It is just fascinating how our teenagers communicate and get in touch with with each other nowadays.
It was unimaginable that getting in touch with one another was that simple when I grew up. More so when I had to lead a nomadic life during my ealy years, that was from 1961-1965. Imagine, I had to go to six different primary schools in three different states during that period.
The result? I have lost contact with most of my primary school classmates.
But that was not the case with my children. They are still in contact with their primary one friends even when they finish university!
Reunion is just within a click away for them. But not for me, I have to search high and low for friends and so far found only a handful of them around.
When I was in the secondary school, I subscribed to an International Youth Club and because of that I had pen-pals from thirteen different countries!
But I soon found out that writing to everyone was not only a chore but outright expensive.
Soon I stopped writing to any of them, a fact that I regretted very much. Just imagine if there were such things as Internet, Facebook, Twitter and Friendster then? Our friendship would for sure continue till now.
Recalling back to the list of pen pals that I had, there was this girl from Italy that I particularly liked. She was one Ariella Tritremmel. I wonder how she looks right now.
Then there was this Hermia Pong from Hong Kong. She was really looking forward to come to Malaysia then.
The funiest of them was a girl from Sri Langka, a Muslim. She insisted that I did not write my name on the envelope. Why? Her father would for sure confiscated my letter if he knew that a boy wrote to her daughter!
Coming back to the present world, all my children, they have their own facebook and they are in constant communication with each other and they even have their own circle of friends in the cyber world.
Diyana is still communicating with her standard two friends!
Monday, May 31, 2010
FOOD SECURITY
Much have been said and discussed about the danger of food shortage with global warming phenomena and the population explosion.
Food scientist have issued warnings that food production is not in tandem with population growth.
Global warming is also causing harm to the world food production.
I agree that we should be wary of the food securit issue, but I guess we have overlooked on the food demand side.
I am no food security expert, but little has been said about our wasteful way consuming food. We waste too much good food, in receptions and even in our own house!
Have you ever wondered how many tons of good food is rubbished after each dinner function? A lot. Just visit any joint after a big dinner or luncheon. You will see so much good food being wasted.
These rubbished food can feed an entire orphanage!
Food scientist have issued warnings that food production is not in tandem with population growth.
Global warming is also causing harm to the world food production.
I agree that we should be wary of the food securit issue, but I guess we have overlooked on the food demand side.
I am no food security expert, but little has been said about our wasteful way consuming food. We waste too much good food, in receptions and even in our own house!
Have you ever wondered how many tons of good food is rubbished after each dinner function? A lot. Just visit any joint after a big dinner or luncheon. You will see so much good food being wasted.
These rubbished food can feed an entire orphanage!
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
OF WORLD CUP, SUKMA & PRE-RETIREMENT LEAVE
Strangely they come almost at the same time. I mean the Football World Cup in South Africa, The Malacca 2010 SUKMA and of course my Pre-retirement long leave.
All the events above have its own significance in my life. World cup football, oh everybody just love and can't wait to see all those great goals and poetry in motion with great players like Messi, Ronaldinho and many more!
SUKMA, ah my boy Syazwan will be playing rugby for the second SUKMA. This time he will be playing for Perak instead of Pahang.
And my pre-retirement long leave will start on the 16 June.
The countdown for the three major events have long started. Just cannot wait to see my boy in action, football players playing their best to make sure their country wins and of course to take a break after the long 29 years plus service in DVS!
To Allah I pray that I am blessed with good health, physically and mentally and spiritually too to prepare for the third phase of my life - the golden era (Warga Emas age!)
All the events above have its own significance in my life. World cup football, oh everybody just love and can't wait to see all those great goals and poetry in motion with great players like Messi, Ronaldinho and many more!
SUKMA, ah my boy Syazwan will be playing rugby for the second SUKMA. This time he will be playing for Perak instead of Pahang.
And my pre-retirement long leave will start on the 16 June.
The countdown for the three major events have long started. Just cannot wait to see my boy in action, football players playing their best to make sure their country wins and of course to take a break after the long 29 years plus service in DVS!
To Allah I pray that I am blessed with good health, physically and mentally and spiritually too to prepare for the third phase of my life - the golden era (Warga Emas age!)
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
OVERLY SENSITIVE
I don't know about you, but at this age I tend to be very sensitive and outrageously emotional over small things.
Now I realized why bosses behave the way they did when I was a young officer.
At home I am so easily riled by my wife's small commentaries. Yes, those words about how she has to do everything in the house and about no one giving her a hand. I do offer her help sometimes, but as usual with most men, being overly tired is the most used excuse
She is very very particular about the house being spic and span and will not stop sweeping, mopping and rearranging the house. She always insists that drinking mugs be immediately washed after use, much to our displeasure.
