't buy him breakfast on that day especially after you win your case. That would be being too nice and usually when you do that it would mean something else.

Ty not to be like this poor fellow below who tried to be - too nice: -

.. One day Bob came home from work with a black & blue on both sides of his eyes. Obviously he had been punched in the face. Twice. On both sides of his face.

His housemate Jim was shocked to see Bob in that condition and asked him - "What the hell happened to you, mate??!! Were you robbed or mugged or something??", asked Jim frantically.

Bob then looked down and with sadness he said "No, I wasn't. I got it in the bus while coming back home and it wasn't a bad guy who did it. It was a lady. A fat Lady"

Jim who was confused asked Bob, "What??! Why would a fat lady punched you in the face? What did you do to her?"

Bob then reluctantly told the story to Jim.

According to Bob he was seated at the back seat in the bus on his way home. The bus was packed with people and in front of him there was this big fat lady who got pushed to the back row as others in front of her trying to get some space.

As she was standing in front of Bob facing the other way, Bob noticed that her skirt at the back got stuck between her ass. It looked so weird and funny. Bob then noticed there were a few people seated in his row trying to contain their laughter at the fat lady. Maybe she didn't notice it, maybe she got it while sitting down, poor lady, Bob thought.

Apparently the fat lady noticed that there were people giggling and laughing at something and she started to realise that they were laughing at her. Puzzled and curious the fat lady tried to move forward to escape the laughter.

Bob couldn't take it anymore and without thinking, he grabbed hold of the lady's skirt and pulled it out from her big ass. The lady was shocked and she wasn't pleased. In an instant she turned around and punched Bob in the eye. That was how Bob got the black eye.

After telling the story Jim who was still confused asked Bob, "Well then, how did you get the other black eye??"

Bob turned away and said, "Well, I thought she didn't like it... so, what I did was - I pushed back her skirt in between her ass"

SAY CHEESE!

@ OFFICE

Monday Blues ...

...

It's the first day of the week & it's Monday.

I always have mixed feelings when it comes to Monday. Sometimes I really look forward for it to come sometimes I really don't.

Usually when I want to know how my Mondays will turn out, I just look at the Friday before. Normally all the good things that supposed to happen if it didn't happen by the Friday of that particular week then it will take place on the following Monday. Naturally, that particular Monday will be most anticipated & definitely most welcomed! For me, that would be a good Monday. Examples projects to take place, money to be received & sometimes appointment to meet a very important person.

On the other hand, Monday can also be dreadful. When creditors start to call early on the week for payments, well, I usually say give me another week and they will say - OK sir, we will call you again next week ... on Monday!

Most of the times Mondays are dreadful because I had an exiciting Saturdays & Sundays. I just didn't want it to end. Yeah it felt like Monday is a wet blanket to end all the happiness that was going on.

Nowadays I don't get happy that easy. Sometimes I just love to spend time alone by myself if I am not with my family. I don't go out that much anyore. And most of the time Saturdays & Sundays are the days that I really look forward to taste my wife's great cooking.

And when Monday comes it's just like waking up from a beautiful dream. For me Monday is always a reality check day.

Well, having to live life on a day to day basis I can't complain much. I shouldn't anyway. The fact that I am able to see another Monday well, I should be happy & thankful about it. And I really am.

So from now on I am telling myself to stop complaining about Mondays & just make the best out of it.

To start it with here's something for the mind to ponder. Well, it's not related to the topic anyway but they are useful tips for all the men .. who can't live without a woman : -

9 WORDS WOMEN USE

(1) Fine: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.

(2) Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this would mean half an hour.
Five minutes is only five minutes if you were sitting watching the TV or play computer games & you have been asked to help her around the house.

(3) Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end up fine.

(4) Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It!

(5) Loud Sigh: This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing there and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to # 3 for the meaning of nothing.)

(6) That's Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a woman can make to a man. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake.

(7) Thanks: A woman is thanking you, do not question, or Faint. Just say you're welcome (I want to add in a clause here - This is true, unless she says 'Thanks a lot' - that is PURE sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT say 'you're welcome' ... that will bring on a 'whatever').

