Stocking, my cat, (remember him?) is coming of age. Can't believe it that he is already sexually matured now.
Yesterday, for the first time I saw him courting a damsel next door. There was no time for romance though. Not that she was not interested or anything like that.
It was just that that bad tomcat spoiled his day. Suddenly, as love started to bloom, there that tomcat was, appearing from no where.
As usual, Stocking, being inexperienced as he was, quickly said good-bye to his newly found love and hurried back into the safety of my house compound.
Earlier that morning, I saw him trying to ambush a magpie robin. He was doing all right in as far as the technique, but it was just that he was still slow. The bird escaped with a few missing tail feathers!
Thursday, January 8, 2009
SOLILOQUY
Suddenly I feel tired, very tired. I am exhausted, burnt-out - call it whatever you want, but I am just that, completely drained.
The work pressure, or to be more exact, the pressure of working understaffed in a state as big as Pahang, finally gets to me.
The anger, frustration and the feeling of being 'step-sonned' and uncared-for by the management that I manage to put under carpet all these while, finally come to surface.
I become hypersensitive and easily riled, even by small things - things that normally I pass without paying much attention. My wife's friendly reminding words suddenly becoming more of nagging and get to my nerves and they often end up into heated and emotional exchange of words between us.
Sulking and silent protests become the norms rather than the exception for me. That is my only way to cool things down. They are often misunderstood though.
Children are getting worried. My youngest keeps on 'sms'ing her sister and brother letting them know what is going on between the two of us. They are worried about us breaking up and leaving them.
I tell them not to worry. It is just that phase of my life. I am aware of it and will not allow it to deteriorate beyond repair. I know the consequences of failing to put things right - the thing that had happened to my parents.
It is just that I am exhausted, both physically and mentally. Like her, I too need love, attention, care, understanding and supporting words, more so now.
I am, after all just a normal human being. I think, after nearly 28 years of service, I need a rest, a long rest. That's why I made that decision. The decision to call it a day at 56 years of age.
Don't you worry what's going to happen after I retire. I won't just lie down in front of tv...I will continue living. I want to do what I like most but so far was unable to do - to write and to teach all that I know to others.
I want to write novels. There are already two in the process and another one is in mind, just ready to be clicked in.
There is no more that ummph that I used to have to do things for my career. There is nothing more that I can attain. I am already knocking against the wall in as far as my career is concerned.
I have written the letter to the DG letting him know about my intention. I hope he agrees and may be he could arrange something for me to help the juniors in the department. Say, it will be good if he could give me a contract work in pathology.
I will have another 18 months to go...may Allah blessed me with continuous good health, sound mind and dedication to obey him till I breathe my last.
AMIN
The work pressure, or to be more exact, the pressure of working understaffed in a state as big as Pahang, finally gets to me.
The anger, frustration and the feeling of being 'step-sonned' and uncared-for by the management that I manage to put under carpet all these while, finally come to surface.
I become hypersensitive and easily riled, even by small things - things that normally I pass without paying much attention. My wife's friendly reminding words suddenly becoming more of nagging and get to my nerves and they often end up into heated and emotional exchange of words between us.
Sulking and silent protests become the norms rather than the exception for me. That is my only way to cool things down. They are often misunderstood though.
Children are getting worried. My youngest keeps on 'sms'ing her sister and brother letting them know what is going on between the two of us. They are worried about us breaking up and leaving them.
I tell them not to worry. It is just that phase of my life. I am aware of it and will not allow it to deteriorate beyond repair. I know the consequences of failing to put things right - the thing that had happened to my parents.
It is just that I am exhausted, both physically and mentally. Like her, I too need love, attention, care, understanding and supporting words, more so now.
I am, after all just a normal human being. I think, after nearly 28 years of service, I need a rest, a long rest. That's why I made that decision. The decision to call it a day at 56 years of age.
Don't you worry what's going to happen after I retire. I won't just lie down in front of tv...I will continue living. I want to do what I like most but so far was unable to do - to write and to teach all that I know to others.
I want to write novels. There are already two in the process and another one is in mind, just ready to be clicked in.
There is no more that ummph that I used to have to do things for my career. There is nothing more that I can attain. I am already knocking against the wall in as far as my career is concerned.
I have written the letter to the DG letting him know about my intention. I hope he agrees and may be he could arrange something for me to help the juniors in the department. Say, it will be good if he could give me a contract work in pathology.
I will have another 18 months to go...may Allah blessed me with continuous good health, sound mind and dedication to obey him till I breathe my last.
AMIN
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
OUR PUBLIC SERVICE
How will you feel when a family just barged into the doctor's room without having to wait for their number being called, just because they were from the same ethnic background?
Or when bundles of forms were passed and collected for processing right in front of your eyes while yours was still with you and not collected for the reason of 'there is no one to process it' excuse?
