Merry Christmas!

Sunday 23rd Dec.
Yup, it's that time of the year very soon...a couple of days away now! Christmas in hot hot Malaysia? Feel the only Christmas atmosphere one gets is at hotels...esp the international ones! Those would be gaily decorated & spiced up for its international guests.

Anyway, my other half has got her Xmas "present" earlier than expected! Yup, it's the Pixel watch I was rambling abt in my earlier entry.

Here are a couple of pics to share :

Pics show the Pixel watch itself when received and the watch sitting snugly on my other half's wrist!

Fyi, the jumbo electroluminescent display only lights up on pressing the button. It's a single button for all functions...to show display of time & date as well as for adjusting purposes. Simple but one can accidentally change the time settings...just a difference of a short press & a long press! Reading the display can be a problem until one gets used to it tho.
Frankly it's more of a cosmetic bracelet watch...a fashion watch!

Last night was our usual Cine Nite...as we have been calling it. The movie? Rush Hour 3. The antics? That of who else but Jacky Chan & his kinda irritating sidekick in the series, Chris Tucker! It was a truly entertaining movie...not a dull moment & time just flew by...

Today's Sunday. A hot day from the looks of it. Gonna be a quiet day tho. The usual. Routine. Maybe Cine Nite #2. If both in the mood for it. Lots of movies on DVDs that we have yet to watch. Ha ha!

Me just now casually mentioned in passing how time flies. It was already noon then. My other half replied, "You've got all the time in the world!"
Yup, in a way, I do. But in reality, I don't. I just have whatever time there is left for me... :)

Merry Christmas, everybody!!

Water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink...

Friday 21st Dec.
Well, it hasn't come to that yet! Sincerely hope it never does tho! Yup, it's another season of floods. In the South, the East & now even the North!! Supposedly due to the North-east monsoon. But the North? The South? Yup, in the past, it has been an annual affair for the states of Kelantan, Trengganu & Pahang but since last year, Johore suffered too! And now, Kedah in the north is affected as well.

According to the Meteorological Dept, the worst has yet to come. A 2nd wave is forecasted to be on its way. Till 29th Dec. Due to the expected high tide. Let's hope and pray that all will be safe.

Weather here is sunny but kinda cloudy. Forecasted rain in the afternoon/evening. Hope not too heavy tho. Water in main drain outside is stagnant...bad. May signal a return of minor incoming water as before...

Lot 10 is quiet. Normally so. No visitors. No nothing. Routine. In a funny tho positive kind of way, routine is good.

Me? The usual. Actually did a small purchase in our local auction site after a seemingly long period of inactivity. Item is a Pixel watch. A new fad in Japan & HK. With a Jumbo Electroluminiscent display & an expandable coloured polycarbonate bracelet. RM45 + RM10 delivery charges. What those watches look like ( I chose a pink unit...for my other half.) :Supposed to have got it yesterday but that was a public holiday. Hari Raya Haji or Hari Raya Korban, as it is now called. Today is a Friday...weekend here...also an off-day for civil servants. So no Poslaju courier service. Gotta wait for tomorrow lo. Hopefully...

More importantly now is our worry of a health hazard. The on-going construction opposite is producing a constant dust content in the air. I mopped our floors yesterday morning and immediately after, the floors were covered with a layer of fine brown dust! What a waste of my efforts! Also our car has also a brown "skin" over its normal silvery surface. Not forgetting tho, one can just imagine the amount of dust in the air to have produced that effect. Wonder how much we had already breathed in...bad!

Unfortunately there is no cheap simple solution to that problem. Guess we'd have to tolerate all that comes with development for another 2 years. Housing project expected completion in October 2009!!

Wish us luck...and good health! We do need both! To survive...

Hot & Sunny...at last!

Yup, it's a hot & sunny day today! 18th Dec. A great change from the cold & wet days before. If it wasn't raining, it was cloudy & overcast. Floods are affecting the southern & eastern states of Malaysia. Thousands have been evacuated. Thank God we are ok here.

As such, it was a great reason for the construction opposite our place to pick up. And it did! Workers are everywhere...catching up on lost time!Pic above just taken shows the activity at the site!

Also someone in our fmly is celebrating her Bday today...our daughter-in-law, AN. She's spending this bday with her own fmly in KL. So, our warmest wishes go to her on her special day today...Have a great day & a great year ahead, AN!

The warmth, love & bond in a family should never ever be broken...unless they themselves choose to, for their own reasons. The sanctity of a family is God's greatest gift to Man. And to break that sanctity is a great sin. More so to deny anyone of their love. devotion & access to their families. Respecting one's elders has been a great teaching of Confucius, the great Chinese scholar. His famous one being the Golden Rule stated in the negative form, often called the silver rule:

子貢問曰、有一言、而可以終身行之者乎。子曰、其恕乎、己所 不欲、勿施於人。
Adept Kung asked: "Is there any one word that could guide a person throughout life?"

The Master replied: "How about 'shu': never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself?"

Analects XV.24, tr. David Hinton

Another good teaching to note :

厩焚。子退朝，曰：“伤人乎？”不问马。
When the stables were burnt down, on returning from
court, Confucius said, "Was anyone hurt?" He did not ask about the horses.
Analects X.11, tr. A. Waley
The anecdote is not long, but it is of paramount importance. In his time horses were perhaps 10 times more expensive than stablemen. The passage conveys the lesson that by not asking about the horses, Confucius demonstrated that a sage values human beings over property.

Back in the real world, here in Lot 10 OFH, 2 great dishes are in store for muah. "Kim Cheoh Hu" or Golden Pomfret/Ikan Bawal Emas...my fav fish, and also, chicken marinaded in special belacan/prawn paste mix. Really makes my mouth water now...and it's still more than an hour b4 lunch! Phew!

As I continue to ponder what is life, I have found it boils down to counting our blessings...that we are still alive & independent, having clothes on our body & a roof over our heads AND being able to enjoy whatever is placed on the table!

In less than a month another year would have passed. May you & me continue to enjoy God's blessings & to have another day to share with our loved ones...TC always! Be happy...and by counting our blessings, we will be happy!!

Merry Christmas & a very Happy New Year in 2008!

The recent past...

Dated Dec 17, 2007.

Let's go down Memory Lane...the recent past...

On 6th Dec, our niece down under had a healthy bouncy little kid, Wes! Arriving @12:05am, little Wes weighed in @2.675kg. Cute little Wes on 10th Dec below:Congrats, J & J! Have great times with Wes in the years ahead...we will always share in your joy!

Our grandaughter, KL, & fmly came visiting on 15th Dec. For the weekend. She's now very vocal but we all had a hard time trying to guess what she's trying to say! Maybe we should learn "baby language" as in Baby Geniuses, the movie...hehe...

The many faces of KL during the weekend: Abt 1 more month to go b4 KL is fully 2 years old! How she's grown from the tiny little bundle to what she is now. Guess her mom ( and in all sincerity...all of us, too!) are impatiently waiting for her inquisitive side to come out with all the non-stop barrage of questions that kids of that age start to shoot forth...esp the infamous "why?"!!

Now, ze ole Lot 10 OFH is all quiet again. On the positive side, maybe a temporary breather for the inmates? The spirit may be willing but somehow the body just isn't the same anymore. Age does really tell on our capabilities. A matter now not of what we want to do but what we really can do. That, once again, is not for us to want but whatever is our destiny.

Sincerely hope all of you are doing well & fine - whoever you may be & wherever you may be...

I'm back!

Tues 11th Dec.
Yup, me back in Home Sweet Home...since Sunday actually...haha! Have been taking it easy after a "hectic" weekend, compared to my usual quiet sedentary lifestyle...hehe...

Here goes a review of that weekend passed...

