I’ve realised two things. One, I am thoroughly convinced that at the moment I have reached the second phase of blogging. No, it’s not the phase where I become better at it. It’s actually the phase where the entries get increasingly less and the length of time between entries grow. Earlier on, it was daily. I would always find subjects to write about. At the risk of tooting my own horn, I got to the level of being prolific. I regularly record my observations in my mobile phones at any time of the day and writing about them when I get home, usually past midnight. Now I don’t do the recording quite as often. I see and notice things but somehow managed not to record them.
That is why I believe I am reaching that phase. I remembered earlier on I thought I may not be able to sustain the interest in blogging and that the effort would in time, wane. I still feel like recording my thoughts and observations somewhere though. So you may have to bear with me for some time more.
OK, on to more interesting matters. The second thing I’ve realised is there is a conspiracy against me by two card-issuing companies. The first is Touch and Go. A few Sundays ago as always I made my way back to JB. At the Sungai Besi toll my Touch and Go card was rejected. The notification given was “Kad Tidak Sah” or invalid card. Now, this has happened to me once before. According to the lady at the toll plaza, every card is supposed to be replaced with the new “Plusmiles” card and that I should change mine immediately, any balance to be credited into the new card of course. So I continued with my journey holding on to what was said to me.
I'm not going to let you go scot free with this! *image courtesy of Google.
The next day after work I immediately went to the Touch and Go office near my house to replace the faulty card. To my surprise I was told that the replacement was not necessary. In fact my card would only expire in 2015. My card was reactivated and is supposed to be valid again. Which was true. I used the card normally from then on. So now I question the consistency of policy. I wonder if anybody else faced the same thing. But the story did not end there. Last Sunday the same thing happened. I got the same “Kad Tidak Sah” remark. I validated the card at the next toll plaza in JB (I know the trick already).
But the issue now is, what is the guarantee that I wouldn’t have to repeatedly validate the card? No guarantees absolutely. You may say take the easy route and replace the card already. But no, I’m not going to do that. I’ll keep on using my present card to spite Touch and Go. After all, it’s valid up to 2015 isn’t it? I’ll just carry on to show the inconsistency in their policy. The card is valid!
Never thought you'd sink so low to the extent of conspirating with Touch and Go! *image courtesy of Google.
The second card company is American Express. I stopped at the Seremban Rest Area last Sunday for some fuel. Take note guys – Amex cards are not accepted by Petronas and BHP (who uses BHP fuel anyway?). That’s why I use Shell (apart from being duped by the ruse that Ferrari F1 cars use Shell fuel). Lo and behold, my card was rejected. Knowing that I just recently paid my credit card bill, I was dumbfounded. Being rejected at Petronas is fine. But not at Shell. Got to have some of that Ferrari-engineered fuel (listen to the fool speak). So I call Amex’s customer service. Which is super efficient. Never had any complaints about them.
I was then informed that my card was temporarily blocked. Why? Because I made a purchase on iTunes for my iPad. According to the customer service guy, my card registered a debit of RM3.13, which was considered suspicious. I have two questions for you, Amex. Firstly, when my card was debited, surely you’d know who made the debit. In this case, it’s Apple, the multi billion dollar company. You mean you don’t recognise debits by Apple? Second question. There must be a few hundred million people using Apple products who purchase applications from iTunes. Let’s give a conservative figure of 100 million, 10 million of whom are holders of Amex cards.
So you mean to say you temporarily block 10 million cards? Which is almost impossible. Unless in my case, they’re in cohorts with Touch and Go. Damn you card companies. Would I forsake them cards? No way. Oh, and Malaysia beat Indonesia last night in the Sea Games football competition. Well done!
It’s funny how certain circumstances affect you. And you do things just to make the effect go away, at least temporarily. I was affected in a profound way by something that happened at work today. Nothing major. I’m sure I should be able to overcome it somehow, but at the time it felt awful. I think my career was on tenterhooks then although for sure it wasn’t. You see, I do not want to plant any ideas in people’s minds about incompetence or anything like that. And I sure hope I didn’t do that today. Well, most probably not.
