The Gunners Fumbled Again

The season that had started so promisingly, is beginning to show cracks that is threatening to derail not just the team's chances for the whole season, but also the near future of the team.

Yeah, we had lost some really calibre players in the off-season before the season even started. But then, the young players performed encouragingly and deservingly of some plaudits that they received then in the beginning, seeing off teams that their predecessors would have fumbled against with aplomb and swagger. Yeah, there were those Fulham and Hull occassions, but then we thought there were just early season jitters.

Stoke came next, and on the back of a precarious draw against Tottenham.

But then we beat Man United next in a most breathtaking match, and people though we were back. I had then begun to look forward to our future games with more enthusiasm. The Gunners to go all the way now? I couldn't be blamed for being optimistic.

Then the naive side of the team showed again against Aston Villa last week, and the whole optimism that was in the air after the Man United match crumbled again. And last week, the revelations made by the now former captain William Gallas of internal strife gave the young team another smack in the face. And last night, we got swept by Man City's team in construction aspiring to be another Chelsea.

The professorial Frenchman will have a huge task taking the team out of the mud they're in at the moment. In Arsene we trust!

With all the above happening in just a third of the season gone, Arsene Wenger has a gargantuan task ahead of him to bring the team back on track. Heck, I've always had faith in the thoughtful Frenchman, but for the first time ever since he surprised me and almost everyone else in the footballing world by bringing the Gunners to the title from nowhere in 1998, my resolute faith is somewhat tested.

Only time will tell if all Arsenal's fan out there will have reasons to celebrate come May 2009.

Catching Up On Lost Times...

It has been a long while since my last posting.

And how ironic it is, that my last posting spoke about the progress of my resolution for the year 2008, and how I was beaming with pride at the rate of updates I had been posting on my blog up to that point. And all of a sudden after that last post, I just lost all interest to write.

Perhaps it was the well-worn excuse of being busy with work. Or maybe, I have just been preoccupied with the rest of what my life has been throwing at me. Incidentally, the last 5 months did not pass without the most exciting of events. If those events were anything to go by, I would have posted over at least 30 additional posts to mark them. Perhaps I have just been too busy enjoying life than commemorating it here.

Ever since I started this blog over 5 years ago, I noticed that there are moments when I really do have things to write and share, and I could easily transfer such thoughts or tales into the pages of my blog. In some moments, I just have too many things running in my head, that whenever I find myself in front of the screen of my laptop, I just do not know what to write or where to start; such is my mind's incoherence. Over the last 5 months of my hiatus is however the worst of any kind of writer's moments; I just had nothing in me to share, or write. It was as empty and hollow as a television channel that has just ended its transmission for the day.

I am not sure if this is me returning with more regular posting as before. Writing comes more naturally to me when I know there's no expectation (self or external) for me to do it.

Anyways, if I may, the following are some of the events that took place over the last 5 months in my life. I can only represent them with pictures and short snippets for now. Who knows, I might feel good enough to tell more about it later.

Vacation in Langkawi

This vacation was the second in a series of vacations that my family had and will be having (tak habis-habis lagi!) in the year 2008. It is little wonder that as of today, I have practically no more annual leave to spare by the end of the year!

This picture was taken on top of Gunung Machinchang. We went up the mountain in a cable car, and for some reason I felt a great sense of scare! Might well be my last ever ride in a cable car!


We were up on Gunung Machinchang until sunset. It was my first sunset experience, and, it was a sight to behold.

A Weekend in Genting

We spent a weekend in Genting Highlands in July 08. It started out to be a promising break for us family, but turned out to be a most wonderful and enjoyable experience for all of us. Insyirah had a real ball of a time, and the climate was cool and perfect over our stay there. Little did we know fun could be just a few hours drive away from home. Too bad the place is synonym to gambling though...

Insyirah was a picture of excitement and pleasure all the time we were there. Here's a picture of her and wifey in the caterpillar train that moves above and around the Genting theme park.



In Genting's Snow World. Any apprehension I had about Insyirah not liking the place was gone the moment she took to playing in the snow with glee. She was obviously dwarfed in the snow suit available there though. The most touching part was when we left the Snow World, and she gave me hug of gratitude saying, "Thank you Abah. I love you Abah". Made me melt right away.

Summer in the UK

We were in the UK for 10 days in late July for my brother in law's graduation. The trip left a gaping hole in my finances as big as the Eurotunnel, but it also turned out to be a most memorable trip for the whole family. We were there for a total of 10 days, and covered Manchester, Brighton and London in our itinerary. I even managed to make a visit to my old school Radley College in Oxford. It's been 10 years since I last visited the place.

Insyirah and me, lying on the vast fields of Radley College. Insyirah enjoyed running around the vast compound of the school, and even quipped "I want to study here Abah". Well, that can only happen if the school ever becomes co-ed!


A picture on London's Tower Bridge. I had shown Insyirah pictures of the Bridge ahead of our trip to London, so that she would know she's in London the moment she sees the building in person.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri

And last but not least, a Hari Raya wish to anyone out there who is ever willing to drop by this blog of mine, and making this place a merrier place. A sincere wish from my family and me.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri!

My 2008 Resolutions: A Review

The famous saying goes, time and tide waits for no man, and before you could even ask "what happened?", the year 2008 is almost 1/3 through. It feels like it was only so recently that I made a posting on my resolution at the beginning of this year, and walla, what do you know? It's already April and there's exactly 256 days left to the year.

Whoa!

Back in my studying days, countdowns can have quite an unnerving effect. I know some of my more nerdy friends used to make countdowns on the number of days before the beginning of the year end exams, which never failed to make my tummy turn. Which is why I never made a point to track the time I had left before such big and important events like my exams, interviews, or presentations. It was like my way of running away from reality and not wanting to acknowledge the eventual truth / reality that I would have had to face until it finally came, by which time of course it would have been too late for me to make any difference about.

Therein lies a long standing inherent problem about myself, which I've only recently came to comprehend. I run away from problems, and I am a coward when it comes to confronting harsh realities.

However, that's another story which I shall share with you some other time.

In the mean time, having gone through 1/3 of the year, I feel it's appropriate for me to review where I am in the scheme of what I've resolved to achieve in the year. Success is hard to gauge if it is not measured, and if I really am resolute about my resolutions, I need to know where I am as far as achievements of my resolutions is concerned.

1. To become a better Muslim
If I may be honest, I am rather ashamed that I have not made any significant progress in this respect. I should strive harder to at least achieve what I had set to achieve in this respect early this year.

2. To be a better son, husband and father
I don't know if in the eyes of my parents, wife and daughter, I have really become any better. But I have learnt to be more considerate and patient this year. I have been listening more than I talk. Problems can resolved better when you resort to listening and understanding others instead of talking or lecturing too much. Like a good friend of mine once pointed out, we have one mouth and two ears, but we somehow choose to talk more than we listen...

3. To be more organised
This is like having to move a big heavy rock from its resting place over the last 30 years; it's bloody heavy! My middle name could even be Disorganised! I have tried to improve in this respect. I need to plan better and spend more time on working this out. Short term target: Keep my workstation at the office neat for 1 month.

4. To lose weight
I had intended to record my progress here on a weekly basis. Later I decided to make it a bi-weekly exercise due to seemingly lack of progress that could be achieved in 1week to post any meaningful progress. It has been over 2 months now since my last update on my weight loss challenge and progress is akin to human population on the moon; non-existent. I have however resorted to an intervention plan this last couple of weeks to boost the effort a little bit, which I hope will spring in some results this next couple of weeks. I shall share with you what the plan is only if it reaps success. Malu la cerita sekarang. Sekali no change jugak...