Sat 8th Dec : Left AS after breakfast. 1st stop @ Carrefour, Prai. Spent abt an hr there b4 crossing the Pg Bridge for the island. Next stop...Island Plaza. More of Metrojaya located in Island Plaza. Haven't been there like for ages! Food court is gone! Finally decided to have some Jap food dishes which turned out ok tho. RM33.88 for both.

Then it was a short drive over to our fav niece's place. Catching up on latest "news" & thereafter preparing to attend the wedding reception at Copthorne Orkid Hotel.

As expected, the actual dinner started after an hr's delay. Food was in large servings & tasty. No complaints there. A little bit of catching up with some friends & relatives. A few pics to share...below:Pics ( clockwise from top left) : View of stage at reception; little Matt & mom and our fav niece in group snapshot.

Dinner ended @abt 10:30pm. Went to bed late...after 1am. Ha ha!

Sun 9th Dec. : Had breakfast @Anson Rd market stalls. Hawker food. Not bad. Then dropped into Tesco, Pg. You'd never guessed what was on the shopping list...toilet rolls!! Ha ha! Me? Got a box of Almond chocs! My fav.

Next stop was at our 7th Aunt's. Paid her a visit coz we heard she just had another knee op. The visit was further enhanced by visits from a couple of my other half's cousins. Had another updating session of recent developments. Neighbour brought over "Bee Ko Moi" for all. One of my fav., too! That replaced our lunch...hehe...

Finally it was time to go back but we detoured for our missed lunch...now tea. Stopped at coffee shop along Batu Lancang Rd. Then it was back to our lodgings to pack up and make our trip back to AS.

Arrived back in Home Sweet Home in time for a delayed dinner. Bread! Ha ha again!

Sounded like nothing? Sorry but had to leave out the"hot" details of all that we enjoyed during that weekend...not for sharing lo...hehe...

Have a good week, everybody!

3 more weekends to go...

Yup, weekend#2 for Dec is here. Tomorrow is Dec 8th. Time to spend weekend in Penang...mainly to attend a wedding dinner. Maybe some window shopping, in the process?

Weather has been wet since yesterday. It was raining on & off. Today it has been drizzling...also on & off. No heavy stuff tho. What me learnt in Geog & theoretically is that this is the North-east monsoon period. But it's raining in the North & South of the Malaysian peninsula! Flooding has started in Johore. Maybe they should rename this the "North-South"monsoon! Ha ha!

B4 me forget, our heartiest congrats to our niece down under who gave birth to a healthy beautiful baby boy...Wesley HC. On Dec 6 @12:05am. Both Jaz & J deserved their long-awaited little bundle of joy...and proud loving parents they will be for little Wesley. Wish we could hv been there to share your joy. Tks a meg for sharing that moment with us over here then.

To turn a bit to current issues, kinda feel everyone should cut down on rhetorics on the Hindraf issue. Like the saying goes...the less said the better it is for everybody! Cos that's how issues get heated up, views & perceptions get blown out of proportion and matters get out of control. Politicians trying to gain politcal mileage by making themselves heard...trying to be the champions they are not.

Imagine the issue now becoming as serious as this...as reported in The Star today... :

There are signs lately that the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) is trying to garner support from terrorist groups, the police charged yesterday.

And in Sun2Surf, this was reported to be said by the Sec of the Police Force :

... that Hindraf had fleeced Indians who turned up at their illegal rally on Nov 25 when they did not hand over a petition to the British High Commission although they were given the opportunity to do so by the police.

Hmmm...

Would some right-thinking calm but strong leader come out and put a stop to all this? If Hindraf is really doing what they are doing and if there is concrete evidence of it, just take action. Simple as that. Everybody who feels they are somebody is shooting at anybody whom they feel is against them. And the innocent ppl, the common ppl, are now caught in the crossfire. What's thus happening now is getting no one no where...

Have you tried to listen to or watch the national news channels for the past 1 week or so? You got it right!

I remember a famous quote that goes something like this :

Let he who has not sinned throw the first stone.
Well, politics will be politics. Not something nice. My 2sen. Let's have the opportunity to enjoy what God has given to Man...

PEACE.

Btw, me opened up the timing belt cover of my ole junk just now & did a visual chk of the condition of the belt. Appears ok...to my inexperienced eye, that is. Had planned to change it this morning but my other half felt it's too near in time to our Pg trip scheduled for tomorrow. More risky in case of any untoward problems arising from the change ops. Now resheduled to after the trip...
Wish me luck there! No news would be great news! Bye bye...

ps. Me will be offline for the weekend & maybe more...hehe...

Current issues...to the Man in the Street...

A different perspective altogether today. Yup, abt current issues at hand. What matters to the common little guy...

And of great interest is this announcement in The Star today (Dec 5th)...a warning...from the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry to Malaysians who continue to illegally download songs, videos and the like.

If you download material illegally from the Internet, be prepared to fork out a minimum fine of RM250,000.

Acc2 Deputy Minister Datuk S. Veerasingam : “We will also very soon make Internet download offenders our priority.” He also added that the maximum fine for downloading material illegally from the Internet was a whopping RM500,000.

Now, how many of you out there can afford to pay that kind of fine? Who will be the scapegoats of this new venture? Cos me feel pretty sure there is No way the govt can take action against each & everyone who is downloading such materials! A lot of hot air or what...?

And so we wait...again...

This (in Sun2Surf online) also caught my attention..dated Dec 4 :

Chairman of Asean's Eminent Persons Group (EPG) Tun Musa Hitam said as Asean now recognised this principle, it is important for governments to be more tolerant and positive towards feedback.
"I pose a choice to them. If you want to have good governance, democracy and human rights, you must be more tolerant and very positive to enable governments to get feedback , however bad, intense or critical, and use them to improve yourselves.
"That is a very important ingredient. If you are intolerant, democracy cannot work. Freedom has no meaning. You must be able to manage it," he told reporters

And he further added :

Musa said democratic governments must have the capacity to be tolerant enough and use all the criticisms for the common good of the community.
Otherwise, he said, it will be an anti-democratic system.

How true...

One other interesting so-called clarification by a Msian MP, as reported in Sun2Surf :

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 4, 2007): Syed Hood Syed Edros (BN- Parit Sulong) has defended his Oct 29 debate in the Dewan Rakyat (Parliament) in which he questioned the display of images of Jesus, Mary and crosses in mission schools.
"I was merely voicing the concerns of the public at large.

The "public"? Who is he trying to kid?
He even added :

Malaysia is a free country

Now what is he trying to say...? YOU tell me.

And worse still, such distressing news are on the increase...The Star Dec 5 :

Man jumps from building
JOHOR BARU: Despite efforts from firemen, a man jumped off a building and committed suicide.
Ting Bin Soon, 55, jumped from the 10th floor of the LKN building in Jalan Wong Ah Fook at 6.40pm despite repeated attempts to coax him down.

Another one here :

In MALACCA, a 56-year-old unemployed man committed suicide outside his home along a busy street in Banda Hilir here yesterday.
Teoh Cheng Liat, who was said to be a heavy drinker, told his wife at lunch that it would be his last meal.
He then hanged himself from a tree outside his house.

I, for one, has been & still is, very much against such means to an end. Life is precious. We have only but ONE life...given to us by God. At the same time, there is a need to understand what drives a person to that decision...to end his own life.
For a person to take his own life...to go much earlier than due to..., he must hv felt there was nothing left for him to live for...nothing at all! No care, No love from those who mean most to him. Life is now empty & meaningless. Only way out of his misery & suffering. Also removes the burden from those who view him as such. End his pain & theirs, too, in the process. A simple step. The light at the end of his tunnel, so to say.

