AF7 Starts Again

It has been quite difficult having no internet at home. Updating my FB and the blog in a coffee shop with Wi-Fi is such a fuss…I can even memorized the price of the drinks like the coffee, milo or even the can drinks. On the second thought, maybe I should ask for a night shift job to get a free Wi-Fi and a glass of hot tea. Last Saturday I went out with my fiancé to the photo studio to select the final pictures to be put in our photo album. Later on, the whole family went to Tabuan Jaya for lunch. I had my laksa Sarawak; it’s the 2nd for that week. Around noon time, Snah and I went to visit our new home to do some gardening. She planted some chilies. The green and red ones. Gosh, the rain was so heavy and we need to stop half way. That evening the whole family had a delicious home made bi-hun soup. Ya, I had 2 big bowls of it! Yummy. The top event for that night was the Akademi Fantasia 7. No football instead we watch an entertaining life music. I was really hoping to be entertained that night since ASTRO claimed that they have chosen the best 14 out of 9000 candidates! Oklah, I want to comment a bit on some of the presentations since I too, once the premier AF fanatic. (A daring confession?).
I won’t complain about the new principal for she was chosen by the majority. She had delivered her mission clearly and it is her duty to ensure her sub ordinates to transfer the mission down to the students with 101% effort. I’ll become pissed off if the teachers and the students fail to do or follow the mission because of their own stupidity, lazy, bongok and unnecessary emotional grief! So teachers, please do your duty according to the guideline and students, learn, practice, apply and excel!
Here’s my two cents on last week’s concert. I always like to be BIAS when doing this unless there are other singers with the x-factor that can wow me only then I’ll forget the spirit of Sarawak Boleh. I only know that Claudia Geres is my neighbor through my brother. I have a friend by the name of Leslie Geres whom worked with the Sarawak Times news paper and he lives just on the other lane from ours. He is a singer and he sings beautifully. Believe it or not I only realized that they were related to each other only today… Hahaha! Silly of me. But Claudia needs to find her own identity else she’ll become the gossip material of cheap media in the market. To me, she won’t stay long because there are 3 Sarawakians whom need the votes from the local. Of course, one (finally 2) of them must be voted out in order to have a Sarawakian as the next AF champion. Between Claudia, Hafiz and Aishah, at the moment, Aishah and Hafiz are my favourite. Actually I favour for Hafiz. I was a little bit pissed off when he was first time being introduced thru another programmed hosted by Jimmy. Hafiz and his whole family look irritating and I was like, YARABIIII HABIBI and then told myself, out he goes!!!! I never knew he could sing like that. I fell for his voice pulak that night! Or was that song that mesmerized me? Anyway, good job Hafiz. I hope you will win this AF7 and to be the 1st Sarawakian to have the apartment in Melaka with Stacy as your left neighbor while Mila on your right side but far far away from the Raja SMS’s apartment. No offence please. Next week, please indulge me again. Not to have any overall favourite yet, but I keen to say that Hafiz won last night!

What were the ‘’flaw Vs Ok’’ on that night?
- Too much of Adlin declaring himself as engaged Vs His remarkable comments which made the other sounds unreasonable.
- Edrie self-proud comment on selecting the right semi-finalist over and over again Vs the semi-finalist really could sing with mouth open wide
- Dato Kt Ib was so Ms Nice and mother theresa like which is so at the wrong place and at the wrong time Vs She praises the Sarawakian as a whole (tho I can’t sing, I feel I can, that night)
- No AF song Menuju Puncak dance Vs the opening dance was superb!
- No Gimmick or tag lines Vs Padan muka Hafiz - Sabar Hafiz, I suppot you….huhu…