The thing is, I can’t sleep at the moment (it’s 2.52 a.m.) so please excuse the ramblings. So in order to try to sleep, I had to tire myself somewhat. In my mind, there’s only one thing to achieve that (despite what you sinister types out there may be thinking) and it’s by taking a ride. Riding gives you that peace of mind (if only temporarily) and of course, tires you out. I have not ridden in ages. In its silence, the bike has been screaming blue murder at my lack of activity and attention to it. Now being the rainy season where I am, I simply cannot find the time to ride.
Although you ride at night (when it’s cold) you still end up sweating profusely from all the gear you wear. So to be back, treat yourself to a shower and have a nice cuppa is great. I just hope I could distract my mind enough so I can fall asleep and not inflict further torture to my already fragile physique. I’m not an old guy by any means, but at times I do feel like it. Maybe it comes from all the stress and the thought I put into my work. And the thought that I am a father to three beautiful children. I owe them so much, so that adds on to the pressure.
I’m listening to a few Linkin Park tunes on YouTube. The kind of songs which would definitely be pedal to the metal stuff. I definitely think that listening to Linkin Park when I drive adds another 40 to 50 km/h of speed. Somehow the sound of rap metal (that’s what they call it) has a way of motivating you. Well maybe not motivating. Can’t really find the suitable word (what do you expect at 3 in the morning) but it definitely psyches you up somehow. You certainly wouldn’t drive along at 170 km/h listening to I’m All Out Of Love by Air Supply now would you?
I’m supposed to do something important tomorrow. A deadline looms. Well, that’s what work is all about isn’t it? Deadlines and more deadlines. Some people spell it as “datelines”. Can’t really differentiate the two. I see people using the terms interchangeably the practice of which I vehemently disagree. Although I don’t really know what dateline means. To me it has always been “deadline” i.e. the time limit set for you to do something or complete a task or anything of that sort. Is it just me or do you too find it funny/odd that there’s the word “dead” in deadline? Do this/that by this date or you’re dead. Is that what the guys who invented the word had in mind? Well, probably they did.
Damn, can’t get my iPad to connect to my iPhone. Wow, that must be the most geeky thing I’ve said all my life. And yes, I got myself an iPad 2. Against all my natural proclivities. Sorry. Just can’t fight the gadget savvy (is that right?) side of me. Although I’ve rightfully dissed it earlier, now I helplessly succumb to its lure and submitted.
For a rambling session, this must be some sort of a record. Have to try to sleep. Or the word “deadline” may just take a turn to the literal junction. And Linkin Park keeps on playing. Cheers.
Damn, the guy with the bushy hair reminds me of Simoncelli. * photograph credit to Google
In my life, I am thankful for a lot of things. Stable job, people who love me and the list goes on. But I’m a late bloomer of sorts. I eventually got the things I wanted, but a little bit later in life. Oh, and this entry may be filled with some statements you may thing of as gloating (masuk bakul angkat sendiri) but I’m just relating my experience. If for some reason you thought so, my apologies.
When I was in school, for some odd reason I joined the Cadet Corps in Form 1. Which was weird. I am not interested in army-related stuff. Not really looking forward to discharge any firearm, marching or things of the sort. So I got the urge to pull out really early. You see, when I was in school they say that once you join the uniformed society (of which the Cadet Corps was one), you can’t get yourself sacked. If you do, it appears you’ll be blacklisted (from what I don’t know) and your life at school will be over. The thought of having my secondary school life being over in Form 1 scared the hell out of me.I realise that if I skipped cadet training, I’ll eventually get myself sacked which equals to game over in school (or so I thought).
I went to Victoria Institution, which to my mind is the best school in the world (it’s even a National Heritage now). But I was in a quandary. Could I afford to be blacklisted? To be honest, I cannot really recall how I managed to escape the Cadet Corps but in the end I did. And I later found out that the blacklisting was crap. Nobody ever got blacklisted for refusing to partake in any extra curricular activity. But the scare tactics worked alright. In between, I dabbled in a few other things. I joined the Junior Science Society (although science was never my forte. Just look at my chosen profession. Couldn’t be further from having an inkling of science) and became a junior librarian. Now, the junior librarian gig I enjoyed. Somehow I just love to be surrounded by books. Gives me the impression of being smart (although most probably I’m not).