Finally, on the home front, things appear to be improving esp as regards my other half's condition as mentioned yesterday. The med & the rest she had appeared to have good results. Thank God for that. Me was quite worried for a while then.

As for the sudden backfire/misfire of our ole junk, appears to be a 1 time affair. None this morning. Which is good news. Probably a minor hiccup? Just as in the case of my other half? Sincerely hope so. As many would say...it's fated. Or as Muslims view it...takdir la...

Weekend will soon be here & so will be our trip to Pg. Keeping my fingers tightly Xed for an incident-free & enjoyable time. Out of this OFH. A different scenario. Different atmosphere. Different ppl. A complete change. Feel we kinda need that. Bye!

Pollution & all that in the name of development!

Tues Dec 4th.
Yup, looks like construction of houses opposite our humble dwelling is now going at a fast pace! Nearest lots in front of us are having foundations laid with pillars soon to be erected. Piling is still ongoing in the distance tho. Pic below : What the view is like today...So pollution of the 1st degree is the norm. Dust, noise, heavy vehicles & everything else one sees at a construction site. Me just tried mopping out floor in the morning and in less than a couple of hours, the floor was found covered in a thin layer of light brown dust! Phew! Imagine the amount we would be inhaling throughout the day...in the days, weeks, months & years to come!

The next few days gonna be quiet days. Days of rest. My other half is not in good form. Had bouts of giddyness. Also a probable viral infection on the way. Consulted our doc just now. Re-assured us that it's probably nothing to worry abt. Giddyness possibly due to an ageing condition of nerves in neck vertebrae. Inevitable...unless one does not grow old. Ha ha! Gave some med as symptomatic treatment. With rest & the med, hopefully she'll be fully recovered by the time we need to go to Penang to attend the wedding dinner on Dec 8th. Would be staying the night in our fav niece's place.

Actually we have another invite. Dec 22nd. My other half's 1st Aunt's Bday do. Her 94th, if not wrong. But to be held in KL now altho orig planned to be in Penang. Pg would hv been no prob for us to attend. KL by car is not an inviting not comfy trip for me. Can be traumatic even. A long story. To fly there is beyond our budget, being on financial constraints as is. So we had to politely & regretfully turn it down...we do sincerely wish her all the very best! Our thoughts will be of her on that day.

Well, porridge is the in-menu for today. And for the first time we are trying out the Porridge auto-cook menu in our microwave oven. No try No know, right? Yup, most modern gadgets have lots of functions which we hardly ever use. But, like we always tell ourselves...when we need to use them, they are available. Agreed?

Btw one surprising thing happened this morning when I started the car. For the 1st time in my car ownership, this car had what sounded like a "backfire"! A misfire? Also had a funny kind of smell. Dunno why. Guess probably the fuel? Will be doing some Googling to find out soon. Hope nothing serious. Gotta live with it. Cos this ole junk is all me got. No hope of getting another. So need to preserve it till me cannot drive no more...hehe...

My day didn't start too well tho but sincerely hope you're having a good day...at least a better one! Maybe mine will end better...

Last month of year is here...

Yup, Dec 1st is here! 1st day of last month in 2007. Wonder what it will be like after this...in 2008.

For one, me found out the housing development opposite us is only scheduled to finish in Oct 2009. 2 years min. of noise, dust, problems & God knows what else. Well, all in the name of progress & development. Residents here are just waiting for it all to end. Their suffering to end.

Today's view...workers marking the boundaries of the buildings to be constructed. :Yup, today is also a Saturday. 1st day of weekend. Also our weekly Cine Nite. Home movie night...watching a DVD movie on the Big screen...hehe...got a few unwatched ones.

Also our day of meals out. A day of rest for our Chef...my other half, of course! Now...where shall we eat? For lunch...& for dinner. Well, we'll let the Chef-on-leave to decide.

As for expected toll hikes, it now appears most of the main highways & the Penang Bridge will be retaining the old rates. Yup, you heard it right. Many have taken this as an election ploy...elections appear slated for early next year. Now, that this uncertainty of toll increases is over, next in line are the fuel price increase expected also in 2008. Will the Govt increase the fuel prices directly or in some other form eg road tax of vehicles? Ppl in the Govt have been harping on making those who can afford pay more & not affect those in the lower income group. The main question now is how to separate that when dealing with prices at the pump...? You tell me.

If & when fuel prices are increased, it will trigger a chain reaction of price increases in other sectors. In transportation, goods...frankly every other aspect of our lives. Civil servants (incl pensioners) can thank the Govt for their recent pay revision...an indication of sorts that the Govt foresaw the future of things to come?

Our niece in Australia will be delivering her first baby pretty soon. All the very best, Jaz & J!! May the Stork bring both of you a healthy bubbly bundle of Joy...Best wishes from both here in Msia!

One month more & we will find out what 2008 has in store for us. Let's pray for good tidings amidst the Season's Cheer...yup, Christmas is just around the corner!

Merry Xmas & a Happy New Year to one & all!!

Health instalment due...

Fri 30th Nov.
Yup, it's that time of the month...nope, NOT that time of the month la! I mean, it's time for my regular monthly visit to our family doc. You know, the replenishment of monthly life-long, life-saving drugs at this point in time...needed to keep THIS ole junk alive & kicking...hehe...who else but yours truly lo...
Good news tho. BP 110/70. Which is good...so says the doc. And she added...would hv been 160-180! But cos me good self has been taking care of himself, it's medically under control. Ha ha!

The other ole junk...my car this time lo...appears to be none the worse. No further leaks. Joint at air-con pressure switch now clean & dry. A good sign here, too. However, one major transplant is forthcoming. Timing belt & water pump change. Actually, if going by the book, change is not due yet (only @100k km)...abt 14k+ km to go yet. But, most rec change @ 80k km. To be really safe. I did go as far as 90k+ km for my 1st change. 2nd change was earlier @80k+ km. Now? Frankly me am confused, worried & lost!

Anyway, whenever it's to be done, it's gonna be major in $$. Have been delaying & postponing it...keeping me fingers Xed so tightly that my ole junk won't suddenly be terminal till me can do so...knowing the risks involved.

Other than that, life's just routine. Strange? Hard to believe? 'Tis true...

Was kinda reminiscing with my other half while walking around Giant this morning. How life has a funny kind of way to show us how helpless we humans are. It's understandable for animals cos they act only by instinct. Human beings are endowed with a 3lb brain. The largest in the animal kingdom...in relation to body mass.

We talked abt how, no matter how one tries to change things in the family, kids, when they grow up, somehow would adopt the same thinking, behaviour & actions of those around them when they leave the nest. Not that of their own family. And we come to realise that upbringing does not have any lasting impression on them either. Peer groups, peer pressure, environmental factors eg at work...colleagues, the nature of the world today, etc, overshadows all family virtues that one had tried to instill in one's young. Somehow they are not strong enough to resist the influences & practise what they have been brought up to be. Probably their rebellous nature? Somehow, they would end up being the same as others from other families...perhaps even worse cos of their weaknesses.

Of course there are the rare ones who can think & feel what being part of a family is all about...the love their parents have for them. Their sacrifices. Going beyond their call of duty. Not that their parents really had to but they wanted to. Felt the need to. Because they love their kids. And these "strong" kids are able to be themselves...able to stand up tall...loving back with the love they have received from their parents & constantly nurtured in their hearts! The realisation that they would be parents one day, too. With kids of their own. Instead of harbouring in their hearts a no. of those so-called "7 deadly sins"...of which Jealousy, Pride & Selfishness figure ever so prominently. Sadly tho, many do not wake up in time. Only doing so when they find themselves suffering the same pains & feeling the same hurt as their parents b4 them. A factor beyond our control.

Well, like the song...Whatever will be, will be...the future is not for us to predict, wish or ask for but in God's hands...
We can only wish them the best & only pray that their pain & suffering will not be worse than ours...

