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...
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Sunday, April 13, 2008
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!
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
"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.
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.
“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.
Monday, April 07, 2008
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 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.
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