Worst still when your daughter with a 3.85 CGPA was refused a place in IPTA and yet a daughter of a so-called VVIP with a mediocre 2.8 CGPA got a place and even a scholarship!
I remember a few incidents that happened to me that I think worth telling:
1. I was collecting blood samples of a herd of dairy cattle.
A cow back-kicked a 4X2 plank used to separate the
animals. It flew a few feet into the air and then landed
right smack on my left index finger. The tip of my finger was wide open and blood started to flow from the gash.
I went to see a doctor in Kluang Hospital. Realizing that I
was a doctor, she then added the initial Dr in front of my
name on the treatment card.
I then went to the treatment room for wound suturing. I
saw an old man crying in pain as he was sutured raw. I
shivered at the thought of receiving the same treatment.
A medical assistant then roughly wiped my finger and
began suturing.
Just before the needle went through my skin, from the
corner of my eyes I saw another man pointing something
to him. Realizing that I was a Dr. he immediately stopped
what he was going to do. He then followed what he was
supposed to do in the first place. He put on the drape
around my finger, then he injected local anaesthetics
around my finger, waited a while for it to take effect and
only the he sutured the wound....to be continued
Or when bundles of forms were passed and collected for processing right in front of your eyes while yours was still with you and not collected for the reason of 'there is no one to process it' excuse?
Worst still when your daughter with a 3.85 CGPA was refused a place in IPTA and yet a daughter of a so-called VVIP with a mediocre 2.8 CGPA got a place and even a scholarship!
I remember a few incidents that happened to me that I think worth telling:
1. I was collecting blood samples of a herd of dairy cattle.
A cow back-kicked a 4X2 plank used to separate the
animals. It flew a few feet into the air and then landed
right smack on my left index finger. The tip of my finger was wide open and blood started to flow from the gash.
I went to see a doctor in Kluang Hospital. Realizing that I
was a doctor, she then added the initial Dr in front of my
name on the treatment card.
I then went to the treatment room for wound suturing. I
saw an old man crying in pain as he was sutured raw. I
shivered at the thought of receiving the same treatment.
A medical assistant then roughly wiped my finger and
began suturing.
Just before the needle went through my skin, from the
corner of my eyes I saw another man pointing something
to him. Realizing that I was a Dr. he immediately stopped
what he was going to do. He then followed what he was
supposed to do in the first place. He put on the drape
around my finger, then he injected local anaesthetics
around my finger, waited a while for it to take effect and
only the he sutured the wound....to be continued
HUMAN VERSUS ANIMALS
When a crocodile devoured a man, there will be a massive hunt for that so-called 'evil' man-eater and in our over-zealousness, many innocent crocs are killed for nothing.
When a tiger mauled a man, there will be an automatic hunting party organized by man to hunt down, again, the so-called 'evil' tiger.
When a herd of elephants grazed and destroyed acres of oil palm plantation or banana trees, plantation owners and politicians included will run here and there forcing the relevant authorities to take action.
But, when careless drivers and riders cause thousands (if my fact is right, about 5,000 people die yearly due to road accidents in Malaysia) of people to lose their lives and disable many more, many people are either quiet or start pointing fingers to other things besides themselves.
Why is it in this case, they don't go around hunting the real culprits? Or why don't they hunt down the cars so that there will be no more unnecessary deaths?
Crocodiles and tigers, they kill for food. Elephants destroy plantation also for food. Why? Because it is us who destroy the forests and pollute rivers where they obtain their food.
Man kill millions of animals in the like chickens, ducks, birds, cattle, goat, sheep, camel, fish, prawn, crabs, bivalves daily, not only to eat to survive but to show off their wealth and end up obese and suffering from diseases.
Can you imagine how much good food we waste everyday at buffet tables and in our homes and whereas millions of peole starving and malnourished in Africa?
Farmers in developed countries feed their cattle in feedlots with grains (instead of grass) so that they (the animals) will grow fast and tender. Don't tell me that they don't know that those grains are staple diets of millions of hungry people?
Just you all think about these few points as food for thought in the first week of 2009. Don't you all become overnight vegetarian for this, just don't react but think before you react.
When a tiger mauled a man, there will be an automatic hunting party organized by man to hunt down, again, the so-called 'evil' tiger.
When a herd of elephants grazed and destroyed acres of oil palm plantation or banana trees, plantation owners and politicians included will run here and there forcing the relevant authorities to take action.
But, when careless drivers and riders cause thousands (if my fact is right, about 5,000 people die yearly due to road accidents in Malaysia) of people to lose their lives and disable many more, many people are either quiet or start pointing fingers to other things besides themselves.
Why is it in this case, they don't go around hunting the real culprits? Or why don't they hunt down the cars so that there will be no more unnecessary deaths?
