Quick hello

I have noticed once again that I was not blogging regularly. I am simply exhausted the moment I am writing this. Can't even recall what happened last week. But I am sure the week was not an easy one.

Just a quick hi and I am going to bed very soon tonight. Nite guys!

What a day...

So, I am very the tired now (pardon the grammar, it's done on purpose. The author has gone through quite alot of emotion today). Yes indeed. I woke up late today, thanks to the nice weather and rest. Nevermind, still on time to work. Then to find myself was soooo busy at work.

Suddenly a call came asking me to go to the meeting at another town. I was like !@#$%. Ok, since the day can be compromised, I did change the schedule and went to the meeting. Skipped lunch and rest. Soon I arrived.

What? I have to do a presentation in the meeting? !@#$%. Nevermind, I know the case. The staff was like suddenly recovered from a heart attack. What? You wanna present at the meeting? Go ahead. No No, thanks for doing it, she said. I was like !@#$%.

Then, it was nice to see all the colleagues from different substations, as well as from other depts. So, there went the presentation. Very uneventful coz I could justify things that we did. Then came the discussion time. Oh yea, the hypoglycaemic attack took over the course. So, it was a lashing out session, ahahaha. I was blabbering all the way, mind you. And eyes were popping out. I was making some bold statements but I guess it was part of the reality and frustration that the job requires. So there were a few bosses around. I dunno why but I kept on and on and on but I knew how to be just so courteous as well. Yes, I agree with you but.... again we ended being sooo compromising with each other. Yes, everyone agrees with each other but... ahahha..wat a nice way to discuss matters. Then people came up to me, one by one, waa...I feel you, I feel you. Yea, rite.

Anyways, the headache set in during the travelling back time. I was simply tired as well. Didn't finish the dinner (I don't usually do that) but I can't afford to puke. Lulu, Mimi and Bubu later came along and tried to convince me to eat again. Sure, don't worry, this food is 'ngam' for you. COme on, you can do it. I was like, you don't really wanna see a puking man on this table. So, I left early coz I was really feeling unwell now.

Ok, need to go beddie now. Can't find the right meds. But I shall be fine.

Careless diner

The lion dance practice is still heard until this hour. Guess they really have to practise hard before the coming CNY. Nothing much special. Just realized that it has been a few days back since I had posted something on the blog.

Besides the crappy morning with a stomach upset, the evening dinner didn't help either. Pring prang prang....there went the food splattered all over the floor. Kudos again to the careless foolishness, or foolish carelessness, or whatever. How could I be so careless when the stomach was so hungry and yearning for the freshly fried fish? And just within a second, the dinner was gone. Err.... the story afterwards, ..you won't wanna know. So, let's keep it a mistery, ahaha...

Ok, it's time for another rest. Until then, cheers and enjoy the working days ahead!

Break-in

The moment I received the news at work, I was literally stunned for a moment. 5mins perhaps while in the midst of discussing something with a client. The silence was like so unusual. While I was scratching my head and there were 101 questions that I wanted to ask, I went just speechless over the phone. I couldn't do anything much. I am faraway now at work. The police was at home investigating and relatives were around. I could hear their voices in the background.

I was stunned. The client looked at me. She was even worried now for my sudden silence. The brain suddenly stopped thinking. I didn't know where our conversation paused. I had no idea how to continue with her. I just didn't know and not motivated. I needed time for myself. So, I told her I would be seeing her again with a later date. The assistant in front was quiet as well. She didn't dare to ask of the sudden change of atmosphere.

Already I was tired in the morning doing talks and then skipped lunch and overslept during lunch time, I was simply exhausted. Why? Why the house? In broad day-light somemore. How come there were no one seeing it? Or simply listening to the loud bang at the lock? I am beginning to be a lil paranoid. The place is no longer safe. There's no place safe even at your own home. At night some Mat rempit will be showcasing their hazardous rides. The nightmarket has in fact lured alot of outsiders to the once quiet neighbourhood.

Because of development, a place once called home becomes so commercialized. I barely could recognize the place everytime I was back. Probably it's time to move. Who says development is always good. Crime rate is increasing. Isn't that a sign for the authority to buck up the security? Once again, slowly I exhale.....

PS: Latest update. The first break-in on Sunday was not a success one. Last week, the neighbour's car got stolen. Another neighbour's wheel was stolen as well. The neighbour behind was broke into as well. Something has definitely gone wrong... Can we at least try to break the cycle pls...

Single mothers

Suddenly I just feel like noting this piece of thought before going to bed tonight. This afternoon I met a single young mother to-be. We had quite a chat. I am slowly thinking that maybe I am quite interested in counseling. Not that I have patience, but the feeling of gaining people's trust and alleviating their sufferings can be so ?satisfying (that's not really the word to describe) ...?noble/humane (just put your own words here,ahaha)

So, she cried in front of me, a few times. She hardly could finish her sentence but I let her do it on her own pace despite my busy schedule. Sometimes, life can be difficult. Sometimes, the result was not really expected. But past being past. She might not be a good girl but what had fallen on to her, she had to deal with the consequences by herself. At such a young age, I doubted if she understands the implications.