5. To pass all my remaining ACCA papers in one sitting
I did pass the exams I sat for in December 07, after attempting it for the 3rd time! So the omen looks good for my next sitting in June 08.
To do: A set of past year paper for each of the paper I'm sitting for this June 08 on a weekly basis until the exam day. From this weekend onwards.

6. To learn and excel at my new working place
Still work in progress. Not much to comment as yet...

7. To have more regular postings in this blog
This posting inclusive, this year has witnessed the 3rd highest postings made in a year in this blog since I first started blogging. Horay to that, and I hope it will continue till the end of the year.

8. To develop a new hobby
Nothing as yet. I have not even had a look at the bike in the store room. Been too busy really. Maybe an easier hobby to undertake now? Hmmm...

9. To inculcate a habit of reading
I have managed to read a book thus far, and I've even made a commentary about it here. Been moving at a snail's pace with the second book though.

So much planned, and now so much to do and so little time. I had better get cracking...

My Virtual Kopitiam

I recently discovered something fun on the internet. It was actually advertised as one of the advertisements on my Adsense, and being the games buff I have always been, couldn't resist clicking the link and found out what it is all about.

It is a sort of management game, which from the look, feel and theme of it, I gather is created by a Malaysian. Malaysia Boleh! and bravo for that. It never ceases to amaze me the things the people in this country are capable of conjuring up, and this game is something quite to marvel about. I mean for a game that you can play online for FREE, I was somehow expecting a game with lousy interface and very poor playability. Well, it IS a management game so there's not much you can ask in terms of playability than the game already offers. I am no games expert but the game's options and variety of play can be rather addictive once you got the hang of how it is played, which also isn't that hard to learn.

The game is called iKopitiam, and the idea is to start and run a kopitiam (which is really a Malaysian-styled cafe or coffee-house. Like Starbucks or Coffee Bean, with an old all-Malaysian, village flavour to it) in a kampung area initially, with the option of expanding the size of it and eventually moving the whole kopitiam to an industrial area for the ultimate business expansion. You have the option of choosing the drinks to sell at your kopitiam, and the types of hawkers to sell food. And money is not the only issue in managing your resources; you also have to consider the space of your kopitiam and a range of other indexes to consider like popularity, cleanliness and the rate of services the kopitiam needs in order to staff it efficiently. I've only discovered the game late Friday night and have gone on to create my own virtual kopitiam called Kopiwan (how original is that?), and I have to say I have been rather hooked playing it since.

The most important aspect of the game it seems is popularity. And among other things, the popularity ratings of a kopitiam can be significantly boosted by VIP visits, which really are virtual visits by friends (or blog readers of mine) and family. You can help me to boost the popularity of my virtual kopitiam by clicking here, or simply click on the 'Visit My iKopitiam' link on the sidebar. You will only be asked to order a drink and a food / service from my kopitiam once you've clicked the link, and presto, my kopitiam's popularity will get a boost!

So come over to my kopitiam. I'm open to suggestions how I can make it better. I am already dreaming of a kopitiam empire in an industrial area!

Virtual kopitiam today. A business empire tomorrow... perhaps!

"It's Gone!"

After performing my Maghrib prayers with my parents in their room, I returned to my room to get ready to go out for dinner. I was greeted by my wife at the door, who looked distressed. Something was amiss.

“What’s going on?”, I asked.

Wifey had walked away from the door almost immediately she had opened it, and responded distressfully, “Your wedding ring is missing. Insyirah was playing with it while I was in the toilet”. She was searching through the curtains leading to the balcony as she responded.

“I left it on the dressing table”, I responded, almost duh-like and obviously not affected by the stress and alarm that wifey was exhibiting.

“I know”, annoyance beginning to surface in her voice. “Insyirah climbed onto the chair at the dressing table and was messing up everything on it. When I came out I made a check of the items that were on the table, and to my horror I couldn’t find your wedding ring!”, she concluded in one breath.

Only then did my attention turned to Insyirah. She was standing motionlessly in the middle of the room, her teddy which she only recently became closely acquainted with held close to her chest in her two small hands, looking down on the floor. I deduced that wifey had already grilled her about the ring already.

“Insyirah, do you know where Abah’s ring is?”, I asked my daughter gently.

Nervously she looked up at me, and with one of her hands that was up to that point clutching on to her teddy extended out, with the palm showing upwards she replied, “It’s gone”.

She was now looking at me earnestly, giving me the look of someone who knows she’s done something naughty, and was apprehensive of the consequence that she might have to face. I was now searching on the table where I last left my ring. I asked Insyirah once again, while I continued with my search. “Did you play with my ring just now? Where did you put it?”

Like a broken radio, she chimed again, “It’s gone”. You could almost sense guilt in the way she answered.

“No point asking her abang. That’s all she’s been saying when I asked her the same. She kept on saying, ‘It’s gone, it’s gone, it’s gone’!”, annoyance apparently creeping on wifey.

I was slowly overcome by guilt. Really, it was my fault rather than this little girl that my wedding ring is now misplaced. I should have known better to keep it well out of her reach like in the drawer or something, rather than out in the open like that for her to play her games with. Father and daughter were now feeling the heat of wifey’s wrath. My eyes were fixed on Insyirah, feeling rather sorry for her. She took her eyes away from the floor again to look at me, still not moving from that same spot when I first came into the room, and probably sensing that I was going to ask her again, she prompted again “It’s gone Abah”.

I opened the drawers and searched the table again. At that point, I heard the sound of small metal falling onto the floor. My eyes quickly located the sound my ears had sensed, and I found the ring still moving in circles from the falling impact, right behind Insyirah. The ring must have gotten stuck to her sleeves or pocket and fell off from her.

I moved towards her and reached for the ring. “Insyirah, there it is! There’s the ring! It must have fallen off from you!”, I took the ring from the floor near her small feet and showed it to her face.

Her expression changed so suddenly upon discovery of the ring. The frown on her small face was immediately replaced with a look of relief, and covering her mouth with her small hand in a gesture of excitement, she responded “It’s not gone!”, and laughed out loud in relief. I gave her a hug just to give her the extra reassurance, although I sensed she was clever enough to know that she was already off the hook.

My precious...

It amazed me how my 2 year old girl could comprehend the seriousness of the situation, and how she could feel she was responsible for what had happened. I gave her a kiss on the forehead, and stroked her hair. In a matter of seconds, she was away from the spot she’s been rooted to in the last 10 minutes or so and went about the room doing the usual stuffs a 2 year old girl would do.

Moral of the story:
1. Make sure you keep your fine and valuable possessions in safe places, and far from the reach of your children, especially if your children are still at the age when a wedding ring has the equivalent sentimental and monetary significance as a Spongebob soft toy.
2. Don't get upset with them for any losses incurred due to failure to follow moral of the story no. 1 above. Be fair to your children, and own up to your own mistake. You can however show them that you're upset that you've lost something you value very much. That would teach them to determine what is valuable and what is not, and teach them to be more careful the next time.
3. Tell them you love them nevertheless, and as upset as you are over your loss, keep things in perspective. This will teach them the right values, and the art of being forgiving.

The above is also an excerpt of an entry in my new holiday blog, A Break to the East Coast.

Finally… Launching of my Holiday Blog

It has been a long while since I posted anything meaningful in here. Well, it has actually been just over a month, but if my resolution for this year is anything to go by, the rate of update has been rather poor. But it feels like my excuses are more valid this time, because when I say that I’ve been busy with work this time, I REALLY have been busy with work. Work in my previous place now feels like child’s play in comparison, and I really have been slogging just to survive and meet what is required of me. But it has been a very fulfilling learning experience at the same time, and not to mention humbling. The hard learning experience has somehow made me more receptive to learning and my surroundings and I am happy to say I feel a much improved person altogether.