"We'll wash it later." That was our answer.
No, she will not take that for an answer. She wants them in the sink and washed there and then!
The same thing goes to our attire, be it working outfit, school uniforms or even casual wear. She will not have us wear even slightly wrinkled t-shirt!
She is always smartly dressed lady, just ask our neighbours. She puts on her baju kurung even when she goes out to dry out her daily washings!
Well, that's my wife and their mom!
On weekends I would like very much to have my hair dry and not greasy with Brylcream...but she will not have me looking as if I have just woke up from sleep!
At times our feelings are hurt by our actions. She can suddenly has her mood swung into another direction, less desirable direction.
Initially I feel hurt too, but later I realized that I just have to be patient with her. She is tired, dead tired after carrying out her daily chores day in and day out for more than a quarter century now.
We can stop talking to each other for a day or two (never more than three days though!). This morning I took her to the hospital after a silent night between us. I missed my seminar just to be with her.
She was ok. Her blood sugar was a wee bit high but was under control. We exchanged good-bye kisses as I left her for my office.
I still remember my former DG, Dr Ahmad Mustaffa Babjee's wise words: "You two can have small fights...it will be so sweet after such fights!"
Now I realized why bosses behave the way they did when I was a young officer.
At home I am so easily riled by my wife's small commentaries. Yes, those words about how she has to do everything in the house and about no one giving her a hand. I do offer her help sometimes, but as usual with most men, being overly tired is the most used excuse
She is very very particular about the house being spic and span and will not stop sweeping, mopping and rearranging the house. She always insists that drinking mugs be immediately washed after use, much to our displeasure.
"We'll wash it later." That was our answer.
No, she will not take that for an answer. She wants them in the sink and washed there and then!
The same thing goes to our attire, be it working outfit, school uniforms or even casual wear. She will not have us wear even slightly wrinkled t-shirt!
She is always smartly dressed lady, just ask our neighbours. She puts on her baju kurung even when she goes out to dry out her daily washings!
Well, that's my wife and their mom!
On weekends I would like very much to have my hair dry and not greasy with Brylcream...but she will not have me looking as if I have just woke up from sleep!
At times our feelings are hurt by our actions. She can suddenly has her mood swung into another direction, less desirable direction.
Initially I feel hurt too, but later I realized that I just have to be patient with her. She is tired, dead tired after carrying out her daily chores day in and day out for more than a quarter century now.
We can stop talking to each other for a day or two (never more than three days though!). This morning I took her to the hospital after a silent night between us. I missed my seminar just to be with her.
She was ok. Her blood sugar was a wee bit high but was under control. We exchanged good-bye kisses as I left her for my office.
I still remember my former DG, Dr Ahmad Mustaffa Babjee's wise words: "You two can have small fights...it will be so sweet after such fights!"
WEDDING SEASON IS HERE AGAIN
Like always, people here in Malaysia plan their wedding reception so that it will fall during school holidays.
Now that school holidays is coming very soon, and so is wedding invitations.
Last Saturday, that was on 22 May, my wife and I attended two wedding receptions in Kuantan.
First was Dato' Ghani's daughter's wedding reception in Permatang Badak. The Sultanah and Tengku Mahkota of Pahang were the royal guests. I met three fellow sdaras.
Dato' Ghani, the former SS Pahang, was the doyen of Sdaras. I will always make it a point to attend his functions.
Just as we left Dato' Ghani's function, menacing dark rain clouds were up there in Kuantan sky.
We rushed to the other wedding reception in Taman Tas. It was raining hevaily when we arrived. I was flabbergasted when I heard our names were mentioned by the MC as soon as we made it into the tent.
It was Khairudin. His strong voice was recognizable from afar.
On 5 June I have already received ten wedding invitation cards, not to mention my brother-in-laws wedding reception!
Cannot imagine how I can attend all invitations!
Now that school holidays is coming very soon, and so is wedding invitations.
Last Saturday, that was on 22 May, my wife and I attended two wedding receptions in Kuantan.
First was Dato' Ghani's daughter's wedding reception in Permatang Badak. The Sultanah and Tengku Mahkota of Pahang were the royal guests. I met three fellow sdaras.
Dato' Ghani, the former SS Pahang, was the doyen of Sdaras. I will always make it a point to attend his functions.
Just as we left Dato' Ghani's function, menacing dark rain clouds were up there in Kuantan sky.