But I was there, listening attentively. At one point, I asked her stop crying and look into my eyes. By that, she started to concentrate telling me and not wandering away. I told myself, I cannot be judgmental. If I would, then I shouldn't be listening, or even entertain her. But I chose to learn from her and share her feelings. The thing I am so concern about single mothers is that whatever the decisions the young adults have made gives a big implications towards the unborn.

The unborn are innocent. And if the mothers choose to keep them, then they should be able to plan by now how to raise the kids in future. But many young mothers are frequently hit by stigmas in the society. Some even hid their kids in order to avoid discrimination and hoping to get a job. Some are disowned by the families. I just don't think the GXX is doing enough for these mothers. We need more than money to build their life. We have so many single mothers went unnoticed everyday.

Before Anna left, I told her, even if the whole world disown her, at least she has a friend here listening to her. And also I am so glad to have a capable friend who is a mother figure and willingly accept the challenge to share with me the experience of making friends with all these young mothers.

Ok, and I am supposed to be in bed now. Until then, dream on...

Welcome to Singapore Part 1

So, now I have decided to post the trip to the Lion's City part by part. That way would be easier for me to recap as well as to describe the events with some pics taken then.

Merlion

We left the country via road trip in the early morning and arrived at noon. The moment we got down from the bus, we were greeted with warm shower!!! literally shower from the sky! What a start, ahaha... Nevermind, we sought refuge at a nearby temple and later continued our journey to meet Mab at the ?Lavender MRT (or was it Bugis). We then hailed to the hostel via the feeder bus. The first thing in the mind was to search for the truth if there was any rubbish on the road. And yes, there was but not that much la.

Along the busy street (still can't beat the jam here!)

Feeder bus

Nevermind. It wasn't a hard time to find our hostel coz it was located near the Little India, literally in the heart of the city. By the way, let me remind again that this is a backpacking and adventurous trip, unlike those honeymooning. So we got a great deal of a hostel here and it was really clean and the beds were sooo nice to sleep on. Anyways, our mission was to travel more and sleep less, so that didn't bother much.

The cosy bed

We were supposed to go to the Orchard Road but ended up at Tanjong Pagar. Ayoyo... Anyways, the road system is well organized and even it's during peak hours, the traffic is still tolerable. By the way, the double decker buses are everywhere. So, we missed a stop and decided to get to Tanjong Pagar instead to watch the Sentosa island as well as to have dinner at that VivoCity Mall. Big mall and very nice scenery. The food was very typical asian cuisine and the range is between SGD 4 to SGD5 for a decent meal.

View of Sentosa Island

People were busy taking pics while we took the opportunity to window shop a lil bit. If the currency is not to be converted, well I guess a dollar to a dollar, it would not be too expensive living in S'pore. People look very sophisticated and really like how people present themselves in public, much of a style and fashion. Seldom see ah Beng on the street, real one!

Pretty Xmas tree

Then we proceeded to Marina Bay which is up north above Tanjong Pagar. Took the right MRT but ended up at a construction site at Marina Bay. Maybe a few more years we will see something there. Back track to, err....pardon my memory ya. Just a stop before Marina Bay, we then came to the river cruise. Very beautiful Xmas trees around the big and gigantic buildings dressed with beautiful lightings. We walked along the cruise and found ourselves under the Fullerton Hotel, once was the headquarter of the post office if I was right la. Very beautiful mansion like building, classy! Just the sceneries, we were already captivated.

The Fullerton Hotel just across the river. Beaucoup!

The Esplanade at night

We moved on to the Merlion at night, in case you are confused Merlion=Mermaid+Lion, the famous figure in Spore. Night scenery is pretty and yes, we went back during the day just to look at the difference and I like both! Alot of people, alot of expats. Very classy area, nearby an esplanade, very assessible, unlike those, ehem.... somewhere the white elephant lies. The culture of educating about art and culture is so happening. Some concerts are free for admission. The place is very well maintained.

The subway to Marina Bay

Along Orchard road..

The night was still young, so we hailed again to the popular street, Jalan Geylang! Durians are like so the very big!! Aromatizing (if such word exists). Fresh fruits are sold on the streets and they are so the fresh!!! We stopped at a mamak stall to have our supper. Everyone was like so tired, but hey, I dun mind! Hehe...coz we got to spend to the fullest of our time there.