In Form 3, a friend (you know who you are) talked me into joining the school band. It’s called the Victoria Institution Cadet Corps Band. I managed to fall for that. You see, in the band the first thing you are asked to do is to chose an instrument. Apparently everybody loved the drums. I was asked to play the trumpet which I detested wholeheartedly. Not getting near those things. In the end I chose the bagpipes. Seems weird as everyone I know associated the bagpipes with guys in skirts (they’re called kilts by the way). Thankfully we had proper pants for bagpipers in the band. Dark blue pants with a light blue stripe on each pant leg. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in the band. There was one problem though. Most students joined the band in Form 1. I joined in Form 3. March during my Form 3 year to be exact. So I was immediately put on the back foot.
Somehow my rezeki was good. I was promoted to the rank of Private within 5 months which was no mean feat then. So I became better with my instrument then (that didn’t sound right did it?). I participated in many functions (called ceremonial parades or CP in short) amongst others the school tattoo, the National Day celebrations and others which I enjoyed immensely. I made a few really good friends too. Chief of all, Wira and Zaime. We’re still friends now. I was then promoted to become a non-commissioned officer in late Form 4, which was great. Circumstances conspired for me and I later became the Bagpipe Section Commander. Goodie.
Due to my undying ambition of studying law in UM, I entered Form 6. Also in VI. There were not many guys from my batch who continued to Form 6. So I was lucky. I became the Drum Major of the band. You know, the guy in the front who wields his stick, giving instructions to the band members (somehow the reference to “wielding his stick” didn’t sound right either. By the way, it’s called a “mace”). When I was in Form 6, I was approached to become a school prefect. Which was a tad unusual as people are usually offered the chance to become prefects in Form 5. Gives you the feeling that you’re second choice isn’t it? Nevertheless, I grabbed the chance with both hands. Not without a condition though. I told the then School Captain (Head Prefect elsewhere) that I will accept their offer to become a prefect with the condition that I am appointed School Captain in Upper Six which coincided with VI’s centenary celebrations. Which was agreed. The thing is, none of the guys who were prefects since Form 5 stayed back in Form 6. So my path was clear.
So I became the School Captain in Upper Six, had a good time and as they say, the rest is history. See, the two most important events happen to me a little bit later in life (or my school life). Better late than never, eh? There are other things as well but I’d rather not tell too much at the risk of being labelled as an egomaniac. As I said, the contents of this entry may sound like a guy going on an ego trip. Probably it is. So I hope there was no offence taken.
The Non-Commissioned Officers' Board 1993 *photo credit to Shazlan
My beloved VI * photo credit to the VI Web Page
That's me with my bagpipes during a CP err...20 years ago?
This entry was written on Deepavali day (26 October 2011). Please excuse the references to the public holiday.
Today’s a public holiday. Which is good. So tonight I’m staying up to watch the Aldershot v. Manchester United League Cup 4th Round match. After the drubbing by Manchester City the other day, I need them to bounce back tonight. To be beaten 1-6 by Manchester City of all teams is like sticking the knife deep and then twisting it for good measure. Excruciating, but luckily not fatal as no vital organs were hit, just pride. I came back from KL a little bit earlier just to catch the game in JB. After City scored another 2 goals to make it 3-1, I had enough and went out for some Tutti Frutti. Not a bad way to let out some steam.
Moving swiftly on. At times all the slogging at work just wears me out. Not to mention when things don’t go your way. Just when you thought everything is going well, somehow something just finds a way to turn turtle. As such I’ll always need something to provide me the inspiration; to give me that pick me up effect if you like. The other day, while traversing through the addictive drug that is Facebook, I saw a quote a friend posted which I found to be supremely inspirational. It’s by this guy by the name of Lou Holtz. He is a retired football coach and a motivational speaker in the United States. He said this:
ABILITY IS WHAT YOU’RE CAPABLE OF DOING
MOTIVATION DETERMINES WHAT YOU DO
ATTITUDE DETERMINES HOW WELL YOU DO IT
At times in your life you come across something which make total, unequivocal sense. This quote is one of those things. We all have our own abilities in our chosen professions. I am trained in the law. That’s my chosen profession. I have always wanted to be a lawyer and I am quite happy (notice the word “quite”) with what I do now. I get a high degree of satisfaction doing what I do. I know that I have the ability to perform well as do you, I believe. But what of the ability if we do not have motivation and right attitude? I think motivation and attitude may well be more important than ability. If you have both the former qualities, you strive to learn and acquire new abilities or simply enhance what you currently have. Without them, we’ll stagnate and inevitably reach a plateau at which point there may be no turning back.