Crocodiles and tigers, they kill for food. Elephants destroy plantation also for food. Why? Because it is us who destroy the forests and pollute rivers where they obtain their food.
Man kill millions of animals in the like chickens, ducks, birds, cattle, goat, sheep, camel, fish, prawn, crabs, bivalves daily, not only to eat to survive but to show off their wealth and end up obese and suffering from diseases.
Can you imagine how much good food we waste everyday at buffet tables and in our homes and whereas millions of peole starving and malnourished in Africa?
Farmers in developed countries feed their cattle in feedlots with grains (instead of grass) so that they (the animals) will grow fast and tender. Don't tell me that they don't know that those grains are staple diets of millions of hungry people?
Just you all think about these few points as food for thought in the first week of 2009. Don't you all become overnight vegetarian for this, just don't react but think before you react.
OF HOGGING, FLASHING AND GLUED -TO- THE- RIGHT- LANE CARS
My blood is always boiling whenever another car, more so if it was (always is) a Kancil or a much smaller car than mine, hogging my car and flashing high beam light to me forcing on me to give way.
It is not that I am too egoistic to allow smaller cars to overtake me, it is just that I don't like the way they force on me to pass. I will normally go to the left willingly if I saw another car speeding fast behind me.
The attitude or more exact, the arrogance of the driver that irritates me.
I don't know about your personal experience, for me I always observe that most drivers of luxury cars do not flash their high beam lights when they want to overtake another car, they just follow closely and most often the car in front will voluntarily go to the left once there is a space.
It is just a sign of respect. Remember, respect has to be earned and it is always reciprocal - one will be respected if one respects others who deserve to be respected.
This morning I heard a deejay of an English radio asking for listeners' opinion on whether we can judge a person by the car he/she drives.
It is somewhat related to what I am discussing. Yes, we can, but still it depends very much on how one drives!
A driver driving a luxury car should be respected if he drives properly, taking care of the safety of his or her fellow road-users. It is just similar to what is called pecking order in the animal world - a junior respecting a senior member of the animal group and in this car business, a cheaper car respecting a more expensive car!
But, if he or she drives recklessly, paying no attention to thers on the road, he or she does not deserve to be respected, no matter how expensive the car is.
Next to flashing cars, I also despise drivers that always drive on the right lane come what may. He or she drives as if he/she is the only driver around, never bother to look into the mirror to see an unnecessary long line of cars lagging behind him/her.
They should also be compounded as well, I think. Why? Because the frustration caused by the long wait normally will cause drivers to overtake even when the risk of a head-on collision is there.
It is not that I am too egoistic to allow smaller cars to overtake me, it is just that I don't like the way they force on me to pass. I will normally go to the left willingly if I saw another car speeding fast behind me.
The attitude or more exact, the arrogance of the driver that irritates me.
I don't know about your personal experience, for me I always observe that most drivers of luxury cars do not flash their high beam lights when they want to overtake another car, they just follow closely and most often the car in front will voluntarily go to the left once there is a space.
It is just a sign of respect. Remember, respect has to be earned and it is always reciprocal - one will be respected if one respects others who deserve to be respected.
This morning I heard a deejay of an English radio asking for listeners' opinion on whether we can judge a person by the car he/she drives.
It is somewhat related to what I am discussing. Yes, we can, but still it depends very much on how one drives!
A driver driving a luxury car should be respected if he drives properly, taking care of the safety of his or her fellow road-users. It is just similar to what is called pecking order in the animal world - a junior respecting a senior member of the animal group and in this car business, a cheaper car respecting a more expensive car!
But, if he or she drives recklessly, paying no attention to thers on the road, he or she does not deserve to be respected, no matter how expensive the car is.
Next to flashing cars, I also despise drivers that always drive on the right lane come what may. He or she drives as if he/she is the only driver around, never bother to look into the mirror to see an unnecessary long line of cars lagging behind him/her.
They should also be compounded as well, I think. Why? Because the frustration caused by the long wait normally will cause drivers to overtake even when the risk of a head-on collision is there.
Monday, January 5, 2009
AMALIA, NOW A SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENT
Amalia, in her brand new secondary school uniform of white baju and turqoise baju kurung, was jittery about going to the secondary school for the first time.
She chose SMK Sultan Ismail as her school of choice despite of offers from a Sports school in Setiu and from SMK Chukai, a Premier school.
She was steadfast in her decision. Though many of her classmates who were supposed to be in SMKSI have left for greener pastures in other more prestigious schools, she sticks to her decision.
The registration process was fast - except for the rather long speech by the school's PTA Chairman.
She was placed in Form 1A1. My hope of getting her in a more multi-ethnic class was dashed when I saw all her classmates will be Malays.
Now there is one big problem looming ion her way. Just like her sister and brothers before her, SMKSI is out of the way from our house.
There is not many school vans ferrying students from our area to that school. Sending her to school is not a problem, but fetching her back from school is.