Sincere apologies cos my other personality...the philosophical one...took over just now.
Count your blessings. I am...now...really! Only way to be happy...extras are bonuses from God!
Like when our doc asked me how I am now...my answer? " You can see me & I can see you...we are both good! "

Have a good weekend! Live the moment.

Work in progress...

Thursday 29th Nov.
As you can see in the pic above, the next stage in the housing development opposite to our place is on...after the piling comes the foundation forming...etc, etc. At least the thumping is stopped...temporarily.

Checked the ole junk this morning. The air-con gas leakage is there! No escape. Even used soap solution to chk for bubbles formed by leaking gas. Yup, that joint was blowing bubbles...albeit slowly & small ones. Eventually gas would be lost and cooling functions affected.

Gotta send the ole junk for repairs...probably after late breakfast. Only plan for the day. Will update later.

UPDATE @11:55am :
Air-con leak confirmed. Pl see pic below for location : Upon removing faulty pipe & using compressed air, the air-con repair boss found poor gasket seal to be the cause of the leak and used a gasket-forming compound to seal. Pipe was re-installed & gas refilled. Cost? RM25 gone this time around. Total for this problem? RM40. This is what $$ can do. And time, of course! Time? I can spare that. Ha ha!

Sincerely hope it's a lasting remedy tho...need to make a trip to Penang soon. Dec 8th. A wedding dinner. With a proper functioning air-con system, at least the trip would be cool...hehe...

Oh my! It's already Wednesday!

Yup, it's already Wed 28th Nov.!! And coming to an end, too! Time is now 10:43pm as I key in this line...
When one is healthy (more or less...hehe...) and with no major issues at hand, days would just pass us by. Routine days. Nothing really exciting to write about...

The pile driver is now farther away. So the thumping is not so intrusive as before. But feel it would be soon when piles have to be driven in for nearer lots of the houses to be built. Until then, we treasure the change!

My ole junk has decided to trouble me (altho slightly) with a minor problem. It felt warmer & slow to cool down when we move around in it. At first we blamed the inexplicable hot weather we're having. But then it wasn't like that before.

Yup...as suspected, it's the air-con system of the car. Traces of oil were detected just at the junction where the pressure valve sits. On Monday, I took the car to have it checked and that attachment was tightened. Told to come back after a couple of days. This morning me took the car back & there appeared to be no more leaks. Gas was added to the system. Rm15 flew. After visits to 2 local Malls, the location of the leak was re-checked. Not good news. Traces of oil were again detected. At the same joint.

Plan to see how bad the leak really is after a few more days...with the tiniest of hope that the leaking joint might seal itself. Otherwise, more detail investigation of the actual cause of the leakage would be the only way out. More $$ would then be involved. Like some ppl would just say...it's only $$. Not some insurmountable problem.

Believe it or not...there are ppl around (young ppl esp) who believe that old ppl's ole junks never have problems & never needs any maintenance! That these ole junks...like the old ppl themselves...can just go on and on and on....
Would be just fantastic if only that were, even in the least bit, true! Ha ha!

Well, what can I say? Life has to go on...& tomorrow will still come along & pass...somehow.

Day #1 of weekend...

Sat 24th Nov.

Me awoke to the constant thump thump of the Pile Driver now right in front of our abode! Phew! See pic below :Hopefully it will be moved backwards & further away soon...might take a week or so. There was NO stoppage of work even on a Friday...the Sunday in this state!! Do hv pity on us old folks...

Well, the day started ok except for the incesant & loud pounding, interspersed by moments of silence. Breakfast was curry mee. As for most food items, the price of this hawker dish has been raised. 20 sen more per bowl now. Practically every food item had price increases. A chain reaction.

No escape. A spiralling chain effect in the offing. Toll rates are predicted to be increased in January 2008. So are fuel prices caused by the rising world crude oil prices...now past the USD90 mark per barrel. The Msian Govt promised no further increases in our petrol/diesel prices in 2007 after a shocking 30sen/litre increase early in the year (they didn't expect crude oil prices to rise by much more later) and as is, they had NO choice but to adhere to it with impending nationwide elections soon...haha! A matter of time now...and also the quantum of increase is as yet unknown...

Well, looks like everyone has to brace for the impending shock of price increases & consequently the standard of living in Malaysia. wef Jan 2008. For pensioners like me, buying power is gonna be considerably reduced.

Wish us luck...that we may survive...somehow...In the meantime, enjoy the Moment! As sure as the sun will rise tomorrow, today will come to pass & become tomorrow. And tomorrow will be the today tomorrow...

Advice?

Cross the bridge when we come to it

Have a great weekend!

A new weekend coming soon...

Friday 23rd Nov 2007

It's been a busy week. Busy with the car. Busy around the house. Busy moving around.

Yup, me had a couple of things done to the car. Pro-RS stainless steel brake hoses are now installed in the car. These special hoses certainly made a great deal of difference to the braking of my ole junk! Even the mechanic who did the installation was surprised by the big change. Well worth the $$ spent!

Also the new pair of rear Monroe Sensatrac shock absorbers to replace the much softened old ones, made a huge impact on our ride comfort.

Here are pics of one of them installed :However, me gotta wait a few mths b4 can afford to change the front ones. The struts. They are much more expensive to replace. Would hv been great to be able to replace all 4 at one go...but as previously stated in an earlier entry, me am only half of what I was before...sad but true... Anyway, self-pity is definitely NOT the way to go. The past is the past. We are what we are now and we do what we can do...the best we can!

Well, yesterday was also a day of test...indirectly. Testing the new brake lines & the new shocks. On a long distance trip.

Yup, it was a trip we made...fulfillment of my promise to take my other half for a trip when all is done. For her patience, support & understanding. Of what needed to be done. For the comfort & safety of 2 old folks.

Where else could we go? Of course, to Penang! This time it was to Sunway Carnival Mall. An attempt to find our way around cos we got lost on our way back during the last "first" visit there. And this time around, asking around produced great results. We even managed to get a map! The way out was consequently no hassle. So going there again would no longer be a problem. Ha ha!

From there we proceeded to Prangin Mall in Pg Island itself. It's been ages since we last went. Since the cineplex there came under Cathay Org control. We were not given the privileges of senior citizens like that of GSC. So we hv been patronising GSC cineplexes since then... eg at Gurney Plaze & Queensbay Mall.

Frankly Prangin Mall has become a very congested Mall. Appears to me more like a bazaar than a respectable Mall. Stalls along both sides of the corridors left barely walking space for shoppers. Exposing us constantly to the incessant sales pitches of the occupiers of those lots. Of course, the positive side of that is one has more to see...window shop for us...hehe...

Last stop was at our fav niece's place. Did some catching up. Enjoyed a crowded but cosy home-cooked dinner with the family..in the kitchen itself! Really wished I could hv such with me own family. Pretty soon it was time to call it a day & we reached home in time for my other half to pursue half of her WLT marathon! Ha ha!

Test results? Ride was real comfy all the way and the braided hoses really made the brakes BITE! More importantly, a great day spent with my other half...just like our "pak toh" days. I truly thank God for her...

Now for the weekend...

A Need...Not a Want...

Life, to me now, is so full of sometimes simple or even petty decisions to be made. Decision-making, in the past, had been such a simple matter as just a "to buy or not to buy" issue. But these days, it's just isn't that simple anymore...

What am I talking about?
My carriage...my ole junk, really...has always been top priority whenever it needs the care & love I can give it. My philosophy has been... "Take good care of your car and it will take good care of you!" So all this while, my ole trusty ole junk never failed to get the best me can afford. And it has taken good care of me & my family, too, in all sincerity.