We rushed to the other wedding reception in Taman Tas. It was raining hevaily when we arrived. I was flabbergasted when I heard our names were mentioned by the MC as soon as we made it into the tent.
It was Khairudin. His strong voice was recognizable from afar.
On 5 June I have already received ten wedding invitation cards, not to mention my brother-in-laws wedding reception!
Cannot imagine how I can attend all invitations!
Friday, May 21, 2010
MY WAY OF LEARNING ENGLISH
"Where did you learn English, Azahar?" That was the question many at Vet. Path. Dept. UGA frequently asked me, after they read my writings, either my routine pathological reports, my papers and even my thesis.
It sounds as if I am blowing my own trumpet. No, it never crosses my mind to brag about my English prowess.
It is just that I myself wonder how on earth a kampung boy like me love English so much that it just comes naturally to me.
Mind you, I spent most of my childhood in rural areas, either in rural Perak or Terengganu.
But, as far as I could remember, I was good in English since from primary school. Still remember exchanging English reading materials with one Secondary school girl by the name of Normah.
From then on my love for English was beyond compare and blossomed into something that I really looked forward very much.
In SDAR I was fortunate to have two volunteer English teachers - one a Voluteer Service teacher from England and the other a Peace Corp teacher from US.
Thus I knew both Queen's as well as American English from the start.
How did I do it? Well in a nut shell there were three ways - reading, writing and listening. You may notice that I never say speaking.
As far as reading is concerned, it started very early in my life. In fact well before I went to school. It was the words written on the first pountain that my father gave me. The words were: Made in USA. You want to know how I read them? I read it as they were spelled in Malay!
Then came newspapers, advertisements and banners. Only when I came to SDAR that I was really exposed to many English books. Back then my name was there in almost all book registration cards. I have read almost all English story books available in the library - I am not kidding.
The books also changed as I grw up. First the books were children books like Three musketeers, Don Quixote and many more; then the Spy books like James Bond, Western novels authored by Louis L"Amour, J.T Edson and many more....
Then came writing. I always love writing Essays, especially those that need our narrative skill - you know the continuing stories. After each essay homework I was always eagerly waiting for the work book to be returned by the teacher.
Why? The teacher would almost always say "Azahar did an excellent work in this topic" Classmates would always gather around me just to have a look at my essay.
My narrating skill did not just in class. It wandered of to one magazine - believe it or not, the Movie News. A few of my short stories did get published in the magazine.
New Straits Times, the Forum section was the other place where I used to send my writing. It is more of my complaints or explanation.
The most controversial letter I wrote was when I complained of the unreasonably low housing allowance for my father. His superiors called him after it came out in the paper. My father just said that it was me who wrote it and not very long after that the allowance was increased!
I was in Form six then.
Many will not believe me when I say television taught me alot about English, especially in understanding spoken English and learning new big English words and phrases.
I was always hooked to tv programmes, even when I was in the final year DVM! All English series, be it detective stories like Kojak, Hawaii Five O, A Team, comedies like All In The Family, dramas like Peyton's Place etc etc I just watched them all.
I was also intrigued with documentaries. Pharses like "it is always human's nature to bend nature to fulfill his goal..." always fascinate me.
Sadly, now the standard of English in school is deteriorating, to say the least.
I hope the authorities will do something quick to stop this and so that we can be proud once again of our citizens' mastery of English.
It sounds as if I am blowing my own trumpet. No, it never crosses my mind to brag about my English prowess.
It is just that I myself wonder how on earth a kampung boy like me love English so much that it just comes naturally to me.
Mind you, I spent most of my childhood in rural areas, either in rural Perak or Terengganu.
But, as far as I could remember, I was good in English since from primary school. Still remember exchanging English reading materials with one Secondary school girl by the name of Normah.
From then on my love for English was beyond compare and blossomed into something that I really looked forward very much.
In SDAR I was fortunate to have two volunteer English teachers - one a Voluteer Service teacher from England and the other a Peace Corp teacher from US.
Thus I knew both Queen's as well as American English from the start.
How did I do it? Well in a nut shell there were three ways - reading, writing and listening. You may notice that I never say speaking.
As far as reading is concerned, it started very early in my life. In fact well before I went to school. It was the words written on the first pountain that my father gave me. The words were: Made in USA. You want to know how I read them? I read it as they were spelled in Malay!
Then came newspapers, advertisements and banners. Only when I came to SDAR that I was really exposed to many English books. Back then my name was there in almost all book registration cards. I have read almost all English story books available in the library - I am not kidding.