However, the strive to maintain your level of motivation is an uphill task. Along the way there could be roadblocks which would demoralise you, simultaneously decreasing your level of motivation. You may also become contented with what you have and lose the desire/motivation to go for more. Being contented is something that we must all avoid. I remember the feeling of being in my comfort zone in my previous employment. I was then reminded by a person towards whom I have the highest level of respect that I cannot possibly be in my comfort zone at the age of 36. I felt like being hit with a jackhammer at the thought. Well, you could be in your comfort zone at say, 50 (or thereabouts) but certainly not at 36! That should be the time for you to strive and struggle to achieve more than what we have now. Not being overly materialistic, just having in mind the larger interests of people.
I believe that with motivation comes the correct attitude. When you are motivated, you form a state of mind or worldview where you begin to strive and look for ways to improve. That is what having the right attitude is about. You’ll even go the extra mile to achieve your goals. I have been in that situation before and hope to experience it again. With me, it’s always a continuous conscious process of reminding myself that I need to have the motivation and the right attitude. That’s exactly why I’ve chosen to print Mr. Holtz’s quote above and pasting it on the wall of my office.
When you are demoralised, your attitude takes a nosedive and you lose all desire to improve. When that happens, you just need to get your groove back and reignite the flame (which hopefully doesn’t take too long). When I read Mr. Holtz’s quote above, I realised that motivation and attitude count towards being successful, in my career and in life in general. I’ve always focused on my ability, at times admittedly losing sight of the other 2 indispensable qualities.
I hope you’ll find the above quote as beneficial and inspiring to you as it is to me.
I once dissed him. Little that I know he’ll be gone just a few months later. I know this sounds hypocritical. It maybe is but over the past few months I’ve learnt to admire his gung-ho riding style and his infectious happy go lucky attitude. When I saw the accident, I had a bad feeling. I watched Colin Edwards and Rossi ran into him, which was bad. But when I saw his helmet roll along the ground, my heart sank. I just know something was terribly wrong.
He lay motionless on the track. Then the footage was cut. Star Sports understandably did not want to show Simoncelli in his weakest moment. All signs point south. The race was cancelled which was a sign of further bad news. Later I got to know that the cancellation was due to the frantic efforts by the track’s medical team to save Marco. Efforts which were in vain. I got to know of his passing via twitter. I was distraught.
He was heading in the right direction. Sure his riding style and combativeness riled a few people, but in the end he was just a furiously competitive racer. During the beginning of his career, he was regarded as a crasher. A word which requires no explanation. But he rose to become the 250 cc (Moto 2 now) World Champion. To my recollection he was one of only a few riders who rode a Gilera bike in the 250 cc World Championship that year. Somehow he made it work after some hard racing (and crashing).
He wasn’t in a hurry to move up to MotoGP though. He took his time and went for another go at the 250 cc championship. During which he lost his championship to Hiroshi Aoyama, ironically his teammate at the Gresini team. His first season in MotoGP was peppered with crashes but he still managed to place 8th in the Championship, which was not a bad feat. He really shone in his second season. Of course the reckelessness is still evident, but the maturity was also beginning to show. 2 pole positions and 2 podium finishes proved his quality. A precocious talent, taken too soon. He was taken doing the thing he loved most. Ciao Marco! You’ll be missed.
Simoncelli during happier times *photograph credit to Google
Simoncelli doing was he does best...you'll be remembered! *photograph credit to Google
The following entry contains graphic description of violence.
“Blobel ordered me to have the children executed. I asked him, “By whom should the shooting be carried out?” He answered, “By the Waffen-SS.” I raised an objection and said, “They are all young men. How are we going to answer them if we make them shoot small children?” To this he said, “Then use your men.” I then said, “How can they do that? They have small children as we” This tug-of-war lasted about ten minutes….I suggested that the Ukrainian militia of the Feldkommandant should shoot the children. There were no objections from either side to the suggestion….