However, on most occasions these days, the best me can afford is not, & cannot be, the best me would like to do for my trusty "steed". Frankly, that's what it means to be a realtime 100% pensioner. You are only half the person you were. Get it?

So when it was found that one of my car's rear shock absorbers has a minor seepage of oil, an internal civil war raged within me! Should I change both the rear shocks now? ( Shock absorbers need to be changed in pairs!) Or should I wait for it to truly leak? Like many ppl do?

If I change, which make should I change to? The same as before...Monroe Sensatrac? Or a cheaper local make eg Kayaba? My Monroes lasted me 7 years...abt 90,000 km oledi.

Finally it all came down to cost...has the price gone up? My precious half so supportively said that if it is still affordable, then get the same ones. That did it! The price was surprisingly abt the same as it was 7 years ago! Now only at RM63 each. The 2 pcs of shocks were delivered within 15 mins while me waited at the auto spare sparts shop.

The same ole impatient person I still am....the old shocks were removed & the new ones installed by our new friendly mechanic who did my brake hoses replacement the other day. Again my very supportive half felt it's better to spend a bit more & let someone else do the job rather than me slog & toil over it...me being not so young now.

The replacement made another great difference to our ride. Firmer back now. Felt instantly on leaving the workshop!

A Pic of the 2 cartons of the Monroe Sensatrac shock absorbers to share :The moral of today's story?
Financial Stability plays a very major role in our lives in this world of ours today! Believe me...a very important role at that!

ps. Under consideration next are replacements for the front struts...they are just as old as the rears which were just replaced. However no leaks detected at this point in time. So got time to stock up the "piggy"...hehe....

An Upgrade for my ole junk!

Tuesday 20th November.

Yup, my ole junk needs to be cared for & improved from time2time. As it is, it has to serve me well till me can only be a passenger...

So this time around, it was the Brakes Dept that got my attention. Yup, me finally found a patient & friendly mechanic at a nearby auto service centre.

So armed with just a new can of Bosch Dot 4 brake fluid (RM15), me sent my ole junk over and the replacement process began.

Old fluid was removed followed by the old front hoses. New Pro-RS stainless steel braided hoses were put in. However, a minor problem surfaced. It was found that the holes in the retaining brackets were a mite too small and had to be ground slightly to enlarge them b4 the ends of the new hoses could go in. Then the rear hoses came off and were accordingly replaced with new Pro-RS ones. No problems here as the fitment was just nice.

Finally new brake fluid was poured into the brake master cylinder reservoir & the bleeding process carried out via suction equipment...rarely found around these parts!

Then a check around for leaks. Passed. This was followed by a road test. And the ole junk came back with very good comments by the mechanic!

What can I say...$$ well-spent and my journey home was great. Tested the brakes and they really bite! A great difference!

Now the only question left is " how long will these hoses last...? " My originals are already 15 years old and still good when taken off the car just now! Except for the spongy feel, of course...hehe...

Here are some pics to share :












Pics : (left) Front Left hoses (Right) Front Right hoses.

Pics : (Above) Rear Left hose (Below) Rear Right hose.

Sorry but have to end with a not so good note...while the car was up on the hydraulic hoist, me found that the right rear shock absorber has a "wet" look. The other side was dry. Only probably cause is a leaking absorber...a replacement is needed...soon! A decision has to be made...soon, too!

Weekend cheers...

Sunday 18th Nov.

1st day of weekend is over. Attended our neighbour's son's Chinese wedding day held yesterday...traditional fetching of the bride & tea ceremony. A pic of the young happy couple...the bridgegroom a former student of mine...Our very best wishes to both bride & groom for a blissful & happy married life ahead!! Congrats, CMC!!

Yes, our youngest grandaughter, KL, is also here. She is now more girly than ever b4. A really active girl with seemingly unlimited energy...so different from her ageing grandparents! Maybe when she's big enuf, she can massage me aching bones...hehe....

Here she is...pointing to her new book yesterday (left) & a smile for all today (right)...

Well, KL & fmly would be going home soon today...after breakfast. Lot 10 OFH will be quiet once again...except, of course, the incessant pounding of piling works still on-going just opposite us! The end of a good week...

Should I...?

Yup, that's the BIG question me am asking myself now.

Yup again...it's abt my latest acquisition of Pro-RS braided brake hoses. I started a few threads in our local car forums and one feedback me got is kinda negative. It seems this make of hoses failed/leaked at its joint in a Proton Wira after abt only 2 years!

On checking, the latest release of Pro-RS hoses come with upgraded features and one of them is stated in their website as :

All PRO-RS Brake Hose Kit is now furnished with POLYOLEFIN Sleeves at the joint
between hose and metal fittings.
This sleeves protects the joint from corrosion and reduce the hose flexing at the joint. This feature increases Reliability and Extend the life-time of PRO-RS Brake Hose Kit.

Pic below shows the new sleeve at one end of a hose :

Maybe this upgrade is to prevent the possibility of leakage? Feel me better wait for more feedback b4 replacing my orig stock brake hoses since they are presently still ok.

Well, gotta go soon. Need to get ready to attend the wedding dinner of my next door neighbour's son...tonight. Also looks like it might pour...hehe...like some ppl believe, maybe the bride took too much soup? Ha ha!

New happenings...

Thurs 15th Nov.

Well, 1 more week is passing us by. 2moro is weekend in Kedah with 1 day to go for weekend in other states. Also the start of school hols...

Now what does all that mean to me? Besides, of course, the fact me another week older! Well, a few things will be happening around these parts.

You see, I've had this bugging but morbid fear of my inability to stop my car from repeating nightmares all my life. So, for one, me oledi ordered a set of Pro-RS Stainless Steel braided brake hoses for my ole junk. From here : http://www.pro-rs.com/ At RM290 + RM28 delivery charges. Supposedly to have been sent yesterday. Expected delivery? Who knows these days...maybe today...maybe not. We'll see...



Above : Pics of the Pro-RS special brake hoses.


For another, am expecting a visit from my daughter & fmly...if takes place as planned. A chance to see how my grandaughter, KL, has grown. Last saw her during my birthday...during our Genting Highlands trip...rber? Almost a whole mth has passed.

Also both have been invited to our next door neighbour's son's wedding...dinner & all. Dinner on Friday night and wedding proper the next day. Will be going for the dinner & maybe drop in for a while on the wedding day. Can't be leaving my daughter's family to themselves...kinda guests, right?

Construction works are picking up pace opposite our place. Regular thump thump of the piling rig. Like a constant migraine. Sincerely hope all the sounds at the construction site will not unduly affect our grandaughter who is kinda sensitive to certain sounds.Above : View of construction site this morning. On left in background is the Pile Driver.

Cine Nite this Saturday would be postponed. Got "live" shows to watch & enjoy...hehe...

Well, that's it! Weekend of an ole man with nothing better to do...

And Oh...me just got a call on my HP fr the supplier of the Pro-RS brake hoses. To inform me that the item has been sent via courier services and that I should be getting it today. We'll see lo...hehe...

Update @ 11am : Courier guy just called @ 9:13am. To confirm got ppl in hse to accept delivery of parcel. B4 noon. So looks like my Pro-RS hoses are here! Yippee!

Update @ 12:10pm : Good News! Pro-RS set delivered! Efficient supplier & courier guys! Now I need to set aside a day for installation next week. 2moro is our local weekend. Pic of received hoses & box below :

Above : Close-up pic of stainless steel braiding of brake hose.

Time for a break!

Monday 12 Nov 07

Yup, me felt it was time for a break...esp in appreciation of my other half's patience, tolerance & understanding of this eccentric ole guy! Yup again, my other half shone thru again in this testing period of true love...and the only way me know how to show my appreciation is to take her for a trip albeit only nearby....