(8) Whatever: Is a woman's way of saying F**K YOU!

(9) Don't worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. And as a result, the man will ask 'What's wrong?' And her response will be Nothing which refers to #(3) above.

Have a Nice Day!

@ OFFICE

Fuel Hike: What the .... ?

...

This is certainly not a good news.

I am sure all of us Malaysians are dismayed & disillusioned by the announcement made by the Prime Minister about the increased in petrol & diesel prices. According to reports the increase is up to 40%.

Malaysiakini reports that it will take place in this coming August whilst NST Online says its effective tonight exactly @ midnite. What a breaking news & how will it impact the ordinary citizens who rely heavily on fuel to transport them from one place to another.

Some say it is inevitable, well I suppose those who are in powers would want to believe that.

Now how about alternative? Public transport for a change? Or perhaps car pooling? Maybe not. As it is we are now over protective of our loved ones especially the young ones & thinking of the possibility of something happening to them while not in our care will definitely send shivers to our spine. Anyway this shouldn't be a laughing matter.

In Beijing China almost everybody relies on public transport from buses to subway trains. And they are always efficient and costs less for everybody because it seems the government subsidises the buses & trains. Why can't it be the same here?

But hang on just a sec ... somebody said ealier that our Government will ensure that those small income earners get some sort of rebate in a form of cash at the end of the month to assist them with this fuel hike. Question is how does one qualify? How will this work? I wonder how?

There are only 2 things that come to my mind instantly:
1. why wasn't I born in an oil riched sheikh family
2. why can't cars run on water instead of petrol.

Well, if cars do run on water I suppose the oil sheikh wouldn't be rich anyway!

SAY CHEESE!

@ HOME

Good News ...

...

Nowadays good news are hard to come by.

Believe it or not why don't you just glance at the everyday newspaper from wherever you are and you will surely catch some news that will make you worry and sad.

I used to think that people will be more excited to know about good news than bad news but apparently it is always the bad press that catches the eye. And for the papers this makes money for them.

Come to think of it, it is so true that we all are intrigued and even fascinated with bad news. Our ears would open up if we hear some rumours or gossip that put people down.

I think the majority of us would be more interested to know what's wrong rather than what's right with someone. Especially if that someone has been in a limelight and a well known someone.

But I am not discussing about news, media or press here.

I want to talk about how hard it is nowadays to make oneself happy - unless that person already has everything that they need and want.

As for me, I need to think of something and at times even create something that would bring a vision to my mind and then a smile to my face, to make me happy. Yes, sometimes jokes and funny stories do just that but it rarely last.

So? Okay here's the deal - I am thinking out loud - what if from today onwards I will make myself happy by posting something good and cheerful for all to see - here in this bloG.

This would be a good start. Maybe a couple of pictures and light hearted stories. Perhaps this will do good not only for me but for all to see. Maybe it's a picture, a story or even a joke.

Now, just thinking about it makes me smile already while I write this posting and it makes my brain start working. Really!

So for a start, I think I want to share these photos below with all of you and see whether it makes you smile or not ...






@ OFFICE

Where Are You Now?

...

I am not looking for an answer for the above question. I am merely sharing with all of you a great website which I called a network tool for everyone who is internet savvy and for those who love to let their voice heard across the world.

Nothing serious but to me it is just a happy go lucky network tool for anyone and everyone without any agenda and it's simply called WAYN - a shortform for Where Are You Now?




I have subscribed as a member which is free and I would like to share this network with all of you.

So, hope to see some of your here.

Light at the End of the Tunnel.

...

I am still waiting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Today as I was driving out to fetch the kids and as I was stuck between cars waiting for the traffic to move on, I looked up at the sky above which was getting dark and gloomy showing sign of rain to come.

It was just after 12 noon and as always it was supposed to be hot and humid. But not today it wasn't.

As I was looking at it I was telling myself that the formation of the dark clouds in the sky above resembled all my trials and tribulations that I have had to endure for the past months. I told myself that the worst has happened - or has it?