The last couple of weeks have been rather eventful, and from the look of things to come, so will the next couple of weeks be. In fact just about 3 weeks ago, my family and I went on a vacation in Cherating Kuantan, a vacation which I had planned for as long as last December. We had originally plan to go for the vacation in February, but given work commitments we had to reschedule for a month later. It was a memorable affair by any account, and I have dedicated a specific blog just to capture the experiences that we encountered during that 5 days vacation.

It was actually part of my own personal project really, i.e. to create a new blog specific for the purpose of this vacation. I wanted to capture every tiniest moment that we had, and to capture the experience of the whole vacation in the mode of a road trip. My personal project was probably inspired by some road trip movies I’ve watched like RV and Eurotrip (although the latter is not exactly a good example to model for a family vacation!), and I endeavored to make sure my eyes were open to the tiniest detail. It actually had the effect of making the whole vacation a most memorable one as I was driven to plan our activities more carefully than usual, and was also more receptive to the things we were doing and the environment we were in. It sort of gave me a fresh pair of eyes to view probably the same world that I had been to before, only now I was looking at the pleasures that I could actually extract from our environment if I looked carefully enough.

If there is anything that I’ve learnt from this little project of mine, I would like to be more prepared with my camera the next time. For instance, it only occurred to me that I should have taken more pictures of the scenic views that we encountered along the way of vacation after the event, and even some landmarks of our journey that would probably give the whole trip a dramatic feel. Insya-Allah there will be more such similar vacations in the future, and hopefully yours truly will be better prepared then.

You can find the link to my holiday blog in the sidebar to this blog, or just click here for access.

The Mind Revolts

My mind is currently in a dilemma. A part of it is telling me that I need to focus on the task at hand and complete whatever the tasks that I had set myself to complete when I arrived at the office today at 12.36pm, while another part is saying "Go home you idiot!". After having completed one of the many assignments I have so ambitiously planned to do today, my mind suddenly drove itself into a wall and I have found myself struggling to continue with anything. It was like my mind is saying, "Oy, wait a minute. Isn't this a Saturday? And am I not supposed to be doing something fun instead of looking at Microsoft Excels and Words?".

And with that, I have spent the last 45 minutes or so staring at the cells of the Excel spreadheet blankly, waiting for some inspiration to come. Just when I felt like I was about to punch the monitor right in its centre and risk getting myself electrocuted and reprimanded for damaging office property, I decided to turn on the internet and make a posting here, an action you may say, channeling out the feeling of discontent through creative writing. Hah!

Come on Abah, you can do it!

Need to leave the office soon, and so little has been achieved. Sigh...

Malaysia's 12th General Election - 8th March 2008

It has been some time since my last update here. I have been rather preoccupied with work, up to the point that whenever I did get the chance to turn on the computer, I would feel rather guilty if it was not work related. I know it's crazy, but the way work is (and I foresee it will continue for some time) now, it is a situation that is quite inevitable for the time being.

Road Trip to the North

Events in the last couple of weeks have been quite interesting. For instance, last week my family and I drove all the way to Jitra, Kedah for a special 'facts-finding' exercise. What facts were we looking for you might ask? Well, I am not in a position to disclose that fact for the time being. Suffice to say that it might transpire to be the highlight event for our family this year.

I have always loved going on long road trips, tiring they might be on the body and limbs. Due to the short notice of the trip, I wasn't able to apply for leave to extend our trip and had to contend for a return trip over the weekend. The drive to Jitra took about 6 hours (with an hour stop along the way at Tapah R&R), and I have to admit by the end of the return journey on Sunday night, I felt the sensation like I was on a boat at sea, the ground felt like it was rocking about. However, we still had a good time and it is on such long journeys that you get to bond with your loved ones. And such a great effect it had on me mentally as well. It took my mind off the mentally-draining thoughts of work completely, and although I felt screwed when I came into the office on Monday, it felt all worth the while nevertheless.

We stopped by Pekan Rabu in Alor Setar. Insyirah and I were waiting for the others who went window-shopping...

Malaysia's 12th General Election

The last couple of weeks also witnessed the build-up to Malaysia's 12th General Election, which took place today on the 8th March 2008. Campaigning leading to the General Election had been the highlight in Malaysia these last 2 weeks, and had dominated corridor talks and contents of e-mails sent in the office. It also showed some ugly nature of certain quarters in the campaigning process, showing that politics can be quite unbearable for the faint-hearted. I have to say neither the ruling party or the opposition are innocent when it comes to this, although the ruling party's unfair control of the media in Malaysia somewhat makes them the worst perpetrators.

Not getting as strong support this time around...

In Malaysia, the distinction between the government and the party that is in government is very blurred. The party that governs acts and behaves as though they have the ultimate right to be in government for eternity that they would do anything to remain there. And anybody who shows support to other political parties other than the ruling party will be regarded as ingrates and will have to face unfavorable consequences. The ruling party owns the media and controls them to their advantage, blocking, censoring and limiting the opposition from reaching the people. And the media in Malaysia has become the dogs of the ruling party to condemn and ostracise the opposition, that any Malaysian who is educated on the principles of democracy can't help but feeling sick with the propaganda that the media dishes out. Some of their contents have been blatant slander and selective soundbites, trying to make us believe the oppositions are the devils and not to be trusted. And how unfair that the oppositions never get to refute and reply all these allegations on national media. In Malaysia, the media IS the government, hence violating the rule for media independence.

When I first went to the UK in 1995, the Conservative party was the ruling party, but they had been a tired lot and the people of the UK seemed to have had enough of them after over 15 years of being in government. Of course, the nature of campaigning and the soundbites had been equally (if not more) vicious as in Malaysia when the UK had its General Election in 1997, but at least all the parties had fair access to the media to air their views and thoughts. And the people were left to make an informed choice. The media was NEVER controlled by the government, and civil servants don't get influenced to support the ruling party at every election. The ruling party is just a party that rules in government, meaning the people should have the informed right to replace them when necessary. In Malaysia if a civil servant is known to support the opposition, he will get cold storaged and that's the end of his career with the government. Isn't that stupid?

Anyway, results from the 12th General Election are trickling in as I am writing here. So far, there have been some shocking results like the losses of Samy Vellu, Shahrizat Jalil and Koh Tsu Koon for the ruling party. Results announced so far have also shown that the opposition might just take away Penang from the ruling party this time around, and Kelantan seemed to be heading towards a clean sweep for the opposition party as well. So much for ruling party's talk about taking Kelantan this time. Hah!

BN, you might have given the Malaysian people a lot over the last 50 years, but really you shouldn't have taken the political fight to this low and dirty level. The Malaysian people are getting more and more educated to stomach your slanderous and undemocratic control over the media and government, and so far the results of the election has shown some Malaysians have had enough. You might still win into government nevertheless, but the future for the party might be less certain.

Is This As Good As It Gets?

The weekend has been a hectic one for me. Basically, it has been hectic since the beginning of last week when I had to go to Jakarta for a one day business trip. There is just so much to do in so little time, it feels like being asked to eat 5 large super supreme pizzas in 5 minutes, only that eating pizzas would at least be a more attractive proposition.

In my quest to try get more things done in a day, I have trained myself to utilise as much free time as possible to do work, and am now training myself to begin my day as early as 4 in the morning to cover more ground. It seems like the only way out of this predicament that work has put me in.