I had to go from one van to another in front of the school searching for one that would take her. I found none, but a van driver told me that there was a van from Binjai that takes student from our area to SMKSI.
Only at eleven that we finally get one. She, the van's driver, agreed to send her back from school. Amalia was all smiling hearing the good news.
During the orientation day, she overheard a Fiver telling her friends that she, a Form one student, was taller than most of them!
Good luck Amalia. May you continue the tradition of excellence set by your elder sister and brother.
She chose SMK Sultan Ismail as her school of choice despite of offers from a Sports school in Setiu and from SMK Chukai, a Premier school.
She was steadfast in her decision. Though many of her classmates who were supposed to be in SMKSI have left for greener pastures in other more prestigious schools, she sticks to her decision.
The registration process was fast - except for the rather long speech by the school's PTA Chairman.
She was placed in Form 1A1. My hope of getting her in a more multi-ethnic class was dashed when I saw all her classmates will be Malays.
Now there is one big problem looming ion her way. Just like her sister and brothers before her, SMKSI is out of the way from our house.
There is not many school vans ferrying students from our area to that school. Sending her to school is not a problem, but fetching her back from school is.
I had to go from one van to another in front of the school searching for one that would take her. I found none, but a van driver told me that there was a van from Binjai that takes student from our area to SMKSI.
Only at eleven that we finally get one. She, the van's driver, agreed to send her back from school. Amalia was all smiling hearing the good news.
During the orientation day, she overheard a Fiver telling her friends that she, a Form one student, was taller than most of them!
Good luck Amalia. May you continue the tradition of excellence set by your elder sister and brother.
WHAT A WEIRD COINCIDENCE
I was in Ward 5 Kuala Lumpur Hospital trying to get my son, Syafiq, transferred to Kemaman Hospital.
Syafiq injured his neck when he slipped and fell on the staircase of his apartment. Strange, but according to him, he had stepped on a pool of air sireh spat (Betel nut) out by a Bangladeshi resulting in him losing his balance and fell; his neck hit hard against the staircase railing.
Luckily, no bone was broken. There was quite a severe soft tissue injury though.
Before he was allowed to go home, he had to get a soft neck collar from a supplier in Ampang to replace the one that he was wearing.
After a long wait (more than three hours) there they were bringing with them three pairs of soft neck collars.
Wasting no time, Mr Suip tried the collars on Syafiq's neck. The Large one fitted well.
I was looking at him while he was doing his job. He was kind of very familiar - his facial as well as physical structure reminded me of someone that I knew. But I just could not place exactly who.
He gave me his business card and left. I looked at it and saw his name - Suip bin Ahmad.
Then only it came to me. He was a mirror image of my friend when I was in the States, Nordin bin Ahmad.
I quickly 'sms'ed him asking him whether he had a brother by the name of Nordin bin Ahmad.
It took him quite a while to answer my sms, a full 24 hours to be exact.
He said he did have a brother by the name of Nordin Ahmad, but he had passed away since he was still a toddler.
We were all flabbergasted at this strange almost 'twilight zone' in nature coincuidence.
Was it another case of pelanduk dua serupa (direct translation - twin mousedeer) that I had spoken of before?
Syafiq injured his neck when he slipped and fell on the staircase of his apartment. Strange, but according to him, he had stepped on a pool of air sireh spat (Betel nut) out by a Bangladeshi resulting in him losing his balance and fell; his neck hit hard against the staircase railing.
Luckily, no bone was broken. There was quite a severe soft tissue injury though.
Before he was allowed to go home, he had to get a soft neck collar from a supplier in Ampang to replace the one that he was wearing.
After a long wait (more than three hours) there they were bringing with them three pairs of soft neck collars.
Wasting no time, Mr Suip tried the collars on Syafiq's neck. The Large one fitted well.
I was looking at him while he was doing his job. He was kind of very familiar - his facial as well as physical structure reminded me of someone that I knew. But I just could not place exactly who.
He gave me his business card and left. I looked at it and saw his name - Suip bin Ahmad.
Then only it came to me. He was a mirror image of my friend when I was in the States, Nordin bin Ahmad.
I quickly 'sms'ed him asking him whether he had a brother by the name of Nordin bin Ahmad.
It took him quite a while to answer my sms, a full 24 hours to be exact.
He said he did have a brother by the name of Nordin Ahmad, but he had passed away since he was still a toddler.
We were all flabbergasted at this strange almost 'twilight zone' in nature coincuidence.
Was it another case of pelanduk dua serupa (direct translation - twin mousedeer) that I had spoken of before?
Pelanduk (Mousedeer)I then 'sms'ed Nordin telling him the weird story. He too thought that it was a case of pelanduk dua serupa.
How wonderful will it be if Mr Suip and Nordin could meet face to face!
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