Just like the clouds above me, I really felt that I have not passed this dreadful stage yet. I was fully aware that I was not out of the woods yet, so to speak.

I told myself that if I were in a plane above those dark gloomy clouds at that time I was certain the plane would be shaking hard experiencing turbulence as the plane flew hitting those clouds. Yes, I knew how it would have felt and I could imagine me strapped in my seatbelt and praying hard for the worst to be over.

But then among those dark gloomy clouds I suddenly saw a small opening that looked like a hole in a doughnut. In that hole there was a vision of a clear blue sky. And suddenly it struck me. To me it was like a sign or a message to remind me that if we believe and we hold on to our faith in no matter how bad the circumstances be - I would surely see the light at the end of the tunnel. And this light will guide me to escape from the darkness of the tunnel.

Wow! I know the above may sound too dramatic but considering that today is Friday which is the end of the working days for the week I could be forgiven for doing so that is being alittle dramatic.

Yes. I do believe in the light at the end of the tunnel because I have seen it. Many times before when I was stuck in a predicament I kept telling myself to relax and wait for the light at the end of the tunnel.

And I always believe that the light at the end of the tunnel, when you see it and follow it, it will lead you out of the tunnel. In other words it could not be worse than where you are which is in a tunnel.

Come to think of it, I think our life is a journey through a tunnel and as a Muslim I do believe that at the end of the tunnel would be the entrance of the Hereafter where it will be an eternal place for me and not this world.

However until and unless I reach the end of the tunnel I must ensure that I am fit and able to progress further to reach my final destination that is the very end of the tunnel.

Come to think of it, we all come from a 'tunnel of love' and especially for men when we are big enough our desire would be to look for another 'tunnel of love' where through it our offspring shall be produced and they too will reproduce through another tunnel of love.

Wow! Life is great and if you don't get what I am saying above that's okay because I am doing this writing just to pour out what I have in my mind and heart.

Have a nice weekend!

@ OFFICE

Laugh Out Loud !

...

Time and time again when sorrow caught up with me I would always quashed it with Laughter. Not that I am crazy or anything like that. But I just believe that when we laugh it will generate positive vibes in our body. I always believe this.

We all laugh when we are happy. Occasionally we do laugh when we are sad. Yes it does happen, especially after you have been in tears and suddenly when you realised how silly it was to cry you would then laugh. To me this is good. It is an indication that we are humble and real person with real feelings.

Those who don't cry I do feel pity for them. If you haven't done so in a long time; try it once a while. Then after the tears subside try to laugh at yourself for crying. And try to laugh it out loud.

There are times when people told me that they miss my laugh (or laughter?!). I do get that sometimes. If you do know me I am a person who don't hide my laughter (or laugh?!) Hehehe...

I remember when I first came across this word LOL in the internet. I couldn't make out the meaning. I thought it was a shortform of a Malay word 'TOLOL' - LOL - which means Stupid Fool. Then when I realised what it really means - that is it an acronym for Laugh Out Loud - yeah I did just that! I really laughed out loud.

Imagine I was very angry when people chat with me and said LOL thinking that what they meant was You Stupid FooL. But in fact they were just laughing out loud!

And if you do know me, I am sure you will laugh when you hear me laugh out loud. Of course I don't do that on purpose and all the time. Once it happenned to me that I got a 'shoosh' from a client who thought it was rude for me to laugh out loud in front of food before eating! Yeah it hurts when people do that.

I laugh when I find something is so funny. Remarks or stories but most definitely at Jokes. I love Jokes - all kind of them and once in a blue moon I do get creative by making up a joke on my own. And I really love stand up comic. If ever I get to live this life again and I do have bigger 'balls' than what I have now (I mean it in a proverbial way!) I would want to become a standup comedian. Yeah really. But I suppose that won't happen.