It's just a bit sad when you think of it, how much we have to endure just to make a living. Well, I do not intend to sound ungrateful with the situation I'm currently in. At least I do have a job, a roof to live under, a car that I can drive around with, enough food to bring back home at the end of the day, and with some spare change to plan for the ocassional family holidays. I can still say that my situation is much better than probably millions of people out there who are probably not as fortunate to have these basic needs at their disposal. Given such considerations, I know I should be happy.

But is this as good as it gets? The lifestyle of leaving home for work at the break of dawn, and returning only once after the sun has set, not being able to spend quality time with your family? Getting stressed over the organisation's business at work, getting pushed to swallow 5 or more equally urgent things to get done in a week, resulting in consistent stress and pressure that you dream about the assignmens you've not done even in your sleep? Not being able to give more back to your parents now when they're still around and healthy, because there is just isn't enough time because of the work, and money because you make only a measly amount of salary? Wifey had to stay in the office yesterday till 10 at night to finish a report for submission today (yeah on Sunday), missing a family dinner we had last night.

Again, is this really as good as it get?

It has made me to reflect upon what we're doing, and why we're doing it. Is this life in the corporate world something that I have to contend with for the rest of my life? Am I really enjoying doing what I'm doing, solving the company's problems, dealing with difficult people and situations, and probably won't get rewarded as well as the other person who is a better employee and and high-flying 'servant' of the company? Do I want to be rewarded as such anyway, and being given even more work and having to give more of my time for the extra special perks that come with the job and position, and having no time to enjoy them anyway because the work will not allow me to do so?

Really it has got me thinking.

I was browsing through the net today and incidentally bumped into this article of how some teenagers in the USA and UK have made it big by pursuing ventures which they have real passion in, and pressed on those passion to become teenage millionaires. While the other kids in this teenage success stories made their mints from the internet, the succes of Fraser Doherty from Edinburgh, Scotland probably means much more as he made it big by only selling jams from his grandmother's recipe, which he started out by selling to his neighbours in his neighbourhood in Edinburgh. He practically started the business in the kitchen of his parents' home, at the age of only 14! And now at age 19, his jams are now selling at Tescos and Waitroses chains across the UK and his worth is estimated to be around $1 million - $2 million. I would probably get to that amount at 55 upon my retirement, and even then accounting for effects of inflations in the future, it would probably be good just good enough to put me in a retirement home! Doherty's advice sounds so simple yet inspiring, "Have an attitude of adventure, and enjoy the journey."

Teenage millionaire, Fraser Doherty. "I can't be preoccupied with the money," says Doherty. "I make jam because it's what I love to do." I hope I can say the same about what I'm doing for a living...

I wish I have that sense of adventure, and the courage to explore the possibilities out there. I need to open my eyes, and learn what makes these people succeed in these enterprises they are in. Life has so much to offer, and all I do about it is sit behind a desktop computer in the office over 12 hours a day, and getting paid just enough to last until my next paycheck. My life feels wasted in here to get by every month, while some people are getting rich doing something they have fun doing.

I am convinced this is not as good as it gets. And I endeavour to do something about it.

Real Love

Today is the second day of the Chinese New Year public holiday in Malaysia. I am currently lounging at home with Insyirah, although Insyirah won't exactly allow me to lounge around when I'm with her alone at home. When I'm at home, she gets rather restless when I'm out of her sight. She'll be clinging on me all the time, which makes it rather difficult for me to do anything else. It's 'Abah do this' and 'Abah do that' all the time, with me being clueless most of the time of what she wants. Being a parent apparently requires you to have the skill to decipher your child's language, mood swings, and things which you could not deal with your normal understanding of good reason. Because to children, good reason is when they get what they want, even though they themselves do not know what they are. You get what I mean?

At the point of writing, I'm sitting in front of the TV with Insyirah watching the Tigger and Pooh Movie on Playhouse Disney, Insyirah doing so while sucking milk from her bottle. She's temporarily distracted, which leaves me with some little time to write this post. She has one hand holding the sarong I'm wearing, for extra certainty that I won't be going anywhere. Hehe... well, I've always wanted a girl to want me to be around so badly. I guess now I get my wish.

Songs and Nostalgias

Anyways, I have been in a rather nostalgic mood of late. I'm not quite sure what triggers it, although I suspect the stress that is created from my work at the office might be the reason. I've found out that when I'm so stressed out, some old memories will suddenly surface to my consciousness. It is like the stress is trying to use up all the resources of my mental capability that it pushes out some memories which are in the archive of my mind. Some memories dates back from as far as my days in kindergarten, and some are melancholic in nature like the lonely days when I was in a public boarding school in the UK doing my A-levels. These memories come back to me in dreamlike replays. And some of them do have the effects of stirring the emotion to some extent.

Dogged by this feeling of reminiscing old memories, I have been browsing e-snips to search for some songs I used to listen in the past. You know how songs have the effect of stirring old memories? I would listen to some songs that I used to listen in the past, and I would almost instantly get flashbacks of certain past events, and the emotions that I felt back then. For instance, whenever I hear Celine Dion's 'My Heart Will Go On', I could almost feel the same winter chill in London in December 1997, the same loneliness of being in isolation, the same feeling of being deserted, just a few days after the girl I had a crush on dumped me for my room mate. There will be more on this story at another time. My point is that songs do have that funny effect of playing with your emotions and stirring old memories, to almost a physical extent.

So while browsing through e-snips today, I came across the Beatles' Real Love, a song the legendary British group recorded in the mid 1990s when they reunited temporarily. I was in my first year in the UK at the time, and it was during the Easter holidays when I first heard the song. I was staying with friends in the apartment rented by our scholarship sponsors in Bayswater London, and I remember those days to be one of the most carefree moments in my life. There were no such worries about work, no heavy responsibilities, and no one depending upon you. It was all about looking forward to the next day, and enjoying the spring in the UK. I remember waking up listening to the song, to the smell of the burning heater in our cold apartment rooms, and having a bowl of Kellog's Crunchy Nut for breakfast. Everyday during the Easter holidays was either about playing football at Hyde Park, or going to the movies at Whiteley's. Those really were the days...

My Real Loves

Apart from it's nostalgic value, the song also has such a meaningful lyric. It speaks / implies of finding true love, and that the purpose of our whole life is probably to wait for that true love of ours to find us. All my life, I have only probably experienced that feeling of arrival, of my true love finding me, twice. And even then I was caught by surprise by those moments.

When did I know I loved my wife? I was about to board a plane to the UK for my brother's graduation in July 2004. I had yet to marry my wife back then, we were engaged and about to be married in September. We had never separated for very long since our engagement. Given that we work in the same place, we would get to see each other almost every day. My going to the UK meant I would not be seeing her for 2 weeks. It didn't appear to matter much to me at first. Until I spoke to her over the phone before boarding the plane.

It began like a casual conversation, and the normal stuffs you would say when saying goodbye. But when I was about to end the conversation, a sudden choking feeling overcame me, and I felt a lump forming in my throat. I said my last goodbye before boarding the plane with my voice shaking, and with some tears welling in my eyes. For the first time ever, I shed a tear over a girl. And it was only a goodbye over 2 weeks! My feelings have been taken hostage by her since then, and I've not spent time apart from her for more than a day without feeling miserable. I knew then as I know now, that my real love has arrived.

And the only other time that feeling has been topped or equalled? Of course, when Insyirah came to our lives. The feelings that I have over my daughter can only be described as magical, and there's nothing I wouldn't do for her. A father's love for his child is one that needs to be experienced to be understood. It will change your values to the core. It turns you into a totally new man altogether. I guess, real love does that to most of us.

I have to go. Insyirah is now crying out for her favourite snack, the banana.