The books also changed as I grw up. First the books were children books like Three musketeers, Don Quixote and many more; then the Spy books like James Bond, Western novels authored by Louis L"Amour, J.T Edson and many more....
Then came writing. I always love writing Essays, especially those that need our narrative skill - you know the continuing stories. After each essay homework I was always eagerly waiting for the work book to be returned by the teacher.
Why? The teacher would almost always say "Azahar did an excellent work in this topic" Classmates would always gather around me just to have a look at my essay.
My narrating skill did not just in class. It wandered of to one magazine - believe it or not, the Movie News. A few of my short stories did get published in the magazine.
New Straits Times, the Forum section was the other place where I used to send my writing. It is more of my complaints or explanation.
The most controversial letter I wrote was when I complained of the unreasonably low housing allowance for my father. His superiors called him after it came out in the paper. My father just said that it was me who wrote it and not very long after that the allowance was increased!
I was in Form six then.
Many will not believe me when I say television taught me alot about English, especially in understanding spoken English and learning new big English words and phrases.
I was always hooked to tv programmes, even when I was in the final year DVM! All English series, be it detective stories like Kojak, Hawaii Five O, A Team, comedies like All In The Family, dramas like Peyton's Place etc etc I just watched them all.
I was also intrigued with documentaries. Pharses like "it is always human's nature to bend nature to fulfill his goal..." always fascinate me.
Sadly, now the standard of English in school is deteriorating, to say the least.
I hope the authorities will do something quick to stop this and so that we can be proud once again of our citizens' mastery of English.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Syafiq is recuperating from ILI. The fever, the general malaise and the dyspnoea are gone but the coughing persists. He was scared when he first contracted the disease.
He texted me: "Is ILI fatal? What is ILI dad?"
I told him that it was Influenza Like Illness. His blood tests showed that he was H1N1 negative. Thanks Allah for that. His mom is planning to prepare yellow glutionous rice for that!
Diyana is complaining of sore throat and nausea. At the clinic the doctor said that she was under great stress and strain. Well, may be it was her works, especially her boss.
Syazwan is still in Perak, undergoing centralized training for the coming SUKMA in Malacca. This time around he will be playing for Perak, instead of Pahang.
He lacerated his eyelid in a rugby brawl. It did not require stithches though.
We are ok in our house. I still have that bowel problem though. The gas, the frequent evacuation and of course the hemorrhoids.
In a week's time our house will once again be busy with siblings and relatives who will congregate for Kamal's weddibng reception in his in-laws' house.
In 17 days I will start my long pre-retirement leave. Aziz told me verbally that I got the post, but asked me to wait for the offer letter.
As usual, I am not good at keeping secrets. I soon divulged this supposed-to-be secret to all.
Syazwan said that soon my name will be longer. Syafiq and Diyana congratulated me for my success in securing the job.
Today Mokhtar called asking me of my plan after retirement. He told me that he will be joining UMK this 1 June.
Well, what about me? UDM or UMK? Most probably I will optr for UDM but Azam will surely hate me for this.
Sorry, at this point of time, I will choose the job that is easy for me and does not caues too much stress and strain.
So I choose Universiti Darul Iman!
He texted me: "Is ILI fatal? What is ILI dad?"
I told him that it was Influenza Like Illness. His blood tests showed that he was H1N1 negative. Thanks Allah for that. His mom is planning to prepare yellow glutionous rice for that!
Diyana is complaining of sore throat and nausea. At the clinic the doctor said that she was under great stress and strain. Well, may be it was her works, especially her boss.
Syazwan is still in Perak, undergoing centralized training for the coming SUKMA in Malacca. This time around he will be playing for Perak, instead of Pahang.
He lacerated his eyelid in a rugby brawl. It did not require stithches though.
We are ok in our house. I still have that bowel problem though. The gas, the frequent evacuation and of course the hemorrhoids.
In a week's time our house will once again be busy with siblings and relatives who will congregate for Kamal's weddibng reception in his in-laws' house.
In 17 days I will start my long pre-retirement leave. Aziz told me verbally that I got the post, but asked me to wait for the offer letter.
As usual, I am not good at keeping secrets. I soon divulged this supposed-to-be secret to all.
Syazwan said that soon my name will be longer. Syafiq and Diyana congratulated me for my success in securing the job.
Today Mokhtar called asking me of my plan after retirement. He told me that he will be joining UMK this 1 June.
Well, what about me? UDM or UMK? Most probably I will optr for UDM but Azam will surely hate me for this.
Sorry, at this point of time, I will choose the job that is easy for me and does not caues too much stress and strain.
So I choose Universiti Darul Iman!
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