Okay then, let us start exercising our right to laugh and let us Laugh Out Loud. To help you do that, just take a look at below which I got from a buddy of mine from an email (meaning, No. I didnt create this on my own. I wish I did though): -

Wife: You always carry my photo in your handbag to the office. Why?
Hubby: When there is a problem, no matter how impossible, I look at your picture and
the problem disappears.
Wife: You see, how miraculous and powerful I am for you?
Hubby: Yes, I see your picture and say to myself, "What other problem can there be
greater than this one?"

..

Girl: When we get married, I want to share all your worries, troubles and lighten
your burden.
Boy: It's very kind of you, darling, But I don't have any worries or troubles..
Girl: Well that's because we aren't married yet.

...

Wife to husband: "What's your excuse for coming home at this time of the night?"
Husband to wife: "Golfing with friends, my dear."
Wife to husband: "What? At 2 am ?!"
Husband to wife: "Yes, We used night clubs."

...

Father to son after exam: "let me see your report card."
Son: "My friend just borrowed it. He wants to scare his
parents."

...

A teacher asked her class for sentences using the word "beans".
"My father grows beans," said one student.
"My father cooks beans," said another.
Then little Johnny spoke up: "We are all human beans."

...

Interviewer to Millionaire: "To whom do you owe your success as a millionaire?"
Millionaire: "I owe everything to my wife."
Interviewer: "Wow, she must be some woman. What were you before you married her?"
Millionaire: "A Billionaire"

...

Girl to her boyfriend: One kiss and I'll be yours forever.
The guy replies: Thanks for the warning.

...

A husband was asked: Do you talk to your wife after sex?
He replied: Depends, if I can find a phone.

...

Man to wife on wedding night: Are you sure I'm the first man you are sleeping with?
Wife replied: Of course honey, I stayed awake with all the others as they never allow me to sleep.

...

A wife asked her husband: What do you like most in me - my pretty face or my sexy body?
He looked at her from head to toe and replied: I like your sense of humour.

...

Doctor to his lady patient: You look terribly weak and exhausted! Are you having your meals three times a day as I have advised?
Lady replied: Doctor, I thought you said three MALES a day.

...

So there you go. And if didn't laugh out loud after readng the above, I guess something must be wrong with you.

Say cheese!

@ OFFICE

Let the Games begin

...

I am not a sportperson but I support all kind of games. Big ones and small ones. Local and International.

Of course the biggest Game of all is coming up real soon. I am talking about the 2008 Olympics. This time around it will take place in Beijing, People’s Republic of China.

Everytime I mention or heard the name – Beijing, China – it will bring a smile to my face. I was there 3 months ago and stayed there in Beijing for almost a month.

Of course back then the feeling of excitement of the big Games had not been felt yet. But I could remember all kinds of preparation that were put in place by the government with a few campaigns and awareness about the Games. Most of them about cleanliness and also they encouraged everyone especially the taxi drivers to learn how to speak the basic English language.

I have written my personal experience and observation on getting a taxi in Beijing and I wish to share it with all of you. Feel free to visit here on my short take on taxis in Beijing. It was written when I was there at that time.



Recently we have heard so much about the Olympics that will be held in Beijing; but not in a positive way. People are talking about boycotting the Game for what had transpired in Tibet and they said everyone should punish China for their army crackdown on the dissidents in Tibet. It was all over the news in the past weeks.

To some extent those who protest against China’s action have tried to make their voices heard by attempting to disrupt the smooth journey of the Olympics’ torch around the globe. This to me is a very sad incident and would not be beneficial to anyone.

Yes, we all should be upset and disturbed about what had happened to the dissidents in Tibet and whether the Chinese government especially the army was right or wrong in their action; should be the subject of political interests.

However the Olympics or any sporting event for that matter should not be associated with politics or any of its elements.

Granted that an action by any government on its citizen should be based on the laws or rules and regulations of that particular country. And for China being a communist country, it should be expected by all that their way of handling any situation which they deem to be detrimental to the security of their nation will be different from a democratic country.

Likewise in a democratic country, not always that their laws or rules and regulations adhere to the principle of democracy; for instance the introduction of certain law of a particular country that allows the government to detain anyone for a period of time without being given a fair trial for whatever purpose usually a terror suspect or under national security; this can also be considered as undemocratic in nature or could even be considered as inhumane.