Here's the Beatles' Real Love. My tribute to the loves of my life.

My lovely wife.
My beautiful daughter.



(Tip to listen to the song: Click pause at the page default music widget at the right bottom of the side bar before clicking on play on the above widget to avoid the 2 music overlapping. TQ!)

Real Love
by The Beatles

All my little plans and schemes
Lost like some forgotten dream
Seems like all I really was doing
Was waiting for you

Just like little girls and boys
Playing with their little toys
Seems like all they
really were doing
Was waiting for love

Don't need to be alone
No need to be alone

It's real love
It's real, yes it's real love
It's real

From this moment on I know
Exactly where my life will go
Seems that all I really was doing
Was waiting for love

Don't need to be afraid
No need to be afraid

It's real love
It's real, yes it's real love
It's real

Thought I'd been in love before,
But in my heart I wanted more
Seems like all I really was doing
Was waiting for you

Don't need to be alone
No need to be alone

It's real love
Yes it's real, yes it's real love
It's real, yes it's real love...

Good Day Out For The Gooners

Back at the top...

Arsenal gave another outstanding display of their attractive brand of football to brush aside a Man City side 3-1 in an EPL game last night. The scoreline flattered a lil bit, although the Gunners were clearly the dominant team throughout the game. The victory was rather satisfying, given that Man City have been unbeaten throughout the season at their home venue and were expected to give Arsenal trouble. The media had been usually sceptical of Arsenal getting anything positive out of this game, and the doomsayers were expecting them to drop some points facing an in-form man city.

I read a review in one paper before the game and was irked when the review was written implying a gap will be created between Arsenal and Man Utd (who were join leaders before the matches began on Saturday) come end of the day with Man Utd expected to pull away ahead. It even went to belittle Man Utd's opponent of the day, Arsenal's traditional neighbouring nemesis Tottenham Hotspurs, saying the London team, although currently in good form, would find the Red Devils too hot to handle and Man Utd were expected to bag the 3 points. I mean, on what basis was this prediction written? Sure, Man Utd has been in a hot streak of late, steamrolling over their opponents with such ease, but do give credit to the Gunners where it's due. They have been firing from all cylinders as well, and although not as clinical as Man Utd, they're up there on top with them for a reason. So you can imagine how satisfied I was to find out that Man Utd only managed a measly draw against Spurs, and even that was a courtesy of a late equaliser in the 4th minute of injury time.

Of course, the season still has 5 months to go and anything can happen in that time. On top in January doesn't guarantee finishing there come end of the season. The doomsayers will continue predicting our fall by the wayside, but I bet we can go all the way.

Go Gunners!

Child's Play

In my room on a Sunday evening, a conversation between 2 girls were overheard:

Hannah: Insyirah... let's play robot.

Insyirah: (Preoccupied with doing her stuffs... not really responding to Hannah's invitation).

Hannah then takes an empty medium sized basket meant for filling folded, newly washed clothes and puts it over Insyirah's head.

Insyirah now looks like a medium sized lampshade, and walks about in slow, mechanical footsteps, a fair imitation of a robot. She advertently walks out of the room in this state. Hannah then closes the door, leaving Insyirah outside.

A soft knock was then heard on the door from outside, the tapping of the small knuckles of a little girl was unmistakeable.

Hannah: (Opens the door to find Insyirah with the basket now off her head, looking rather discontently at her). Insyirah, you're a robot! (Saying it disapprovingly and grabbing the basket and putting it on top of Insyirah's head again).

Insyirah once again walks about in robot-like manner, and walks outside. Hannah once again closes the door behind her.

This time Insyirah could be heard babbling from outside already, once again knocking on the door. Hannah opened the door, to find Insyirah now with a pouted look on her face, the basket once again removed.

Hannah attempted to put the basket on Insyirah's head again, but this time was met with disapproval by the feisty smaller girl. She started babbling in her own baby language, but a few distinct words could be made out such as "I'm tired...walking... outside". Her hands were placed on her waist in a show of disapproval, and she was following Hannah all over the room voicing her discontent for being made to play the robot on her own outside while Hannah stayed in the room.

After close to 5 minutes of lecturing, Hannah finally responded:

Hannah: Ok! Ok! Alright! Alright!

There was later a cacophany of their voices try to talk above the other, one stil unhappy at what she was made to do, and the other in defense saying that she gets the point by now and was (probably) sorry for her actions. This was when I interrupted the two of them and played the peacekeeper once again.

It is just absorbing to see the two of them play together. One moment they are in harmony and approving, the next moment they are shouting at each other, even involved in a mini scuffle at times. Insyirah sometimes forget that she's the smaller of the two, and stands up to Hannah like she's her equal. All the same, they would forget their dispute almost instantly it started and play together again.

*Sigh*... kids. I just adore them.

Of Mice and Men

I've been reading John Steinbeck's classic Of Mice and Men these last two weeks. The book can be considered to be a light read, with only 113 pages thick. An avid reader with better discipline and focus would probably be able to finish reading it in one sitting. However, I on the other hand suffers from the habit of wanting to take in word for word any literature that I read, hence I read very slowly. Coupled with the fact that I have a short term attention span, which means that my interest would quickly wane after about 30 minutes of reading, has contributed to the reason why it has taken me close to 2 weeks to finish reading the book.

I have had Of Mice and Men ever since I was in secondary school. In fact, I won the book as a prize for getting the best grade in the English subject in my school at the time (I have to admit standards were not high at the school at the time...). Although the book can be considered student-friendly in terms of its light content and size, I have to say the American colloquial language that the author uses in the book hardly makes it suitable for an English student who reads it with the intention to improve his command of the language. Not to mention some extent of vulgar language used in it. But apparently the book is required reading material in high schools in the USA, Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, perhaps in part to bring awareness to the societal errors in which Steinbeck aims to bring into light in his book.

The Story

The book tells a story of two migrant workers in California, USA during the Great Depression in the 1930s – George Milton: small in stature, intelligent, and cynical, but caring; and Lennie Small: physically strong, but dim-witted. They come to work in a ranch in Soledad, California with the dream to make big money, with the hope that one day they get to fulfil their shared dream of settling down on their own piece of land.

However, Lennie's dim-wits threatens this dream of theirs, and George keeps having to bail Lennie out of trouble, even at the expense of his own potential and happiness. In the Malay language, the best phrase to describe someone like Lennie would probably be 'bangkai bernyawa', or the living corpse. As I read the book, especially when coming towards the end, I couldn't help feeling how troublesome he is not just to his friend George, but even to himself that he would probably be better off dead. It speaks a lot of George's own patience and loyalty to Lennie and in the book it explains a little bit how and why George came to have this sense of duty to his friend.

Would this odd-couple survive the odds and come out tops with their dreams? I have to admit I did not quite expect the story to end the way it does. But if you have not read it and you want to know what happened at the end, you can always find a copy of it and read it yourself. It only has 113 pages anyway.

Interesting Fact

One of the things that baffles me a little bit about the book is the title. Apart from a reference made to a mouse at the beginning of the story when Lennie was caught hiding a dead mouse in his pocket so he could pet it, the rest of the story had nothing that you could associate with rodents. So I looked up the internet on the background of the book a little bit. Apparently, the author Mr Steinbeck took the title from Robert Burn's poem, To a Mouse which is often quoted as: "The best-laid plans of mice and men go oft awry." He had originally intended to title the book Something That Happened. Burns's poem tells of the regret the narrator feels for having destroyed the home of a mouse while plowing his field; it suggests that no plan is fool-proof and no one can be completely prepared for the future, which pretty much describes the outcome of the story.

A good read.