Yup again. Where else can we go except to Penang, our hometown actually. A place of ties which somehow is hard to break. Moreover it's the nearest place to where I am now.

So after breakfast out yesterday (11 Nov), we were off on our Pg trip. On arrival, we started off with a visit to my brother-in-law. He's 80+ now...living alone most of the time. We were happy to find him in reasonably good health. And his second eldest son was there keeping him company cos it's a Sunday. Had quite a long chat b4 we left for lunch.

Lunch was at a nearby "food court"...adjacent to a market. We were surprised at the no. of food stalls selling delicious local fare! Me took my usual fav dish...fried koay teow. RM2.90 but with 2 huge fresh & crunchy prawns! As usual, one prawn became my usual "trademark"...for my other half...hehe...

After lunch we adjourned to a popular haunt. Yup, Gurney Plaza. Haven't been there like ages oledi. Lots & lots to see. Besides other items of insignificance, me bought my fav imported dark chocs. 2 whole slabs! Yummy!

The biggest investment...my fav hobby...pampering myself with a "new toilet". Btw, "new toilet" simply is a nickname for a new device for me to "play" with? Here it is :

Yup, it's an iTech Clip II Mini Bluetooth headset. A true blue handsfree device. Me have been eyeing that item for a while. And yesterday was when everything was thrown to the wind! Rber? Living for the moment? Yup, life is short...happiness is the moment...not waiting for it!

2 variations were available. Plain colours eg black or white...and metallic silver/chrome. Just a bit more $$...so me took the metallic silver one! Not every day that me would buy such an item, right? Ha ha!

Btw, the BT device runs on BT Ver 2.0 Class 2 & comes with a mains charger, a USB charger, a neck strap & of course, instruction manuals in both English & Mandarin. It is packed nicely in a very special cylindrical presentation box, too! Made in China, too...of course! For more official info here : http://www.itechdynamic.com/en/products_spec.asp?cid=1&pid=01041

After spending a few hrs at Gurney, it was visiting time again. Yup, we visited our relatives at Minden Heights. Spent abt a couple of hrs catching up with news & developments. Was happy to find everyone in good spirits. And, of course, the best part is, "they can see me & I can see them! " My infamous quote?

Finally it was time to make our return journey home. At first we thought of stopping over at Tesco, Pg, but due2 the Sunday crowd, it was felt 2be not so advisable.

We stopped for dinner at one of our usual fav coffee shops next to Tesco, Sungai Petani. And since Tesco was just next door, we hopped over for a "cruise" around. In so doing, we, unfortunately, had to "contribute" abit to Tesco's coffers...hehe...

On the way out, we noticed many ppl climbing over the fence separating Tesco from a new building. And when we checked it out, it was becoz of the opening of a new "Mall"...the Lagenda Village Mall! So we joined others in climbing over the fence and Wow! There was indeed a crowd! A fashion show was in progress & we spent more than an hour browsing!

Pic of part of the Mall : Well, it was indeed a great break! A stress reliever after all the hassle over the car speakers saga. A great time together for me & my other half. Thanks, B, for all your love...takes a lot to be with, stay with & still be with me all these years! I thank God for you...

An Update : Taman Berjaya 2

Looks like it's gonna be a whole new picture opposite Lot 10 from now. Things are really moving. Concrete piles are being delivered daily. A shack has been built. Piling equipment up & ready...even starting to thump thump oledi just now. Incessant thumping. Days are gonna be noisy now...sincerely hope that's it & nothing worse. Below : The scene as it was this morning - the view from our balcony :

Finally.....

At last, the Kicker 6x9in K693 3-Way Speakers are here! Phew! Now me happy...

As promised, here is an update...

Yup, the set looks genuine enuf...complete with Installation leaflet & warranty card! Our trader has even pasted his own date sticker onto the back of each speaker.

This is the box that the set came in...

However, as expected...as with most devices these days...the Speakers are Made in China. And it is proudly stated on the box itself! So another proof that this set is no imitation!

And here are pics of the left speaker (on the left) & of the right speaker (on the right)...naturally lo...hehe...









Yup, to save some sweat, me got my old speakers removed and the Kicker ones installed in their place by a pro...at my favourite accessory shop nearby. Labour charge RM20. No sweat lo...

On initial testing, same CDs played now sound much clearer & the differentiation of the various instruments played is also better. My other half says that the real test is when we travel on the highway...with the road noise & everything else! Ha ha! We'll see...soon...hehe...

That's it for now. The speakers saga has come to its happy conclusion...me really happy now! And no more stress...

Hope yr weekend started as well as mine did. Hv a great weekend!

What has our world turned into?

The world has changed!

Now, isn't that a fact? Yup, it is. More importantly is how it has changed. Has it changed for the better? Or maybe for the worse? As for what I'm bringing up here today, the world has become worse. Let me clarify.

Yup, it's regarding my recent purchase attempts of Pioneer & Kicker speakers. The Pioneer deal went sour. At every step along the way, the Seller responded as though he had the item for sale. Accepted my payment...informed me of despatch. Then came the excuses when the item was not delivered as expected. Excuse after excuse. Finally I had to seek the help of the Cust. Service ppl of that auction website. Then only was the truth revealed...he had none of that model in stock. A different model of Pioneer speakers were offered in exchange. Or maybe I could wait for arrival of new stock? After what I had to go through all that time, me decided that's it! Time to end it all. Luckily for me, my $$ were ultimately refunded. Phew!

In the meantime I had bidded for a pair of Kicker ones. Just in case something went wrong with the Pioneer transaction. (I did right cos something did go wrong there!) This transaction also appeared to move in the right direction for some time. My payment was accepted & I was told the item was to be collected & sent on same day. Date was Nov 6. I was told that I should receive it latest in 2 days. The 2 days passed. My SMSes & emails requesting for confirmation that the item was really sent were ignored. Request for the tracking number of the despatch brought none. No replies were forthcoming at all. Again I had to make a complaint to Cust. Services of the auction portal. I also sent an SMS to the Seller to refund my $$ if the item is not available.

Believe it or not...I got an "instant" sms from the Seller!! That was yesterday. Nov 9. Was told that the item should reach me today. Nov 10. Excuse? "Slight delay caused by Deepavali break... " Can you believe that? A courier company's despatch of goods taking FOUR (4) days to reach me? Just a few hundred kilometers away? Maybe a courier service run by inmates of an Old Folks Home and the goods carried by tortoises? C'mon, ppl...do you take Malaysians of today to be so dumb as all that? Phew! Double Phew!!

Whatever the reason, in such a situation, one can only wait...and hope that somehow the goods will finally arrive. And in good condition...not forgetting that the item is what it is expected to be. Genuine stuff.

That remains to be seen. As I had replied to the Seller via SMS..."Will wait see..."

Wish me luck one last time. Will update on any developments.

Anyway, like these sayings..." You can only fool me once! " and "Once bitten twice shy! ", don't think me gonna trade anymore via that auction site...very risky bznes! To meet with 2 such "untrustworthy" traders in a row, is too high statistics to ignore.

This quotation found at end of emails from Cust. Service ppl in that auction site says it all :

I have not met a reputable person when they are online ...

Kinda ironical, isn't it? Ha ha!

Happy Diwali... !!

Here's wishing all my Indian Friends, former colleagues & ex-students on this auspicious day...Happy Diwali, my friends, wherever you may be!!

However, the day, being a holiday, has made it uncertain if there would be any delivery by the courier company involved in the Kicker speakers that me have been patiently waiting for. Today is the expected delivery date if the item had been sent as stated by the Seller. Looks like me may have to wait for another day...luck appears to be against me this month! Sincerely hope this transaction would not go the same way as the Pioneer ones. Only time will tell...