In short, politics and games should NOT be mixed.

The Olympic games on the other hand has been around for hundreds of years and this event has always been important to all sportsmen and sportswomen around the world. It is the mother of all games.

To simply boycott the Beijing Olympics 2008 will do more damage to the Games than to the country hosting it.

As it is, the Olympics throughout it's existence had suffered a few setback and at one time was marred by a tragedy like what happenned in Munich the '72 Olympics. It had hurt the Games more than it had hurt the countries.

Let China hosts the Games and let the international community get together to celebrate the Games. At the same time let us also express our disapproval and dissapointment in the way China had handled the Tibet incident perhaps by way of diplomatic recourse. For instance a protest note, if not sanctions or something alike that can be taken by the politicians of the world.

But please ... let the Games begin ...

On a lighter note, here is something that I have received from an email of a friend of mine in Beijing that I wish to share with you all … with an open mind, of course. It’s a short poem. So enjoy.

"
My children, I am Dalai Lama come in peace.
I can smell some people here want to help Tibet.
So my British friend please ship more opium to Tibet.
My American friend please ship more slaves to Tibet.
My French friend please put clothes on your first lady before shipping her to Tibet.
My German friend please keep Hitler to yourself.
Thank you all. Budha bless you.

朋友们，我是爱好和平的达赖喇嘛
我感觉到这里有些人想帮助西藏
既然如此
恳请英国朋友运鸦片去西藏
恳请美国朋友运黑奴去西藏
恳请法国朋友运你们的第一夫人去西藏，不过要先给她穿上衣服
德国朋友呢，呃，希特勒你们就自己留着吧
谢谢，佛祖保佑你们

My children, I am Dalai Lama come in peace.
Today is the big show time.
Remember we are the clowns at the beginning of the big party -- Olympics!
Let's show our true faces to the whole world. Cheers!

朋友们，我是爱好和平的达赖喇嘛
今天有个重大演出，而我们要在这个被人称为奥林匹克的大联欢中负责扮演小丑。
让我们把自己真实的嘴脸展现给全世界吧！加油！

My children, I am Dalai Lama come in peace.
Now it's getting ugly. I smell blood here, oops, I forgot to wash my hands...

朋友们，我是爱好和平的达赖喇嘛
事情变得有些不妙。我闻到了血腥味到，哦，我忘了洗手了........

I am Dalai Lama and coming in Peace.
Don't forget to recycle all the Tibetan flags after today's big show time.
Our budget from CIA is shrinking since the US dollar is getting cheaper.
Hey, kind of funny, US borrow money from China and then fund us to against China...anyway, can anybody help me with my new iPhone, Please...


我是爱好和平的达赖喇嘛
今天表演完之后大家千万别忘了回收咱们藏独旗帜。
要知道CIA那边给我们的预算缩水了而且美元越来越不值钱。
哎，说来有点滑稽，美国从中国借钱又把钱拿来养我们对付中国.........对了，我新买了个iPhone，
谁能教教我怎么用，谢了先.........

...

In a local front, a Malaysian Minister was asked by a reporter what he thought of the situation in Tibet especially involving the Dalai Lama.

The Minister replied, " Ohhh, you see ahhhh... ahhh... aaaahhh.. our country not the same with the China so we are democratic. But I think we must support the China because we have a lot of trading with the China especially the China people.

And for the Dalai Lama, I think the time has come already for the Dalai Lama to go"

When asked by the reporter why he said that, the Malaysian Minister replied, " Well of course lah, what you think? You see ... the Dalai Lama ... sudah Lama lah. Now we need the Dalai Baru. So please tell the Dalai Lama to go lah - dah lama daah!"

Note: - The above is a joke. for those who couldn't understand it please consult a malaysian friend what it means. Cheers!
...

Game anyone?

...

I am not a sportsperson and the last game that I ever played was golf. To me I regarded it more like a social outing rather than a game where I only enjoyed the beginning and the end of it.