Weight Loss Challenge: Week 3

Due to various reasons, I didn't get to post the progress of my Weight Loss Challenge last week. I was preoccupied with the Family Day event last Saturday, and as you would note I wasn't feeling well the day after with high fever, which I suspect was due to the strong coffee that I had on Sunday morning. Or maybe it was the 1 and a half Domino's pizzas which I over-sprinkled with chilli flakes on Saturday night. These potentially dehydrating diet, coupled with the fact that I was probably already dehydrated from the exertions of the Family Day on Saturday, probably contributed to the fever that came upon me almost suddenly on Sunday morning.

Ok lah... Maybe I'm making excuses for missing the update. I didn't exactly feel like weighing myself especially after having that 1 and a half pizza that Saturday night.

In truth, I have not been able to give full commitment to my weight loss conquest these last 2 weeks. The work factor is to blame, and I have been stuck in the office till night time for the most part of these last 2 weeks. I do make a point to at least cycle on Saturday mornings, so I guess all is not lost.

I have also decided to make a slight change to the waistline performance indicator. Well, I've figured measuring progress by inches is probably a bit too much to track progress on a weekly basis. You can probably lose a centimetre or two in a week, but an inch? It may be possible, but hey these are fragile moments in the weight loss conquest when even a slight progress is considered victory. So I've decided to measure the progress of my waistline reduction by the centimetre, and hopefully there'll be some progress I can share.

My waistline dropped 0.5cm this week. Hoorayy!!

So here are the results of my Weight Loss Challenge in its 3rd week:

Physical Indicators
Start weight: 81.1kg
Target weight: 72kg
Achieved after week 3: 79.7kg

Start waistline: 38 inches (96.52cm)
Target waistline: 33 inches (83.82cm)
Achieved after week 3: 38.8 inches (98.5cm)

Can't say if there has been much progress. My weight has remained about the same since the last progress check, although you would notice some marginal reduction of the waistline by half a centimetre. Hehe... any progress, though minimal, is cherished here.

Exercise
I have only managed to cycle a distance of 13 kilometres this week, and apart from that one session on the bike, not much can be said here. Work has been taking up most of my time and it seems that the only time I can squeeze in for an exercise would be early in the morning before going to work. The new pair of swimming trunks is still waiting to be used and I do hope I can start swimming as part of my exercise regime soon.

Food
I've managed to reduce the number of times I consume fast food these last 2 weeks, but whenever I did I would unfortunately help myself to a blockbuster treat. Note the 1 and a half pizza bingeing. I've consistently had small helpings for my meals, but I do hope I can control the fast food urges better in the future.

Summary
Generally, I feel a lot healthier ever since I started on this Weight Loss Challenge conquest. I feel fitter, healthier and at the risk of being accused of being delusional, my body looks more toned than before. Although whatever delusion I might have with that regards was quickly dispelled when, looking at my own side profile in the mirror this morning, I asked my wife what she thought:

Me: Sayang... do you think my tummy is a little flatter now?

Wifey: (With a slight glance at my tummy, non-chalantly responded) No...

Yeah, I need to work harder...

Feeling Under The Weather

I am currently not feeling too well, down with a high fever since yesterday morning. I had anticipated my body to show some effects from the exertions of the Family Day on Saturday, but little did I expect myself to get a fever as a result. I was actually feeling fine until Sunday morning when, window shopping at Centrepoint Bandar Utama, I suddenly felt a draining sensation that made me want to lie down almost immediately. It was weird how the sensation came so suddenly.

Getting sick at this point is a great inconvenience, given how busy things are at the office. I wouldn't be able to get everything done on time even if I was an octopus with 8 hands, now this fever is just going tocause things to pile up. I'm at home now trying to psyche myself up to get some office work done, but Insyirah just wouldn't let me. Feeling sick and light headed, coupled with the distraction from the little one, you can understand the challenges I am facing.

I just have to give it a try... boss is waiting for some updates by 4pm today.

ps: At the point of finishing this entry, I had to play 'peacekeeper' between Hannah and Insyirah over a ball.

Family Day

The department of the company I work in held a Family Day event at the Putrajaya Botanical Garden today. To be honest, I had been looking forward to this event with some great anticipation. I guess such events are more meaningful to you when you already have a family to bring with you, as compared to when you're still single. I have been to a number of family day events in the past, but the motivation of going as a single is of course different. It was probably to check out the babes (if there were any!), and failing that the food and telematches provided some consolation. Now with wifey and Insyirah in tow, I was all bubbly about going to the Family Day.

Me: Ok Insyirah. Here's the game plan!

We got to the place close to 9am, after taking a wrong turn along the way. Without talking about it at length, much needs to be done about the road signages in Putrajaya I have to say. One can get easily disoriented with the confusing road signages, especially when you're late and your tummy is empty. The Botanical Garden itself is a beautiful place. But for such a huge and beautiful place, I felt it was rather deserted of people. Perhaps the place needs a little bit more marketing to create more awareness of its existence.

Me: Insyirah! The race is about to start! It's no time to eat pudding!
Insyirah: Munch.. munch.. i haf juzh a wibble bit more... yum... yum..

After her usual inhibitions, Insyirah really had a ball of a time. She was rather inhibited at first when taking part in the kids telematches. In the "Run to Daddy" game, wifey had to coax her to run towards me who was waiting at the finishing line.
She practically didn't want to run the race and broke down crying in the middle of it, much to the amusement of others. But even then, she managed to get 3rd place as there was another kid who chose to stay static at the starting line. So I guess Insyirah didn't do too bad...

Insyirah: No Ibu! You're going the wrong way. This way!

Later in the morning, we had an adventure treasure hunt ala Explorace. If there's anything I've found out about myself after the race is that I know nuts about plants. The puzzles in the hunt required us to find the names of plants based on the clues and descriptions given, and to be honest I had no inklings what they were about. So I just tagged along with the team, who weren't any wiser. The solutions to the puzzles were

Me: No Insyirah! You're supposed to take the chocolates to the finishing line. Not eat them!
Insyirah: Sorry Abah. I can't resist. Cadbury's my favorite chocolate!

scattered all over the huge park, I must have probably covered about 2 kms running all over the place looking for them. I know I might not bee feeling it now, but I have the feeling my body will be aching all over come tomorrow. It probably served my Weight Loss Challenge well however...

Insyirah on the tram with her new friend, Razin

While I was burning fat running around the Botanical Garden wheezing like a fish which unfortunately got tossed out of the water, wifey and Insyirah sat through a tram ride around the place. The tram is such a good vehicle to get you around the place without having to break much sweat, and I noticed the kids were all excited during the ride. Insyirah made

Razin: Hiya good looking. How ya doing?
Insyirah: Cool hat!

herself acquainted with the son of a colleague of mine while on the ride and they became rather close thereafter. It's just amazing how children could make friends so easily. They have no inhibitions or preconceived perceptions of anyone that they can easily strike a friendship within minutes of meeting each other.

The maestro at work... with mummy at hand of course!

The Masterpiece

Insyirah's spoils at the end of the day

The whole event wrapped up around 2pm, after lunch and the prize giving ceremony. Kids are the ones who enjoy the most in events such as this as they tend to gain so many prizes, even if they didn't do well in any of the events they participated. Insyirah ended up bagging 3 prizes at the end of the day, even finishing 2nd in a coloring contest. Well, the coloring was really mother-assisted as my wife held Insyirah's hand with color pencils in her hand and helped her to color, but who's contesting?

Everyone got his/her prize at the end of the day and went home happy, and that's what matters the most.