Geylang street

Then we took a cab, not too expensive though, around SGD2.80 for the start and slowly increase as we move by. So, if to divide among 4 would be around ....mmm 2bucks each around the city of coz. We arrived our hostel, and find our bed so nice to lie on. The aircond was just nice and we slept throughout the night so soundly. Or was it just me and Ray? Coz someone obviously putting on cream before I shut my eyes at night and the first thing in the morning I woke up, that fella was still putting on cream on the body, ?for the morning session i guess. Wahahaha...

Arts in the subway. At least spaces are not wasted. Unlike some other places..ehem

Stay tune to what we had the next travelling day. For sure it was more exciting!

Thalassaemia Gathering

Yesterday we saw again the biannual celebration of the Thalassaemic kids in town. Celebrated with joy and laughter, it's another event to remind us about these lil kids who were born with Thalasemia. Thalassaemia, a word from the Greek, Thalassa simply meaning 'sea'. It is an inherited disease and estimated to live 1 in 20 of the population in the country, with a higher incidence over the east part. Thalassaemia (Thal) can be simply divided into carrier and major. Major requiring regular blood transfusions while the carrier state remain undiagnosed and living among the population. Without blood test, one could not easily know the status of the carrier, which again if both parents were undiagnosed/diagnosed carrier of this gene, have a 25% chance of having a Thal major child and a 50% of chance of getting carrier baby with the remaining 25% normal child.


The unfortunate Thal major children of course will live a life in out the hospital due to regular blood transfusion as frequent as 2-weekly not mentioning enduring the needle prick sensation. They also will need supplement of desferral, an iron chelating solution to excrete the excess iron which is accumulated in the body as a result of multiple blood transfusion. If the excess iron left accumulated in the body, it will cause alot of harm as it would be deposited on the multiple vital organs in the body and surrenders to malfunction which will ultimately result in death. The desferral in the meantime available in oral and injectable form but due to expensive cost, most are on injectable form which requires 5-6 days a week. Imagine poking yourself everyday and you would know why you won't like it.


Let's move back to the event. The kids were so involved and we were literally absorbed into their world. Being shy outside the real world, they exposed their hidden talent during this very day. They started singing songs, dancing, then we proceeded to the gift giving ceremony, photo-taking, luncheon and then the meeting. I am part of the local Thalassaemia society and one of the committees. Being so absorbed with work, sometimes event like this lets me sit back and give me sometime to see things at other perspective and work on things that I might not realize happening around me. It just requires very little of my time but makes a huge difference to others. Doesn't that sound like a good deal?


The committee is planning for a blood donation drive for the public next month at a sponsored avenue in a bigger city. The drive plans to fetch as many bloods as possible for these kids here to replenish the depleted bloods in the bank. We have been facing a real shortage of bloods in the whole country and that is why, if everyone got screened for thalassaemia, the incidence of having thalassaemia major children might be reduced as this is a preventable genetic disease.


When the pictures during their previous trip to the zoo were displayed, there was one when Doz whispered to his fellow friend next to him, she's gone already. Liz passed away in the beginning of last year while Lenny few months ago due to the complications of iron overload. This group of people have been playing together and from his remark, death is not a question anymore. Perhaps he understood that this word can never escape his life and that gives me the impression that he will live his life happy today no matter what. Can the normal people like us face this bravely as they could? But one thing for sure, we can prevent this from happening to the unborn child if we go for the test today. I have tested, have you? For more information, click here.

Small talk with the driver

So, I was travelling today with the driver to another town for a function. The scheduled event was at 2pm but the rain was soooo heavy that I fell asleep until 1.30pm during lunch break. Thinking of asking the driver to come over to fetch rather than going to the office but later decided to meet him in the office coz something were left in the office that I needed for the event.

The rain was like so non-stop since don't-know how many days ago. If it wasn't gonna abort anytime soon, we would be expecting another flood. No, pls don't happen before the holidays arrived k. The wind was blowing so hard outside. So I drove to the office and met the driver there. We were both drenched in the rain. The weather was just so cold that we didn't have the mood to even talk. It was a silent journey as I was also preparing mentally for the talk that I was gonna present at the function.

The people who turned out were more than I expected. Wow, and from far I could see the old colleague, Eva; had not been seeing her for quite sometime since the last community camp we had. Saw another few familar faces as well. I was invited to give a talk and delivered in front of the unfamiliar crowd. It went well. And after was the catching up with my fellow colleagues.

Then, the driver came and we were heading home. The driver En.Mer is a Malay Muslim. We have 2 drivers and he is quite attached to me in the sense that he was always there to offer to send me whenever I was on the move. He didn't mind if working overtime albeit my unpredictable travelling hours. We used to chat alot even though he is 3 decades older than me.

Mer : I just don't understand why some people create havoc there on who has the right to name God when here we could live so peacefully.

Me : Totally agree.

Mer : These are the acts of extremists. People here are more relaxed and tolerant.

Me : True, we have the mosque right in front, and the church at the opposite while the temple is just a stone throw away and I don't see people protesting here and there.