In the beginning all the energy and excitement came out shining with so many things to achieve. But along the way as the strokes got weaker and the ball was lost in sight; all the interest and excitement had gone down the drain.

Pressures mounted as I was the only one left behind struggling just to hit the ball in whichever way and in whatever style I can. To make it worse behind me there stood another flight that couldn’t wait to hit their ball - if given permission I think they would want to it straight at my head to knock me unconscious so that I could be out of their way.

I have tried to love the game but I just couldn't find the interest in it. It was always alright in the beginning but in the middle it was more like a torture than a game.

I said it earlier that I liked it in the end because in the end all of us in the group will have our drinks and relaxation commenting on our achievement and mistakes in the game played earlier. As for me I always tried to avoid that kind of talk.

And the thing is whoever got the least points in the game will be the one to pay for the drinks. Not much anyway. But lucky me I never had to pay because my team players are all friends and they played just for the fun of it.

Before that I used to play badminton and tennis also in a group of friends. But now those days have long gone and may never come again. Of course there are thousand of excuses to give as to why I don’t play these games anymore.

But now I am left ‘sportsless’. The only form of exercise that I care to do is a slow walk around the neighbourhood or the nearby sports complex.

I know this is bad for me because my age is catching up. Soon a walk to the clinic may no longer be because of a common flu or a slight fever. And judgding by the body weight which has far exceeded the standard acceptable scale, I may be looking at a very gloom future.

Of course if you ask any doctors they would give hundreds of advices of what to do and not to do. It is always easier said than done so to speak.

But at this very moment I don’t have any plan or idea of a suitable game or sport that may be good for me – not too harsh and not too easy. Once I have been advised not to strain myself by jogging because who knows those veins and blood vessels may explode causing irrepairable damage and perhaps loss of life. Talk about an advice!

But I do take all the views and advices seriously. And I am very aware of the necessity of having a healthy lifestyle. This is no laughing matter.

So I am now putting my thinking cap on and I will choose if not invent a type of game that is not only suitable for me but also interesting enough for me to play over and over again.

Personally I feel swimming would be good for me but to get in a pool with a suitable swimming trunks on me - at my size may offend others. So I may choose the ocean instead but who swims in the ocean? The last time I was there at the beach, there were less people in the water. Everyone was busy playing beach football and making sand castles. And those who did go in the water prefer to stay afloat like a hippo in the African rivers.

Yes I did try to swim but only a couple of strokes. Maybe I need to practice more or maybe this body need some overhauling first like – losing some weight.

So, having said all the above it is not that I don’t have any game to play. At the moment I do.

And this is not a physical game rather a mental one. No I am not talking about mind game where you go and stalk people around you for whatever reason there is.

I am talking about a game known as Chess. Yes. Now I am addicted to it so so addicted. I can’t remember when or how I started playing chess but I do remember that this was the only game that you could play with anybody who knows how to play it no matter how old or young or how big or small they are. And you can play it for hours.

Now with the internet, the game gets even better with online chess where you can play for hours and for free with anyone from all over the world. It sounds exciting indeed and at the moment I am really hooked on it.

Of course if you do read this and you have no clue about chess you wouldn’t understand what I am talking about. It is just like talking a different language altogether.



Now the best part is my daughters are learning to play it and when I asked why - they say because they like it and the game is interesting. That’s good enough reason for me.

So my advice to them is – practice, practice and practice a lot. And don’t expect to win because the more you lose the better you get. Yes this is how I learn to play chess and the reason I think that I am good at it.

So for those of you who are interested to know, just drop by and visit this link to have a look. Who knows maybe we will meet each other.

Until then.

@ the Office.

...

Happy New Year - 2008!

Salam Tahun Baru … kepada semua umat manusia yang tinggal di dalam dunia ini. Semoga tahun 2008 ini membawa berkat & lebih baik daripada tahun-tahun yang sebelumnya. Gembiranya hati tidak terkata apabila tahun baru menjelma lagi buat kali yang ke 2008 dan untuk diri ini buat kali ke 36.