I went to the woods alone. The Wehrmacht had already dug a grave. The children were brought along in a tractor. I had nothing to do with the technical procedure. The Ukrainians were standing around trembling. The children were taken down from the tractor. They were lined up along the top of the grave and shot so that they fell into it. The Ukrainians did not aim at any particular part of the body. They fell into the grave. The wailing was indescribable. I shall never forget the scene throughout my life. I find it very hard to bear. I particularly remember a small fair-haired girl who took me by the hand. She too was shot later….The grave was near some woods. It was not near the rifle range. The execution must have taken place in the afternoon at about 3:30 – 4:00. It took place the day after the discussions at the Feldkommandanten….Many children were hit four or five times before they died.”
The above was the account of SS-Oberstrumfuhrer August Hafner of his orders from Paul Blobel an SS-Standartenfuhrer (rank equivalent to a Colonel) to shoot children during the Holocaust. The account was provided during the Nuremberg trials, the legal proceedings brought against the war criminals from the Nazi party after the Second World War. As we know by now, Hitler was not around to stand trial, he committed suicide during the final siege against the Reich by the Allied Forces. Hafner was a member of the SS, the Nazi secret police. The event was one such heinous act carried out by the Einsatzgruppen, the unit of the Wehrmacht (the German armed forces) during the Second World War. At the behest of Hitler, the Einsatzgruppen carried out systematic killings of the Jews.
You see, Hitler wanted to get rid of the Jews. He put them in concentration camps, put them in barricaded compounds and generally just being a pest. By his own tyrannical standards, he found it to be tiresome. He thought that there must be a better way to annihilate Jews from the face of the earth. As such, as only a tyrant of his level could think of, he came out with a method which was to him, ingenious. Why not just dig mass graves, make the Jews line up side by side, and get a few soldiers to shoot them. That way, the Jews will fall into the graves which will then be covered. Those still alive will die by suffocation.
Now, the topic about the Einsatzgruppen would be another entry altogether which will come in good time. What I wish to write about at this moment concerns the general responsibility of adults to care for children. The incident where a 19 year old lady threw her newborn from the second floor of a apartment complex really rankled with me. Not that other acts of cruelty against children did not affect me, but this one really did. I just imagined my happiness at looking at Harith Haiqal eight months ago when he was a newborn. To see him grow was indeed a blessing. I feel honoured to be able to raise my children, all of them. What type of person would have the heart to throw a newborn from two floors up? On second thought, this lady cannot in any situation be a person. Probably an animal. No, probably Satan in human form.
How different was what she did to what the Einsatzgruppen did to the poor children described in Hafner’s account above? I can see no difference. During the Nuremberg trials, the Defendants were found guilty. Some of them were sentenced to death. I believe the poor baby’s case was investigated under s. 315 of the Penal Code which carries a sentence of ten years’ imprisonment. If this is not injustice, I don’t know what is. The lady should be charged under s. 302 of the Penal Code (with death upon conviction), no questions about it. An eye for an eye. You kill your baby, we kill you. It’s that simple, really.
I just hope that justice is carried out. I also hope that the trial is given as much publicity as possible. It is the nature of Malaysians (maybe the nature of humans) to cringe at the news item when it was covered. At the end of the day everybody goes about their own daily business, conveniently forgetting (maybe ignoring) the fate of the baby who did not get to see the light of day due to it’s mother’s lack of human decency. Babies deserve to be showered with love and affection. Not be mercilessly killed.
A member of the Einsatzgruppen shoots a Jew. Note the mass grave. Credit: http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/nuremberg
Defendants in Nuremberg Trials No. 9 on the Einsatzgruppen being read their indictments. Credit: http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/nuremberg
I’ve been saying aloof to describe a person for the longest time. Then I looked “aloof” up. Doesn’t really describe what I wanted. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines aloof as “at a distance”. That’s not quite what I was looking for. What I wanted was the word to describe someone who is in his own world, thinking that he is the best (nothing wrong with that, initially) and at the same time shutting out everybody. Well, almost everybody except those who he sees as being in his league. How do you deal with somebody like this? I’m sure you’ve come across people of this sort at some point of your life. Trust me, I’ve met quite a few. I don’t know, but I seem to be a magnet for douche (don’t criticise me for the company I keep, I just can’t help it).