The good news is my wrist, after the fall yesterday, is less painful now. Esp after my other half applied a few more times of her "miracle" ointment onto the area. Thanks to all for the concern. Clumsy ole me is getting clumsier by the day...don't wanna think of the future...

Looks like a hot sunny day is here today...at least that's what it looks like now.

Have a great holiday, everyone!! Do spend value time with family & friends...

A new day, A new hope...

Yup, the sun rises again bringing forth a new day...and with that a new hope...hope that what has not been forthcoming would be coming...

And yup, me am talking abt my Pioneer speakers! However, me kinda got the feeling that the other pair would be here earlier tho. Yup, the Kicker pair! Scheduled for either today or latest tomorrow. We will see...

However, today didn't start too well for me here. Had a minor fall. Dunno how tho. Must be the clumsy ole me. Thank God me ok. Except for some pain in my right wrist which is most probably due to me using my hands to break the fall. My right hand took the brunt of it and so the resulting pain now. My other half has put her "miracle" ointment on it & all should be fine soon. See? I can still work on the keyboard...which is a good sign. Don't you think so?

Well, better give my wrist its rest...will update later if any happy news re overdue & expected arrivals...

Have a good day!

Update @ 4pm :

Pioneer speakers are a no-no issue now. Seller has refunded my payment. Finally an end to a sticky issue...with help from the auction site staff.
However, there is still No sign of the Kicker set. Am sincerely hoping it'll not end the same way as the Pioneer ones. One more day & we will know...

A good lesson...?

There is an old saying...that goes something like this : " We Live, We Learn... "

And I am still learning...esp so in this Hi-Tech world, the so-called Cyberworld. Everything has become so much easier. Convenience at one's fingertips. Information, Banking, Job Applications, Income Tax returns, etc., etc.

One area me started dabbling in recently is making purchases in the Net. Bidding in auctions. Esp in 1 popular local auction website.

After making a number of successful bids and concluding satisfactory transactions, I've found such a means a good way to get certain items we need in the convenience of our home. Minus the hassle of hunting around in Malls & the like. Sellers that I've dealt with had been well-organised, efficient & responsive. Transactions had been successfully concluded happily, resulting in me gaining confidence & trust in that auction site.

However, my latest transaction is cause for worry. Rber the Pioneer speakers that me wrote about a few posts ago? Well, they are NOT here yet! A long story now...getting longer, it seems.

A chronological case history below :

10/31/2007 11:50:00 PM : Place bid for item.
11/1/2007 5:15:00 AM : Bid closed. Me won bid.
11/1/2007 8:15:29 AM : Payment made to Seller via direct fund transfer.
11/1/2007 04:41 PM : Seller acknowledges via sms that Email & Payment received. Also sms states "you will receive the item within this 2 days time."
11/3/2007 02:44 PM : Seller gave tracking no. as 201255412632 when me sent sms after courier company informed me of the need for tracking no. to trace if item has been despatched.
However, it was confirmed that such a number was not registered in their system.
11/4/2007 07:37 PM : Still no sign of item. Seller's reply to my sms query : "They do not work on Sunday. I will inform you of the status tomorrow. Sorry for the delay. "
11/5/2007 10:31 PM : After sending 2 smses asking abt item status, Seller sent this sms reply : " Sorry for the delay. We will clarify the matter with our courier agent tomorrow and inform you soon. "

Today is 11/6/2007... the tomorrow of yesterday is here today!

Well, if you were in my situation, what would you do? Me? I had good past dealings with other sellers trading in that auction site. So, I would prefer to keep all my options open and give this seller the benefit of the doubt for now. His profile in the auction site had a 100% rating ie (594: 121+,100%). Now me am wondering...is that for real? Let's see what he has to say next...hopefully a happy ending to all this uncertainty.

Somehow me feel that for the small sum involved, this kind of complications should never arise. Like me told a fmly mber who inquired abt the outcome of this purchase... " If this seller is so desperate for $$, we help him... "

If this transaction turns sour, me will be very, very wary of making future purchases in the Net, esp more so in this particular auction site!!

Wish me luck...

An update...#1 :

Appears that construction work is abt to start at the site just opposite my house. Land was filled some time back. Starting yesterday, lorryloads of earth were brought in to further fill up areas. An excavator was working the whole of yesterday to clear areas overgrown with grass & shrubs. And today, a team of surveyors are around...with lorryloads of construction timber! Guess the start of the next phase of development is beginning...

Above pic just taken this morning. Am hoping that whatever "disturbances" & inconveniences that come with a housing development phase in progress would be within tolerable limits...being a long on-going process.

Wish me luck here, too!

An Update...#2 :

Rber my back-up plan abt those speakers? My bidding for a second set? Kicker ones? Won bid on 3 Nov.

Ok...if you do, looks like things have started moving...finally. After my payment (4th Nov) & email to seller (Nov 5) requesting for info abt its despatch info...esp after the problems with the Pioneer seller.

Yup, me just got an email response @ 10:24am today (6th Nov.) stating : " Item will be collected and posted today. You will receive it latest in 2 days time. Thanks again for your humble support. " Now let's see if this seller's words hold water...then maybe, just maybe, my former confidence in online purchases would be reinstated to a certain degree. Like the saying goes... "Once bitten, twice shy... "

Will keep you informed. Wish me luck here...again...too!!

ps. Frankly, on hindsight, if me had known attempts to get a pair of speakers thru the auction site would end up being such a hassle, me would have opted to get a set instantly & directly from local accessory shops. I would have a good pick of branded ones for the total sum (RM323) now involved! However, like my other half commented... "No way you could know... " And, she's right, you know...

pps. Honestly, this speaker do thing started out on a very noble note. With many parties benefiting from it. Cos me believed in " Happiness shared is Happiness multiplied ". Only me & the One upstairs know... Like another saying goes : "What is not to be, will never be... "

What is Life? Do you ever wonder...?

Yup, it's that philosophical mood creeping in once more...

When we are young, life is just living it...feeling like nothing's greater or more important than living the day & looking forward to tomorrow. Whatever is going to happen next never really affects us much. Like we are always right in all we say or do. Like nothing matters more than our own feelings & view of issues in our daily lives.

Lately, me feel somehow different. Whatever happens around me matters. What I see. What I hear. What I do. Everything affecting my life matters. I feel. Like most say, these feelings & changes happen when one grows old. Am I that old now? Maybe so... Maybe I should adopt the attitude of the 3 monkeys? Like what my other half has been constantly advising me. Seems that is the only way one can go thru life well & not be affected needlessly.

Have you ever got the feeling that, after all these years, ppl supposedly close to you...eg yr own kids (now grown-up & all that)...should know you well? That they should know you well enuf to know in their hearts that you will never ever say nor do things to hurt them? That you are not one to mean what others mean when they say certain things? That you are you and not others?
That they are ppl special & dear to you? And so many other things that should make you stand out against all others in this world? Oh no...in their eyes, you can be no better than any other stranger around...sad but true...

Even tho I've been "preaching" the philosophy that "we are not ppl... " from the time they were teens only...I still get the feeling that the meaning in that simple statement never really sink in. Never really understood. Unless you are them, you will not understand either & feel that me am talking in riddles...sincere apologies.

Frankly, sad to say, I am slowly being "told" in bits & pieces that I am just like anybody else! The title of being a Father is just a word. How you've brought them up, all that you've tried to teach them, the love you've showered upon them....all that appears to have come to naught. Whatever good you might have done for them...not matter how numerous... is overshadowed by any event (even if only one!) considered to have been against their expectations of you. And, I am NO different from anybody else. What I say or do is equated the same as any unknown person in the world. Now, is that what the world has come to today? Or is that just me?