2007 bukanlah tahun yang menyeronokkan malah tahun malapetaka buat diri ini. Masih ingat dipermulaan tahun 2007, ingatkan itulah tahun yang akan memberi ‘a biG break’ buat ku. Betul ‘it was a breaking year’ tapi bukan ‘the kind of break’ yang ditunggu.

Walauapapun kuterima segala musibah atau malapetaka yang melanda sebagai satu cabaran & pengajaran. Teringat kepada sabda Rasulullah (SAW) di dalam sepotong hadith : -

Setiap kali orang Islam mendapat malapetaka, Allah akan mengampuni dosanya itu kerana malapetaka itu, bahkan disebabkan terkena duri.
(Sahih Bukhari)

--------------------------------

As for me, the year 2007 has been a very rough ride. Still the effect of it is still lingering on. But the truth is, I just can’t wait for 2008 to come by … and it did … last night as the clock struck 12 times at midnight, I was wide awake relishing the moment.

No, I don’t have any new resolutions. Had enough of those in the younger days. Those times when everything seemed to go to the right direction. So, I thought. Anyway, I don’t have any regrets for those days. I have taken those mistakes as lessons to be learnt. Ok enough of reminiscing the past, .. on with the present and look forward for the future.

As in my last posting I did say I was planning to leave the country and fly off to somewhere.. but at the end I was left out not intentionally but economically. My group of associates felt that by leaving me behind would save costs, which I totally & absolutely agree and accepted. It was Amsterdam. Yup. I was suppose to go to Armsterdam. But as the Malay saying goes ‘no rezki lah tu’. But still something is being planned in just a couple of days. I will post about it once I get there.

OK. For this new year, of course I wish I could keep writing in this bloG on a daily basis. So, I will keep it short and simple but most of all I will try my best to do it on a regular basis.

Now let’s see where to start & what to start for this new year?

I was thinking probably for all of us Muslims we should start our year by appreciating how great our life has been thus far. We should be grateful to Allah for all the blessings, which are countless by the way, He has given us in the past and still keep giving.

Anyway for us Muslims our actual new year, Awal Muharram is also around the corner, so I suppose we could start early to change ourselves from within and maximise and optimise our strength, talent and most importantly to me our creativeness in life.

My dear brothers & sisters in Islam, I wish to share this piece of thought which I received from an email which to me entitled ACKNOWLEDGING OUR BLESSINGS for us to ponder: -

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.

And if you on your own computer right now, you are part of the 1% in the world who has that opportunity.

ALSO .....

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness .... You are more blessed than the many who will not even survive this day.

If you have never experienced the fear in battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation .. You are ahead of 700 million people in the world.

If you can attend a mosque meeting without the fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death you are envied by, and more blessed than, three billion people in the world.

If your parents are still alive and still married .. You are very rare.

If you can hold your head up and smile, you are not the norm, you're unique to all those in doubt and despair.

AND LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST…

If you can read whatever is being written here then you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all!

So ya all! Have a good day and syukur and count your blessings every minute of the day.

BY THE WAY….

I was quite amazed with our news in our nation nowadays. It seems like a soap opera is being shown when you watch the news. Firstly with the demonstration and all that.. and now to start the New Year with a Big BANG… a hot story about a top politician believed to be from Johor and belonging to an MCA party has his sex acts with a young lady caught on tape!!

Wow! I wouldn’t dare to guess who but according to the news from the internet, he might even be a minister. Mmmm…. A Minister.. MCA Party… from Johor.. As far as I know there only 2.

Well, to me I am so glad that this time around it wasn’t a Malay politician as Malay politicians in the past have always been aligned to this kind of scandals. Not that I am happy it happened to the other race and I am sure that that race does not condone this kind of activity.

If Malay means he could always claim that the other person being his legitimate wife, the 2nd , the 3rd or even the 4th. But if you are Chinese and not a Muslim, what would be the excuse? I do wonder.

Anyway, this is a proof that the next general election is just around the corner and it’s a signal that the GAME has just begun and watch out you all aspiring candidates out there. Clean up your act now before they are being dug out. Till next time.

@ Office