I agree there is a difference between being aloof (I’ll stick with the word for now) and just high self confidence. I think I have high self confidence but I am definitely not aloof. I like people’s company in general and I definitely don’t think I only deserve the attention or company of guys who in my “league” (if there’s such a thing). I remember when I was in school, there’s this group of students who stick together and think they’re better than just about everybody else. They’re usually the clever ones (at least they think they are) and more often than not come from the more well heeled families. I’m sure there’s this sort of group in every school. I used to avoid them and join the “other” group. You know, those in the group whom I like to call the “rock” group. Guys who play football for the school, guys who are in the uniformed groups, things like that. Did my avoidance of these guys signify a lack of self confidence on my part? Or probably I just can’t stand people like that? I am supremely confident (note the self confidence) that it is the latter.
A little caveat. There are always exceptions to the rule. I’ve known guys who fit the billing of the aloof group who are perfectly OK guys and we get along famously. No complaints there.
So, how do you deal with such people? If you have the chance, ignore them. When they come, you leave. If you’re the mischievous type, try to find ways to irritate them and have a good laugh at the result. It’s nice to be cynical sometimes. Wrong. It’s nice to be cynical all the time. But if you’re stuck with such characters, you’re a goner. Absolute goner. Unless you’re good at playing the tolerant game. One advice though. You had better have a foolproof release mechanism. Eating, smoking, riding a bike, whatever it may be. Because these people will definitely put you on the brink and you can only take so much. Do not underestimate the power of these guys to push you over the edge. I talk from experience. Remember about the magnet and company I keep? There you go.
Due to certain unforeseen circumstances, I only went back to JB today. What does that mean then? There are a few things. Firstly, having to start work on a Wednesday, which is good. But that only means postponing your Monday blues to a Wednesday. Although I do feel quite high spirited about coming to work tomorrow. Why? Let’s leave it at that, shall we?
Secondly, the highway is clear today. Clear and devoid of traffic, much like a friend’s head of hair (you know who you are). So I left home at 4.30 pm and was at Ayer Keroh by 6 pm. Don’t ask me at what speed I drove. I just enjoyed the highway.
And no, I still have not found the word synonymous to “aloof”. Sorry, probably “snobbish” might work.
Why can't it be like this everyday? *photograph credit to Google
Thank you for persevering.
At this moment in time, I’m thoroughly convinced that I’m an old guy. This is due to 2 reasons. Firstly, is the tiredness I felt when we moved house last week. Not really complaining. Got a bigger place, which is good thing. The movers from Felix Relocations did the whole thing. Packed stuff and delivered them to the new house. Sure you’re thinking, why am I complaining isn’t it? Well, it’s not easy this moving business. Of course the movers come and do the hard work for you but there are other things to do as well. Like looking after after the 30 plus year old house you’ve just bought. There are just many things left unsorted. The thing is, the previous owner (who just happens to be one of the Judiciary’s most celebrated figure) left the house totally bare. As in with very very minimal fittings. When vacant possession was given, we discovered there were no fans (except one very old, barely working one) and all the lights have been wrenched out except some flourescent lights.
Talk about “vacant” possession. This is the grand daddy of vacant possession’s worst case scenario. You see, the thing about buying an old house is you take it as is. What that means is (without giving you a law lecture) you take the property how it looks the day you saw it for the first time. Unless you write it in the contract that the vendor (the guy who’s selling) has to rectify certain faults to the property, that’s what you’ll get. It’s almost impossible to write it into the contract anyway as vendors are just happy to make a killing on the sale and for the most part would not see the point in making good any defects to the property. What this inevitably means is I have to spend on new lights, fans and the like. Which takes a chunk out of the profits I made selling my previous home. And no, I didn’t make good any of the defects in my previous property as well.