Career Resolutions: New Year, New Goals

I came across this article today while I was browsing the office online publication board, and couldn't help nodding my head in agreement while reading it. The writer gives ideas and suggestions on what we can do to boost our career advancement and a package that could give us satisfaction both on the work and domestic front. A lot of good things for anyone who intends to not just do well in their career, but in terms of self development as well.

I especially like the parting advice at the end of the article.

'You will have to think positive, be disciplined and committed so that you can say, "I did", rather than "I should have", when the end of next year rolls around.'

Don't let your sights stray away from the target. Hopefully we all will get to say "I did" come end of the year.

New Year, New Goals
- By Dr Kamal Kant

Here are some ideas to help you craft your career resolutions for 2008.

ARE you thinking about making a fresh beginning in the new year?

Before you do anything, take some time to reflect on what was good or not so good at work over the past 12 months.

Only after that can you ask yourself what you can do to make 2008 a year of career advancement, job enrichment and work performance satisfaction.

The following ideas might provide a good starting point for crafting your own career resolutions for the new year.

1. I will widen my network: Each month, find a way to meet half a dozen new people.

Are there professional associations you can join?

Also try to find time to reconnect with existing contacts.

By the end of 2008, you should have made plenty of new connections and sustained important relationships with ongoing networking and communication.

If you work diligently on this strategy, you will accomplish your resolution.

2. I will update my resume: Never let your resume become outdated. Allocate time every three months to update your resume to include recent projects, new accomplishments, educational courses which you have completed, technology skills you have picked up and professional affiliations you have made.

Review, critique and assess whether your resume will position you effectively in the employment marketplace.

Be sure to review your resume critically at least twice a year to make sure it stays focused on your career aspirations.

You will then be ready to welcome the opportunity when it comes knocking.

Plan well and 2008 could be the year you make a major career transition.

3. I will have a better work-life balance: This could mean a career shift to a part-time or flexible work schedule.

If you are responsible for housekeeping, this may involve paying someone to take care of household chores, dining as a family more regularly, or changing jobs to work in an environment that is more accepting of your personal requirements.

The key is to define what is most important to you and to take steps that will help make your goal of work-life balance a reality.

4. I will take control of my performance: Since your boss or manager generally only recalls your performance from the few months prior to a review, it is up to you to keep track of your accomplishments across the entire year.

To do this, spend five to 10 minutes at the end of each week or month writing down what you have worked on, what you have learnt and how you have contributed to the success of your group, department and organisation.

You will be prepared with plenty of examples when it is time for your next performance review.

5. I will find a mentor or become one: A mentor can play a critical role in advancing someone's career. Whom you seek out depends on what you want.

A mentor inside your organisation might be able to help you navigate the office politics and link you to the informal networks that get you ahead.

By contrast, a mentor outside your organisation can be a truly impartial adviser who has your best interests at heart without interference from organisational politics.

You can also share your experiences with others by volunteering to be a mentor, perhaps to junior co-workers, recent alumni of your university or polytechnic, or people looking to break into your field.

6. I will learn more: Develop new work-related skills, try new hobbies and, generally, stimulate your mind and heart with learning.

Push yourself to try something new.

Going back to take that diploma or degree through evening classes or distance learning could be an important move to get ahead. Always be committed to growing your career.

Set goals carefully
Some say New Year resolutions are a waste of time as they are nothing more than a long list of "should-dos" that people never take seriously anyway.

Make your New Year resolutions for 2008 different.

Take the time to plan them carefully. A long list of resolutions will set you up for failure. Think carefully about what you would like to change.

Be brutally honest with yourself. Your goals should be achievable and realistic.

After you set them, the rest is really up to you.

You will have to think positive, be disciplined and committed so that you can say, "I did", rather than "I should have", when the end of next year rolls around.

Contributed by Dr Kamal Kant, a career management professional and adjunct lecturer. Website: www.nexttransition.com

Weight Loss Challenge: The 1st Week

Today marks the first week since the start of my Weight Loss Challenge. I wrote in my blog a week ago of my target to lose a certain amount of weight and inches this year, as part of my resolution for the year 2008. Goodbye to the old fat and unfit Izwan, and by the end of this year hopefully we can say hello to a brand new and fit me.

I believe one of the challenges faced by anyone attempting to lose weight would be to manage his/her expectations of the results achieved. You kinda expect to see the weighing scale to show a favourable reading just because you took half the usual portion of your lunch on the first day of your diet, and feel disappointed when the reading still shows the same weight (if not more!). I guess I'm no different here in that sense. I've been looking at my side profile in the mirror more regularly than usual in this last week, and I still look no different from a woman who is 8 months pregnant. Sheeshh... I keep having to remind myself this is only the first week, and I have over 40 weeks left in the year to meet the target. This Weight Loss Challenge is a marathon, not a sprint and it is important to keep that into perspective so as not to get easily demoralised.

So what have I achieved in this first week? The following are the KPIs I've set myself, and the results achieved after the first week:

Physical Indicators
Start weight: 81.1kg
Target weight: 72kg
Achieved after week 1: 79.6kg

This might seem a small reduction to some, but considerably huge leap for me. Breaking the 80kg barrier has been rather difficult for me and ducking it in the first week is a welcome result. One cheer here!

Start waistline: 38 inches
Target waistline: 33 inches
Achieved after week 1: 39 inches!

This has come as a surprise. With my weight pointing downwards, I was kinda expecting the waistline to move in a similar direction. Granted however, I did not actually measure my waistline when I indicated it as my starting weight, only based it on the size the waisline of the biggest jeans I've been wearing. Maybe the starting line was bigger, I don't know. I did get someone commenting saying my tummy looked slimmer recently. Maybe it was the shirt I was wearing... anyways, more work need to be done here.

Exercise
I have been rather bullish on this front. The exercise theme this week was cycling, and I had had 3 sessions of cycling covering a distance of 40km altogether. Bought myself a new pair of swimming trunks, so next week might see some variation to my exercise regime. Another cheer here!

Food
I have to admit that I've not been very disciplined on the food front though. For the record, I've been taking fast food numerous times this week (the most recent being the visit to Domino's Pizza this afternoon), and I've been taking ice creams and cheese cakes (it was Affeedz's birthday last week remember) like no one's business. I guess progress would have been more impressive had I had a stronger will when it comes to restraint on my diet. Gotta try harder on this one...

Summary
Although result has been mixed, the physical exercises have had the effect of making me feel active and more alert, hence having a multiplier effect on most of the things I do in the week. The saying a healthy body breeds a healthy mind is true, and I believe should this Weight Loss Challenge of mine becomes a success, I will reap more than what I am bargaining for. The first week has been a relative success. Hopefully i can shed the image of that 8 months pregnant man from my mirror in a couple of weeks time.

Relativity of Perceptions

We were at Sunway Pyramid today. The place has changed a lot since the last time I was there, which to put it into perspective, was only about 4 months ago. They have opened a new wing now called Pyramid 2, in extension of the old wing of the shopping centre. It made us feel disoriented a little bit, and we were suppossed to meet up with the rest of my family for lunch. My father and brother DD were with me, wifey and Insyirah. We called our sister, Lili up to find out where they were.

DD: Where are you guys? We have just entered the building.

Lili: We are in a food court.

DD: Which food court?

Lili: I am not quite sure where this is. But the food court is near McDonald's.

DD: Righty ho. We'll see you there.

So we looked for the direction to the food court. Even asked a couple of Sunway Pyramid janitors and security guards for the way. Apparently we had parked in the new wing, so I had no idea where we were going and the places were not familiar to me. After walking for about 10 minutes in that huge place, we found a food court located within Jusco's. I was feeling kinda hungry by that time, and the smell of hot plate sizzling noodle instantly caught my attention. Yummy...