Mer : Right. At one point the name was allowed, then not allowed, then allowed by the court later disallowed by the gov.

Me : Don't ask me why but this can only happen here, ahahaha...

Mer : There's no harm using same name. We are all alike, human. Why do we start to segregate each other when we can have so much in common.

Me : !!!!

Wa...if someone who didn't get into the college can think like that, I certainly doubt what has the education system produced of the educated ones. Is it that the more intelligent the people are, the more complex and demanding the people will be? Thought for the day!

PS: I always find so much easier to talk to people like this... Simple but rational

The wake of the Haitian earthquake

While we are here busy choosing what to name God, there are thousands out there who struggle to live the catastrophic earthquake in Haiti.

In case you don't read the news, tens of thousands were feared dead and many were believed to be still trapped alive in the rubble of the major 7.0 magnitude quake that hit Haiti's capital on Tuesday.

To recap the geographical location of Haiti, it's a French speaking Caribbean country and along with Dominican Republic, it occupies the island of Hispaniola. Even though I have very little knowledge of this country, but I feel for the people because deep down, we are all human. And nobody choose to be in a situation like this.


"They sing because they want God to do something. They want God to help them. We all do," said Hotel Villa Creole employee Dermene Duma, who lost four relatives.-quote thestar.com.my. However there is a big struggle back here if all religions are believing in the same God. Why there must be so many restrictions as to how name a God. Can't God be God and only called God? Is it the right of the human to have God named? Maybe some people have nothing much to do in life. Why not listen to these wailing souls rather than the shoutings of who has the right to name God. And try to extend hands to these poor souls.


Religious group protest on issues regarding naming God. So, they want the exclusive right in naming "their" God.










Make things right if not better. Having said that, we still have a long way to go. It breaks the heart to see people suffer. The condolence go out to the people who suffered in the recent Haitian earthquake. Moment of silence....

People smile when they are happy

Besides the crappy pc, the Sunday morning was a calm one. Did the laundry and house cleaning. Maklumla, was away for quite sometime. There wasn't much on the news today. It's a good time for us all to reflect on things that happened not only around us, but within ourselves.

Finally Monic got her husband's consent to get admitted to the hospital. It is really a big relief. She is a foreigner who is married to another foreign labourer here. She was diagnosed to have a serious medical problem and was advised for admission in view of the complications that might arise as well as her unborn child. This is her first pregnancy and she's not young. In her culture, the husband makes decision and due to financial problems, she had to adhere to the husband's decision not to seek further medical treatment. It was rather appalling. Money vs. life, and the husband chose the former.

I couldn't blame on his decision, they are poor peasants who came all the way to get a job. That's why I say, life is sometimes so trying. When people don't need to pay, they take things for granted. But people like Monic whose basic rights were taken away in her own homeland, more and more problems hit this poor lady even in this greener land. A very big Kudos to all the staff who made the effort all out to help this pair of HUMAN, and finally she's in safe hand.

Mary came yesterday with her newborn, Mos. Following behind her was the proud father. Mos is the first child in the family and he's a SON! A product of intermarriage, I could see the beaming father who replied YES, when I non-nonchalantly joking saying: so you got a BOY! Last month, he brought us all some packet drinks to celebrate the happy birth of their first son in the family, which he'd always wanted since he is the only male in the family. It's always nice to see people happy.

Hmm.. what else. I'd want to blog a lil' on the recent trip to S'pore but I am still waiting for the pics from the friend. Until then, enjoy the weekend!

We are on the world map once again!

H'py New Year! And I decided to break the silence once again. It is indeed very weird to greet the new year with unpleasant news. I won't make any comments but just highlighting some news that have been bothering us for the past one week.

The pc decided to crash last weekend deterring me from reading news online albeit being reformatted many times (more than 5times) and still it appears unstable. That's not really the main story.

Waking up in the morning and reading the news about the situation that happened a few days ago regarding the attack on 3 churches in the country amid tensions over some religious conflicts is definitely not appetizing. A friend yesterday smsed me during dinner time, saying that there was a lil chaos in the city where cars were destroyed when people were having prayers all over the country at time of this.

We have once again put ourselves on the map of the world. I have so far found 3 international news tabloids reporting about the events regarding the protests in several areas against the court overturning the "Allah" ban, the attack on 4 churches and smashed windscreens on cars displaying Christians symbols in the suburb of Bangsar. The CNN, the BBC and Al-Jazeera.

I feel for the people, and my heart goes all out to support peace.

As on my own updates, I am doing fine. Work is a lil busy compared to the usual due to my absence at work during the holiday seasons. But that's ok. It's manageable and I learnt to become more patient. I am creating harmony within myself as well as with the surroundings. It's time for us to grow wiser in this new year.

Until then, keep tabs and have a pleasant weekend!