Cost Saving

Last Thursday I took a half day annual leave. I was thinking of having lunch at the Mc Donald since they have the special offer which is worth of your money. Actually I have so many things to do on that day and I don’ want to waste my time lining up with the rest in Mc Donald. I ended up at a coffee shop eating a bowl of delicious Laksa Sarawak! After the fatty lunch, I went to the Celcom shop, just next to the coffee shop. I was thinking of cutting of my internet line, for cost saving indeed. ‘Sir, you need to pay the balance of RM117.00 so that we can proceed to your request’. Damn it! I said to myself… what kind of service is this even the moment that you want to stop their service; they still want you to pay something! Lesson learnt! Never be a ‘Nice Guy’ when some one or some company is selling you their products. Do create tantrums and request extra services to make sure that a service is worth of your money. Yes, understand and apply your customer right! After that, I went to the CNI shop to do my monthly shopping. I’m surely getting my bonus this month. Not so much, but at least it can top up my monthly income.
My final destination was to MayBank. Actually I didn’t want to do this since the ASB gave me yearly bonus at the end of the year, but I have to since it is a loan basis. ‘Sir, you have to pay some amount to pay of the insurance’ ‘How am I going to pay it? That’s the reason I’m cutting of this loan because I have not enough budget to pay this every month!’ She kept quiet while I too, was hopping the fire alarm to trigger so that I can just disappear from there. I left after signing the agreement. Since It is just 1:20pm and I still have around 10 minutes from the parking coupon, I did some window shopping at the Sarawak Plaza. The last time I went there was last December when my brother Andy and I were searching for a train to be put under our Christmas tree. Sarawak Plaza really had a great make over. It looks bigger and more sophisticated!
I reached my car and found out 2 parking summons were on the front wiper! What? It’s just 1:29pm and why did they summoned me? I abruptly brought that pink sheets to the small counter where people pay tickets or buy parking coupons. ‘Kak, could you please check is this correct or not?’ I was nearly blown up but still have the passion. ‘Betul lah ni’, she answered back positively. ‘What? Camana boleh betul ni?’ It is just 1:30pm!’ I made my voice higher and recheck the time on my wrist watch. ‘Gosh, it’s 2:30pm’ I said to myself. Oh, I poked wrongly, I should have poked number 2, but I poked no 1 instead. ‘Sorry lah kak’, Bukan slalu bertemu saya pun’… immediately I went off from the booth! Another lesson learnt: Be careful when you are poking the parking coupon. Double check with the time and date to avoid summons!
Since my salary is 14% cut off by the company, I know that I am doing the right thing to cut of my monthly spending That night, since there was AF7 to entertain me, I was not lonely without the internet!

To tired of being excited

I have this problem where when I am so excited for an incoming event, on that day, I am no more excited about it. It always happens to me. For an example when I found out that I got the chance to travel to Europe fully sponsored, 2 months before the trip, I was the happiest person in the family. But when the trip was just around the corner, I tend to slower down a bit and finally, it became dull. No more excitement, as if I live in London pulak! Another fine example was when we were waiting for our new house finish being renovated, I was so excited and every night we talk and plan about the house decorations, but when the day we moved in; I lost the energy because I was so tired of being excited.

I don’t know whether there are a scientific explanations or medical term to describe this or is it a kind of sickness that can be cure. So since my wedding is coming in 2 months time, I need to control myself of being over excited. I learn from Physical chemistry that the excited electron would jump to a higher band if the energy released is there but it will go down to a lower band when there’s energy lose! In the morning of my wedding day, I want to be excited, look handsome and charming to my fiancé, I don’t want to quarrel with anyone, I don’t want to hate people, I want to be myself and not Brad Pitt, I will eat with my fingers if I want to, I want my brothers and sisters to be very happy, I don’t want to be pushed to do something which makes me look stupid even for few minutes and this list is applied to my fiancé too. Sounds selfish? Why not! It’s only a one whole day request lists! Obviously I don’t want to be like unexcited electron…