Wifey: But kak Lili says the food court is near McDonald's. And I know McDonald's is located in the old wing (Pyramid 1).

So we went to ask the security guard who was standing near us.

Guard: Pyramid 1 is that way bang. About 10 minutes walk through that path that connects the 2 wings.

I was already drooling over the hot plate, so you could understand I was feeling a little upset to find out we were not there yet. So we continued walking for another 10 minutes that seemed longer when you're walking with a hungry tummy and finally arrived at McDonald's.

Me: Hmmm... I don't see any food court.

DD: Let's try calling them...

We tried calling them for the next 10 minutes but to no avail. Reception must have been bad where they were. My tummy was growling again... Not knowing where to go and where they were, we just stood around and looking down at people skating at the ice rink. A while later, my phone rang.

Affeedz: I am sorry but the reception is very bad where we are. We are in the food court LOCATED WITHIN JUSCO's. It is in the new wing of Sunway Pyramid.

Me: Wha...? But I thought Lili said the food court is near McDonald's? We were already there at the food court about 10 minutes ago, but since we couldn't find any Mcdonald's there, we made our way here instead.

Affeedz: I don't know how it could be near McDonald's. It is in a totally different building altogether!

Me: Oh well. Since we're here, I think we might as well eat here. I can't walk any further until I eat something.

Affeedz: Ok la.. so we'll see you there after we're done. We've already bought our lunches.

We met up with them after about 20 minutes. I asked my sister why did she say the food court was near McDonald's?

Lili: Isn't it near? It is only 10 minutes away from McDonald's...

Morals of the story:

1. Perception of distance is subjective, and open to different interpretations by different people. 10 minutes walking distance might be short to some people, while my idea of near is if the place is right next door.

2. Be specific when you're asking for direction. General description like 'it is very near', or 'only a few minutes away' are recipes to getting you lost. Ask for exact address, or an exact landmark like the name of the building next to it, etc.

Happy Birthday!

I know this is rather belated, but then it has only occured to this slow pea-brained of mine that family birthdays make excellent themes on one's personal blogs! Silly me... Happy 33rd birthday Affeedz! May you have many prosperous years ahead of you, and all your dreams come true! Unless of course if your dream includes Liverpool winning the Champions League or the English Premier League, then I hope it won't as I'm pinning for Arsenal to achieve that this year! Hehe...


The Cake


The girls lining up for a picture with the birthday boy


"Affeedz: It is my birthday, and I get to blow the candles alright?"


Fat chance. The girls took over and had their salivas blown all over the cake...

Blogging Made Easy

Anyone who has been to my blog over the last couple of weeks would have noticed the significant changes that have been taking place here. For those who have not been here since forever (well, not surprisingly given the pathetic rate of updates here previously) would have felt like someone who only came back to Malaysia after having been abroad for over 30 years. I've made substantial feature updates here recently, that even I am myself impressed with how my blog looks like now.

There is a reason for the sudden flurry of changes here of late. I noted in this blog a couple of weeks ago about my mother in law starting out a new blog, to supplement her writing hobby / part time career. So, knowing that I already have a blog myself, she requested me to create one for her. Up to that point, I've never quite cared to find out how to upgrade the look of my blog, or even the features available out there that I could incorporate in it. Imagine my surprise when I ventured on creating a blog for my mother in law and finding out that the blogging world has taken a quantum leap ever since the days I started blogging.

Blogging has become significantly easier to do now compared to as recent as 3 years ago. I remember how I was struggling to even put up pictures in my posting, let alone to cosmetize its looks. There were not as many websites that offer applications (not to mention excellent and free too!) as there are now. In the 3 days break I had over the Hajj and Christmas holday, I explored and discovered applications to create a new blog, and my did I find myself into a totally new discovery. It did take most of the hours of my 3 days break then, but just like riding a bicycle, once you've learnt it, you won't be needing the tricycle anymore and be cycling without having to hold the handlebars anymore! It is easy to go overboard with adding new features given the stuffs that are available out there, and at certain points I just had to pull the reins and know where to stop. Otherwise it'll be like a street with too many light streamers that you could barely notice the traffic lights! Moderation is still virtue...

So after the end of the 3 days, and with further cosmetising over the last couple of weeks, my mother in law and I managed to create this blog for her. For good measure, she has gone on to create an english version of that same blog for english her english readers.

So what do I do next after having made all these discoveries to do with blogging? Upgrade my own blog of course! My blog has been in a sad state of neglect for a long time, that you could almost sense virtual cobwebs streaming all over it. And I've made a pledge to have more regular updates here this year also, so with hope and luck this blog will not be so dormant. The question is, will there be readers and visitors here after all these years? There might just be me and family members coming by. That's a good start. Until I can be certain of more regular updates, it feels like a false dawn to an era of new beginnings here.

I feel good about the changes I've made here. The blog feels brand new and grand to me. I hope you like it too...

Fit For Life... Not Fat

Nope, I'm not pregnant...

The difference between the word 'fit' and 'fat' is merely the vowel that is between the letter f and t, but in physical terms the difference could not have been more significant. And not to mention the ease and difficulty to transfrom from one form to another and vice versa.

When I was younger, the issue of weight problem seem like someone else's problem. Up to my teenage years, I could munch down up to 3 Big Macs and still had a lot more space for some fries and a big cup of milk shake. And even after all that, I wouldn't feel like exploding like I do now and there would not be even a hint of a bulge on my hard and well-shaped belly.

I remember an incident when I was 13 when my brother, my dad and me were dining at Pizza Hut and we ordered 2 large super supreme pizzas. The waitress who was taking our order, out of a sense of duty, told us that she felt 2 large super supreme pizzas were probably too much for the 3 of us in one sitting. We insisted on our order, and when the pizza came, we gulped everything in less than 20 minutes. And I remember we later ordered some ice cream for desserts...

Those days now feel like distant memories...

Nowadays, maintaining my current weight is a constant struggle, not to mention losing it. Things were probably easier in my pre-married days, when I could gain and lose my weight almost at will. Nowadays, the easier way is always up the weighing scale and going down is tantamount to a small miracle. For the record, I've gained 5 kilos over the last year, 4 inches around the waist... pheww... heck, my belly is even bigger than my wife's when she was pregnant!

So coming to the year 2008, I've made a resolution to at least lose what I've gained in 2007, and maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle. A little cut down on the carbohydrates is required, and a little jolt with the physical exercise will be needed here. I've set myself certain key performance indicators in order to achieve this aim of mine, which are as follows:

Physical indicators
Current weight: 81.1kg
Target weight: 72kg

Current waistline: 38 inches
Target waistline: 33 inches

Exercise
On a weekly basis, I aim to do at least two times of any combination of the following physical exercises:
1. Jogging - 3km
2. Cycling - 10km
3. Swimming - 30 minutes

Food
This is probably the most difficult of all the indicators for me to adhere to. I've always been a lover of fatty foods like the skin of a fried chicken or McDonald's chocolate sundae and apple pie. And to make matters worse, I only take vege and fruits out of necessity, which usually means I do not take them at all most of the time. This is where most resolve is needed.

1. Cut down
Carbohydrates
- 1 scoop of rice per meal, and small portions of side dishes
- only 1 trip per month to any fast food joint per month. The Prosperity Burger season at McDonald's is not going to make this easy...
- only 1 sweet desserts per week.

2. Increase
a. Drink 2 litres of water every day
b. Take fruits for snacking at the office

I will be posting my progress here on a weekly basis. Hoping for a small miracle here. With lots of belief and will power, I might just be able to transform myself from fat to fit.

Wish me luck...