My other half has been trying to convert me...from the idealistic philosophical fool I have always been to a down-to-earth guy. All my life I've followed my heart. Now it seems I need to face the harsh realities in this world rather than live aimlessly in my own little dreamworld. Quotations like "Water in a river never flows upstream", "Never expect anything in return for whatever you do", "Look after ourselves & Live our own lives", "Count your blessings", "Thank God for our pensions" & many others... keep on recycling in my mind. "Be happy", she has been stressing, "with any good & happy event that takes place...otherwise, just be happy that we are still ok." Now, with each & every happening in my life this far, I'm slowly beginning to see the true wisdom of those words. And, hopefully, I'd be fully converted by the time me have to leave this world. In fact, I have to be...before that time!

I have taken actions which have been deemed ill-advised by most of my friends. Even tho I could ill-afford the luxury. Just imagine the idea of taking a flight when one you care & love is just down with the Flu! I have provided help, financially & otherwise, even at odd, unearthly hours. I have gone out of my way to keep them in my thoughts...taking action on those thoughts, at times practically almost everywhere I go. But Life to me now appears to be a one-way street. True love, care, faith, trust, understanding...qualities me value most in life...are seemingly absent. Non-existent, even...at times. Proving for a fact that what the heart does not have, the body will never be able to do. Cos then the mind dictates. And the mind has no feelings.

However, as many have pointed out too, Life is a cycle...and the saying that we hear often..."What goes around comes around..." is still doing its rounds. Good family values are slowly being eroded...slowly but steadily...and, if that continues, the next generation is gonna be no better...probably worse.

Excuse the wild, erractic ramblings of a tired, frustrated & disappointed ole fool in his own lost little private dreamworld. Pls...pls...do NOT ever put yourself in one like mine!

Sincerely hope I'm a rarity in this world. And, of course, that you are not like me!

Pioneer car speakers...Bad? Imitations?

That's the BIG question...

Are Pioneer car speakers in this century so bad as to warrant looking down on them? AFAIK, Pioneer audio equipment ranks among the top of the popular makes available in this country...maybe abroad as well. Imitations of the real stuff? Possibly. Cos good things...popular items...money-making devices...they are great targets for counterfeiters! Also cos they are in great demand. Easy to sell.

As it is, I'm...unfortunately & sad to say...still awaiting delivery of my Pioneer 5-Way Speakers which I won in an auction in our local auction website. Have contacted the seller & he confirms that the item has been sent. Latest sms response from him indicates he will chk on the delivery status at Skynet tomorrow ie Monday. This has been the longest delivery wait I ever had since me started bidding for items in the auction site. Am sincerely hoping that it will come to a happy & satisfactory conclusion soon.

Well, with all the uncertainty hurled upon Pioneer speakers, me felt it was best that I play it safe. Yup, me bidded for a better product...one that I failed to get at an earlier attempt. Yup, you got it right...I bidded for a pair of Kicker 3-Way 6x9 speakers! The New KICKER K-Series K693 (Pair) 6x9 3-Way Speakers.

And guess what? This time around me won! Yup, me won the bid! RM199 + RM20 for delivery charges. Total cost RM219. Payment has been made. My usual efficient self. Ha ha! And responses so far received from the Seller indicates a good transaction. And hopefully, a good conclusion, too.
Pic above shows the Kicker K693 Speakers.

If all goes well, me should get them by this coming Tuesday, latest...hopefully. Who knows...the Kicker pair may even arrive earlier than the Pioneer...hehe...

Me will write more on how this new "adventure trail" ends as it unfolds. Like the saying goes...Perseverence is the Key to Success !! Moreover, me am not one who lets "Failure" stare me in the face...but am one who fights to win ! And I will win.

Before I end this entry, our niece in Australia just got married yesterday...Nov 3rd. Joanne & Jessie...We wish both of you all the very best in your journey thru life together. May Love & Happiness be bountiful throughout yr lives together. Our sincere apologies tho that we couldn't be there in person to share the wonderful day of joy. Have a great honeymoon in Africa!!

A new "adventure" begins...

What can I say? Things around here have been kinda quiet...and somehow there is the feeling of a need for something new...hehe...

What do I mean? After installing an Amplifier in my ole junk, the weaknesses of the existing speakers, a 2-way Honda set, was exposed. Vibrations were immediately obvious when music with good bass was played. Kinda irritating lo...

On checking, the cause & reason was clear & evident. The Amp was delivering RMS 75W of power with the speakers capable of only RMS 60W! They just do Not match...

And so the search began. Search for a better set of speakers. A no. of available options were explored. Even a well-known brand as Kicker of USA was considered. Tried to purchase even. Failed to get them at reduced prices. Was even offered at RM486 as an INSTANT grab! Me not have that kind of $$$...if only I had tho...

Tried bidding for a Pioneer 3-way. Price went up beyond my bank acct limit. Gave up. Asked around & found that really branded speakers are going for above RM250! Only option was to get Made in China ones. Below RM200.

My hunt then continued. Found a no. of sets of Pioneer TS-A6991S 6x9in 480W 5-way speakers being offered on our local online auction site. Only for a starting bid of RM79 + RM25 handling & delivery charges. A good bargain, it appears.

Above : Pics of box & the speakers.
Specs look good. Even if, as was explained to me, these speakers might not be original ones, me feel they have to be pretty good copies of the original. Not easy to reproduce such a complex item, right? Feel they could probably be Made in China Pioneer sets. Now tell me, what is NOT made in China these days? Anyway, me sincerely hoping they are genuine originals tho...

Well, my luck held & me won the bid on those speakers at their starting price. Now the waiting starts. Delivery has been confirmed to be within these 2 days. Me will write more when the speakers are here...received in good condition...(they are supposedly New)...and installed plus working fine in my ole junk! All that are ?? in each & every auction purchase made over the Net. One just cannot escape that...

Wish me luck!

Focus shift...

Yup, focus has shifted momentarily to my ole junk. And yup, dat's my car! Need to take care of it well cos that practically are my legs....oops...my wheels...hehe...

Abt a week or so ago, me did a general service of the car. The engine oil & oil filter were replaced with new ones. An engine protector & performance enhancement additive, Bardahl 1, was added. The air filter was replaced, too. The OCT (Oil Catch Tank) that me added some time back was re-routed for better access & the fuel filter used was replaced.

On further inspection, the mess at the positive terminal of the battery appeared to need some sense of order. So a special fused Distribution Box was purchased & installed. Now all additionally-installed accessories (spotlights, horn, upgraded headlights) drawing power from the battery, are receiving their power source from the new DB. Neat now, huh?

After installing the Amplifier, it was felt that to complement the system, a more compatible Voltage Stabilizer was appropriate. The old one, a Zaptor Silver, was for a std car with no ICE. ICE, by the way, stands for In-Car Entertainment. And now, that my car has a minimal ICE system, it makes sense that the enhanced model, the Zaptor Gold, should be next in line.

An order was placed on Thurs 25 Oct. Payment (RM100 incl Poslaju charges) was made via electronic fund transfer. Confirmed on 26th and received on 27th. Also installed on 27th afternoon. Here it is...

All these are small but affordable mods. And, besides improving the overall appearance, functions of the car, they have also made noticeable differences in our radio & music listening pleasure when on the move. In our car, of course!

Now...I wonder what I should do next...

To complement this entry, retirees of former SMKH staff & friends held their Annual Dinner 2007 @ Crystal Phoenix Restaurant on Fri 26th Oct. A great time was had for one & all to meet, update & compare notes on the past year's events. Many new faces were seen for the 1st time. A lucky draw was also held. Sponsors for drinks, gifts & prizes were aplenty. No one went home empty-handed. A couple of pics to share...esp of new faces. Part of the 6 tables present...a great re-union...

Have a great new year, my friends! Till we meet again...