I just came back from tHe Spring after having a dinner with Kenny, my ex-classmate from primary school. I picked him up from the hotel around 7.30pm. I must thank the Face Book because we got re-connected from there. People changed when they aged. Same goes to my buddy. He is getting bald and chubby. Thank God I still have a set of thick hair. But I’m chubby lah. So since the dinner was on him, I quickly think of all the sumptuous foods which are available in Kuching. I want to eat like a king(kong) tonight, I whispered deep in my heart. Pusing punya pusing… gawd! Is there any clean food outlet in Kuching? Every shops seemed to be closed after 8:30pm. Or, maybe it’s due to the rain that made the shop owner to close down early? Finally we ended up at the Manhattan Fish Market Restaurant. The dish were a lot and I was to full to finish the sea foods. I wish I could ‘tapau’ but I need to maintain my manner tough I ate like a pig. It was all with my fingersJ.

Then we continue our memory lane session at the Starbuck for a cup of expensive and aromatic coffee. I had one hot thick Americano Coffee while Kenny had a cold ice tea. ‘’Any cheese cake for you, David?’’ Kenny asked me before he paid for our drinks. I could not believe what I answered and I was thinking about that rusty answer for the whole night until now. I answered a humbly shyly grossly timidly ‘’No’’! Padan muka aku. When people asked you to learn on how to say ‘No’, it does not apply on good foods or any good stuff. When some one offer you something nice and cool, just keep nod your head a bit, stay quiet and smile and accept what ever is offered! You will not regret but it would make your day! Lesson learnt!

We chat and chat and he asked me another golden question. ‘’So is your house furnished? Well, I did read your blog and obviously I want to give you a gift for your wedding’’ This time, I took my time to think of my answer. I don’t want to go home once bitten twice shy, twice bitten afraid to try…Entah pa pa punyer pantun. It was a happy night for us after 20 years never see nor contact each other. Well, there was no internet or hand phone during my time so communication is so depending on letters. If ones’ moving to a new place, it’s difficult to keep them tracked unless they send you another mail with their new address.

I’m happy to hear that he is successful in his work though he earns a lot more than me. We managed to call Melcome that night, another friend of ours. Melcome is coming back from Penang for good, soon. In fact I’m meeting him next week. So go and create Friendsters or Face Book. You might meet your old good friends. Who knows, maybe you are as blessed as I am because I’m getting a free 37 inch Sony LCD screen TV soon J

Mixture of Issues

I don’t have any idea what to write currently but I know that my mind love to works under pressure and it’s compiling something at this moment while I’m doing the typing. This morning I received a sms from kaban telling me that their company is lay-off few staffs already. Actually it is not my favor to jot it down in my blog but I obviously could not run away from this issue. Tonight our Minister of finance just announced the injection of RM60 Billions to support every states in the country in terms of the economic growth. It is a big amount but I do not know whether it helps to boost the growth or not because I’ve heard and read on TV and newspaper that US and the European country had injected hundred billion of dollars, earlier but there’s no signs of growth instead as if nothing happen and still there are people who are losing their jobs! I got pissed when some people asked me whether the company where I work got hit by this global issue or not. Are you dumb? Besides government sector, tell me which sector was not affected? Enough said. It’s going no where. Even the civilians are very cautious with their spending. As for me, my fiancé and I have been actively planting vages and fruits at the new house. For a starter, we have planted some daun cangkok, serai, empasak and a pokok of limau kasturi. Not for sale, but they are for our consumption only, in case there would be a recession.