I am thankful that Mak suggested that Kakngah’s family and Shafiq come over to the new house for Maghrib prayers and recite the Yaasin. The house has been empty for a good 9 months or so. You never know who could be “occupying” the house do you? All this thought is spine chilling for sure, but if anything’s there, I sure hope they’re not there anymore. I quite confident as Harith Haiqal had a good night’s sleep that night. You know what people say about babies and other worldly creatures don’t you? So the fact that Harith made it through unscathed is a measure of relief. To reiterate, I went back to JB (I didn’t take any leave from work after we moved) with pain in various parts of my body. And that from not really doing much during the whole moving exercise.
All that said, I’m still quite concerned over security to be perfectly honest. It’s a house with a big compound. The type of compound where there are trees and it’s super shady. People can hide there you know. Trying to beef it up as much as I can. The less said about it the better I guess. I have had this belief for the longest time. If everything is going well, don’t jinx it by talking about it. You know, like you’re on the highway and the traffic’s great. Never say, “Wow, traffic on the highway sure is smooth today.” Before you know it, there’ll be an accident and the traffic’s going to be jammed for a good few kilometres. I’ve always applied this belief in many things in my life.
I went for karaoke with a few friends at a place near my house in JB the other day. We had a great time. So great, I immediately felt sick the next day. I’ve never went to karaoke and sang songs from Aerosmith, Metallica and Def Leppard before. So the feeling’s good. It’s a welcome change from the normal mundane stuff.
There’s another thing. My office has blocked Facebook. Which is fine. I can always go mobile if I need to . However, it appears that there’s a blanket restriction on this blog as well. When I try to access my blog from the office, I get the same notification which is displayed if I try to access porn, I think (I’ve never tried to access porn from the office or any other place for that matter mind you). I try again next week. Probably this time they’ll let me in.
Oh, and here’s a photograph of the new house. It’s a old house but nice nevertheless. Don’t think the photograph does it any justice.
The new house. Remember the "celebrated member of the Judiciary" bit? That explains the "POLIS" postbox on the right.
And felt like sharing some photographs of the kids too.
Farah Batrisyia. The chair was her size, like it was custom made for her, kan? It was actually a chair bought by one of my uncles for his grandchild.
Farah Batrisyia during Hari Raya. Simply adorable. Apologies for the messy background.
Nureen Sabrina. The "Kakak". I fall in love with her every single day!
Nureen Sabrina showing her culinary skills. Shepherd's pie for Daddy!
Last but not least, my boy, Harith Haiqal.
Harith Haiqal being his usual playful self. Ignore the self-inflicted scratch under the left eye.
How can you not love him?
And lastly, all three angels.
My angels. These three beautiful children keep me going. I love all of you, unconditionally.
The month of Syawal is exactly what it is – a month. People love the month of Syawal, what with the festivities and merry-making. I think you’d be familiar with the saying you always hear when we were kids. If you don’t fast, you don’t get to celebrate Hari Raya. For some reason I believe I hold on to that saying until now. I don’t think I could celebrate Hari Raya if I don’t complete my fast. So I try my best (note the word try) to not miss a single day of fasting. The other thing is because Syawal is a month long, most people get the idea that the merry-making is for the whole month. Nothing wrong with that in my view.
Which brings me nicely to the point of holding Hari Raya open houses. You have open houses by individuals to big corporations. People used to call friends and tell them, “I’m coming over to your house for Hari Raya.” That would be a cue to start preparing for the visit. Fry some noodles, buy some satay, things like that. But nowadays, it’s always an open house. You prepare food for a specified number of people and invite them over to your place. I guess it’s more organised that way. You budget for the number of people invited. People come and congregate and generally have a good time. Friendships and relationships are maintained that way. Oh, and you don’t get surprise visits. Although you don’t turn people away if they want to come over.
Personally I’m never one to hold an open house. Haven’t had one. And not planning to have one. I tell everybody just call me if you want to come over. I’ll have some food prepared. I think I’d never get people to come over if I hold an open house. I have that feeling of insecurity in me. I’d prepare food for 200 people and in the end 20 people turn up. Kind of embarrassing isn’t it? You see guys who have open houses having to go to the nearby kedai mamak to buy more food because people just don’t stop coming (I think I’m over using the word “people” in this entry). I honestly don’t think I’ll be able to attract that kind of crowd. If there are 5 open houses that day, I have the feeling people would always say/think, “let’s just call Shahrin up and tell him we wouldn’t be able to make it”.