Teaching Science and Mathematics subject in English is another issue here in Malaysia. Some people especially the grown ups do not want their children to study Science and Math in English. They surrendered a memorandum to the HRH the King last week. The PM who is the minister of defense only voice up in the last minute, requesting a fast decision on this matter but the minister of education wants the decision to be made slowly and wisely. Hmmmm… looks like this would become a never ending story to the students and this definitely would not affect us, but our pity children, the guinea pig! We have celebrated Independents over decades but I could not believe that our educations have not at its top conditions? I believe our syllabus is already comprehensive and comparable to the British standards. No syllabus is perfect to produce the genius and high IQ pupils but at least it is the guideline towards a higher education status. We already have professionals everywhere and that’s the living proof that the educations system is dependable. There are more important things compare to this unnecessary issue. Bully, problematic students, overage student whom is still weak in ABC and counting. Why don’t they spend their time to think about how to stop or at least minimized this ‘local’ universal issue? I want to take this golden opportunity to declare that the teachers may and can punish by canning or by any reasonable punishment to the naughty ones without being judge back by the parents.

Akademi Fantasia season 7 is on the air. There are 14 of them and 3 are Sarawakian. I have no favourite yet. Wait until the numbers of students drop to maybe 8 or 7 only then i cast my vote to the most eligible one. Currently there are a lot of playful and not serious ones and i hope they are voted out ASAP. My advise to the participants, no rediculous drama of tears dropping please unless sombody is dead amongst your family members. Please never say NO when English or difficult song is given to you, especially the song which you select your self earlier! I expect you to do your very best and flawless! Good pitching, right tempo, nice projection and perfect tones! When you cannot sing in the original key, please request to transpose to a half lower or a half higher key. No complaints from you after that unless you become sick then coma due to your own fault!

Tomorrow night I’m meeting an old ex-classmate who works in Dubai. He’s coming back for a short holiday. I don’t know where to bring him for makan2… C 1st lah.. Got to sleep now...

Wahai Kawan Islam ku...

Ini adalah suratan pertama saya dalam bahasa Melayu di dalam blog ini dan ianya datang dari hati nurani saya diatas perasaan saya yang sungguh kurang senang setelah menonton buletin utama TV3 yang menimbulkan bukan keraguan, tetapi persoalan tentang rakan Islam saya, bukannya di Sarawak dan Sabah, tetapi segelintir mereka yang tinggal di Semenanjung Malaysia.
Mengapakah saya sebagai Kristian tidak dibenarkan menggunakan perkataan Allah?
1. ADakah umat Islam amat mudah akan rasa keliru?
2. Mengapa anda keliru dengan amat mudah?
3. Tidakkah anda mengenal ajaran murni anda sendiri?
4. Bukankah ajaran anda amat lurus dan terang?
5. Adakan iman anda yang separuh dan tidak penuh itu yang membuatkan anda mudah keliru? 6. Adakah kekeliruan yang akan datang menyebabkan anda membuat keputusan untuk mem'patent' kan perkataan Allah?
7. Apakah anda mau mengkompromikan kedamaian yang kita rasai skarang agar orang lain tidak menggunakan perkataan Allah?
8. Kenapa Nik Aziz mempunyai pendapat yang berbeza?
9. Adakah ISA akan digunakan untuk menangkap orang yang degil seperti saya yang masih mahu menggunakan perkataan Allah di dalam doa seharian saya?
10. Apakah hukuman yang akan dikenakan terhadap saya kerna cinta saya terhadap Allah?
11. Bagaimanakah peraturan ini dapat menyelamatkan ekonomi Malaysia memandangkan penggunaan perkataan ini penting untuk anda?
12. Bagaimana pula rakyat miskin mendapat keuntungan daripada peraturan ini?
13. Adakah DBP merestui bahasa rojak dan menghalalkan God = Allah untuk non- Islam?
14. Bagaimana pula menteri pelajaran bersetuju sekiranya di dalam karangan, ia berbunyi begini.. Saya percaya kepada God. Kerana God lah yang mencipta saya... ???

Saya sunguh sedih sekali dan amat memandang rendah, lebih rendah dari binatang, terhadap mereka yang melakukan semua ini...

Allah sungguh Baik
Sungguh Baik bagiku
DitunjukkanNya Kasih setiaNya
Dia menyediakan yang ku perlukan
Menyatakan kebaikan Padaku...