I do get invited to open houses. It’s nice to know people care enough that they’ll invite you over. But the thing about open houses is the roads will be absolutely jam packed during Syawal weekends. The time taken to get from Gombak to Sungai Buloh would be equal to the time taken to get from Gombak to JB. Which is not a good thing. You’d hear complaints about people getting stuck in massive traffic jams during said period. Here’s a suggestion – what if we all stayed home during Syawal weekends? Or have open houses during other periods besides Syawal weekends. Probably have a belated Hari Raya open house. Or have a particular scheduling of having open houses. How’s this for an idea – during the busy balik kampung season, PLUS (the highway company) devises a schedule for people who are going back. For instance, people whose car licence plates ends with an even number are supposed to move within a certain prescribed time. The same applies to people whose car licence plates end with an odd number.
So it follows that people with even numbered houses have open houses on certain prescribed dates. The dates are to be evenly spread during Syawal weekends. I think that might just work. And gone will be the days of crazy traffic jams during the open house season. Some Ministry could take charge of prescribing the relevant time slots; ala PLUS.
I have been invited to a pot luck session this weekend with a few good friends from my previous workplace. Am really looking forward to catching up with the guys. I’m happy to have been invited. These are people who mean a lot to me. I guess in four and a half years you really get to build good, honest friendships. Friends who see you as you are and have no ulterior motives for being your friends.
Looking forward to the gathering. Not so looking forward to the traffic jam.
How’s your Raya celebrations going on? I’m sure you’re having a good one. For me its the same old story. I think its true what they say. Raya is mainly for children. They are the ones who are the happiest. I think this is true due to mainly two reasons. Firstly, the kids are the recipients of duit raya. I used to get 20 sen or 50 sen if I’m lucky. This year I see people handing out RM5 to kids. No wonder the kids are a happy lot! If you factor in inflation, no way 20 sen 20 years ago is worth RM5 today. So that’s a nett gain for the kids. Well, good for them I say.
Secondly, children are pure and innocent. They really celebrate Raya wholeheartedly, new clothes and all. For us adults, the Raya celebrations acts only as a respite or a temporary break of sorts. You leave work on the last day of work before your festive holidays, take maybe a week off (at the most) and come back to your job and the attendant problems and issues. For me the day I return to work pretty much marks the end of Hari Raya. Looking at the issues faced, there simply cannot be any way for me to be in a celebratory mood. Further, because of the purity and innocence factor mentioned above, children are able to celebrate without prejudice. Most are happy with friends in school, go and have a merry time and go back to having a good time with friends in school with an extra RM100 or so to boot. Anyway I admit there’s a certain element of perversion to the celebratory concept for children due to the preoccupation with duit raya.
Adults are full of prejudice. I hate you with a vengeance and I am expected to shake your hand and apologise just because it is Hari Raya? I don’t think so. It works the same the other way as well. So Hari Raya is not really the season for forgiveness after all (not for everybody at least). The other thing are people who say their apologies during Hari Raya (which is fine). But for the life of you you’ll never hear them say sorry during other times of the year. Even for very little things. It’s unfortunate if it takes Hari Raya for you to apologise to anybody. I feel there’s no shame at all in saying sorry (at any time at all) if you feel you’ve offended anybody in any way possible. Although again there’s no problems at all with apologising during Hari Raya. Can’t doubt people’s sincerity can you?
There’s this other thing about Raya. Do you notice that all lagu Raya uses the same (or almost the same) lyrics? The favourite ones are “Aidilfitri mulia”, “ampun maaf dipinta” and a few others (can’t really think of any from the top of my head but I swear I had a few more the other day). Even the rock lagu Raya had the same phrases. I’m not saying Hari Raya is a one dimensional celebration (it’s not but that’ll take another entry to cover), but that’s just something I noticed.
Anyway, it’s a week overdue but Selamat Hari Raya! Hope you didn’t gain too much weight during the festivities!
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daily rants (well...almost) 