Sweet Ole Me...

Fri 281108

Chocs & more chocs...nuts & more nuts...that's what me enjoyed so much while sitting in front of the "idiot box" immediately after my retirement! Life was good...no worries...no more stress @work! Doing what me wanted & felt like doing at any time. Sleep when me wanna sleep. Wake up when me wanna wake up. No schedules to follow. Pure bliss...the culmination of years & years of yu-know-what. Finally, me am my own boss...hehe...

Well, like a quotation that me had heard somewhere before...

"...in everything we do, there is always a price to pay..."

And how true it is!

Yup, not long after my retirement & esp after all the indulgence in chocs & nuts, me felt kinda tired & drowsy more & more often. Attributed it to my not having something definite to do daily. Then one day, a voice in me told me that I should not just explain away what I'm feeling...cos it might be something more than what I think or feel...

Took a blood test...and that really stopped me in my tracks! 14+ was my blood sugar level! That most feared bell then started sounding...if me not do anything about myself, me was gonna go downhill all the way! That was kinda scary... me was classified as a "pre-type 2 diabetic"!

Well, that was history today...cos me took positive steps following my Doc's advice eg exercising regularly & controlling my food intake & diet. That was years ago...about 7 years, to be exact...haha! Me was like anyone else...except for the exercise routine & diet control.

However, last month it was noticed that my fasting blood sugar level just refused to go down. It remained way past the normal range. Moreover, the level for 2 hours after meals climbed to within the acceptable range of diabetics! Upon doing some investigation, it was found that most pre-type 2 diabetics move into true type 2 diabetes after 5 years...at the most! Me already way past that time limit!!

Upon consultation, my Doc told me that we couldn't just let the situation continue as it was. It would have harmful & irreversible effects on my vision (eyes), kidneys & even the heart in the long term. Factually, it was gonna be like immersing all my body organs & parts into a sugar solution!! We had to keep the level within the normal range with medication now.

And so it was. I started taking 1 tablet of Glucophage 500mg after breakfast. This medication was recommended cos it was time-tested to be effective & known to be "harmless", besides being of low cost. That brought down the sugar level for meals...after an hour & even after 2 hours. That certainly was a good sign.

In spite of that, my fasting level still remained past the normal range...showing that the effects of the medication had worn off by evening. A week later, a second dose was advised to be taken after dinner. Did so for 2 weeks. Tests later showed a remarkable improvement! Now my blood sugar level after fasting averages only 5.7. That is within the normal range. Phew...

Now what does all that mean? Yup, without a doubt me am now a confirmed Type 2 diabetic person. No denial is gonna help here. Accept my body for what it has become. Ageing process lo...remember the same 10/90 Philosophy? Being what I am now is beyong my control but how me react would make a lot of difference to my life from here onwards. Agreed?

Yup, I cannot change what has happened to my body but I can control the course it will take from now. That way I can have a better quality of life! Uncontrolled diabetes can result in many serious complications. Lots of suffering. Not need to go into details here. One just needs to Google for them, right?

Now me just need to pop in a tab after breakfast & one more after dinner...then me can enjoy my life as any other guy next to me! Yup, life is short...let's not make it any shorter...

And yup, TGIF, too! Another weekend is here again...and you know the rest ie if you are a regular visitor to Middle Lip...

A Visit to the Dentist and more...

Wed 26 Nov 2008

Well, it all started last night when my other half checked & found it's time to do some "spring-cleaning" of her teeth. Yup, the plaque thing. Time to de-scale. And so it was decided to make that trip to our fav dentist...

We left for the dental clinic right after breakfast...a simple one of bread & milk. At the reception desk, we were informed that we had to wait for only 2 more patients before our turn. That was just a bit after 10am. Time passed by. A long wait...even for 2 patients ahead of us. Almost 3 hrs passed. A nurse told me that our turn would be next. But when the next patient was called, imagine our surprise when it was NOT for my other half but for a family of PR Singaporeans back on holiday!

Actually there was a lady earlier who exhibited sheer impatience & the arrogance that she was to be treated special! She had kept on going to the reception counter to remind the staff in attendance that she had made an appointment for 11am and what the time was already at that time! Some ppl do feel that their material wealth, or whatever, makes them so deserving of special treatment! Her face was certainly not one to enjoy viewing. Angry, unhappy lines were deeply etched in her face. Not a happy lady! Probably someone bearing a lot of bad "garbage" around, finding every opportunity to dispose of it on others! She does not realise that she's the one suffering...

So, thank God for what me have been learning & trying hard to practise...keeping my cool in such high stress situations. The 10/90 philosophy was right on target! We played it well...the 90% part. And as it turned out, others were the ones who felt bad...who were apologetic. We smiled. And the events ended in goodwill & we left with a nice feeling for what we had accomplished.

Yup, how our day is & will be is within our control. Me feel now if me can keep it up, such control would hopefully become second nature in me.

Me just read an entry in 1 of my fav Blogs, namely http://kh7883.blogspot.com/ and that entry ended with this paragraph which I feel is another piece of good advice :

...love the people who treat you right. Forget about the ones who don't. Believe that every thing happens for a reason. If you get a chance, TAKE IT! If it changes your life, LET IT! Nobody said it would be easy... They just promised it would be WORTH IT Cheers!"Life is short. Enjoy the journey."

Yup, Life is certainly short. Feel this is the umpteenth time me had quoted that phrase. Sorry. And for all in my position, we certainly can't afford to waste whatever time we have left catering to the whims & fancies or whatever "kiasu" attitudes they might have. We should be enjoying the remainder of the journey...to the best of our abilities, right?

And, yup, we would be happier persons by letting such ppl with lots of bad "garbage" pass us by...
I would like to end this entry with another extract from that same Blog entry...

...successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. What about you? What would happen in your life, starting today, if you let more garbage trucks pass you by? Here's my bet. You'll be happier.

So how many "garbage trucks" have you let pass by you? That many? Good for you!

Have a good day!

What is Life (Part II)....

Tues 251108

This time around it appears that my philosophical self is pushing his way out...and thus the same ole philosophical question of " What is Life... "

For newcomers to this Blog, I had put some of my thoughts about what life is in "What is Life? Do you ever wonder...", namely my entry dated Nov 5th 2007.

Well, this time around, me put that question to my other half. Her answer? Life is a struggle...
To her, from the moment we were born, we struggled to survive in this world...overcoming all obstacles we might meet along the way. Each person has his/her own means to go through life...to survive. Living each day. Passing each day. Even up till the moment before death, many still struggle to survive...those who succeed get to live a little bit longer. But, ultimately, we all die. We came with nothing and we will leave with nothing...

The difference between one human being and another is how they live while they struggle to live. The lucky ones would get to enjoy more of life than the less fortunate ones.

Lucky ones? To some, they would tell you there is no such thing as luck! That it is all hard work & sweat. Me? I don't believe so...cos some ppl are born with golden spoons in their mouths, as the saying goes. Their lives are pre-laid out for them...from birth to at least adulthood.

Some achieve success in all they attempt to do. Improving their lives & how they live, as time passes...although they might have started similarly as others. Luck? Or Fate? Even destiny?

To quote Shakespeare (pls correct me if wrong...TQ):

"Some are born great;
Some achieve greatness;
Some have greatness thrust upon them..."

Others, like me, had to really struggle through each phase of their lives. From the time I was in Form 1, my life had been a downhill affair. My education was possible through "charity" from various welfare depts., obtained through my mum's initiatives & perseverence. A long story to tell here. Also, my personal fear of cockroaches came from living in a roach-infested house! Thousands everywhere...even flying around at night!

I can still remember the nights that I had sat together with my mum in her employer's kitchen (she was working as a housekeeper then)...re-assuring her that I would provide her with a better life asap...and that kinda resulted in my choice of careers when I had 2 offers. The choice I finally made was partly because the other would mean my graduation 1 year later and my mum, at that time, told me she might not live to see me graduate. Luck? I see it more of fate...

Yup, we, of that generation, did think of our ageing parents...in my case, my surviving mother. Of providing, caring & looking after her. But do the kids of today even harbour any of those thoughts? Any thought of providing a better life for their parents? Thinking of their needs? Or even just caring for them? Thinking of how they are doing? I wonder...

Note : Would certainly love to hear from visitors to this Blog....your comments, pls. TQ in advance.

What are your parents to you now? Are they in your thoughts? Daily or once in a while? Perhaps never? For most of the time? A burden perhaps? Would you even feel the loss of that someone who loved you & maybe whom you loved too, should they pass away? Or would it be a burden off your shoulders? Frankly, I have yet to witness any sadness at most wakes for deceased parents that I've attended these days...sorry, sad but true.

Are you a parent now? Think of it..."what goes around does come around", as the saying goes. Me had a few discussions of future generations and what may be in store for them. The general consensus is not good...to say the least! Most agreed it would be worse for the next generation & worse still for the next after that! One reason why so-called "Nursing Homes" are flourishing in this country these days. Another sad fact but true.

Sincere apologies for that diversion...And now back to the luck & fate thing...

To me, it's like one is destined to be what one is to be. I have been what I was & is what I am today. Not for want of trying. Me tried. A few examples. Floods prevented my attendance at an interview for a change in career. An attempt at biznes failed after a year...with losses! Investment efforts in the local bourse resulted in losses...even when purchasing newly issued units by a bank...something that never ever happened before!

Now you tell me if that is luck or fate?

That sad part of my struggle in my life made me more determined to ensure that my future family & kids would never have to go through what I had to. And I can happily say I'd achieved that by overcoming all odds stacked against me all those years!

And so it was & has been...both my kids knew no such sorrows nor had to struggle like me had to. I found the means...when I did not have those capabilities....to provide for what I felt I should do for them...going that extra mile, as the saying goes. They were not even troubled by a single cockroach!!

Even so, I couldn't help having that nagging feeling that my kids might still feel that I could have done more...possibly even someone feeling that me owed him/her more than he/she owed me? Now can that be true?

But now, fate has taken its course. Not luck. Not what I could do. That 10% which is beyond our control. My golden years are turning out to be not what I had wished & hoped for. But, frankly (like my other half has been reminding me off & on...), if me were to look around, my life...and hers...isn't too bad after all! With a good "Kay Pa" looking after both of us (till the day we have to leave this world, so to say...), we would never starve nor not have clothes on our backs or a roof over our heads. In fact, we can consider ourselves blessed!! And hopefully, with reasonably good health, we would find our own little happiness along the way...in the days left...

Yup, every day of life is indeed a true bonus! Happiness is there...all around us! It's up to us to enjoy it the best way we can! At this point in our lives, material things do not matter much...besides the basic necessities of a reasonably comfortable home (which we already have...). It's the feeling that prevails...as we pass each extra day given to us...without the need to struggle anymore...in PEACE!

Thank God for what we are blessed with...this Life in us! To have what we already have. Amen.

COD on 221108

Sun 23 Nov 08

Hi...it's Sunday again! Thank God for another 7 bonus days!

As most visitors to this Blog would know, every Sat is known as ( what is practised by these 2 inmates of Lot 10 OFH) the "Chef's Off Day" or COD for short. And it usually ends in a session of "Cine Nite"...watching a selected DVD movie on our "Big Screen".

Well, this latest COD on 221108 turned out kinda differently. On our way out before lunch & when the "Chef" (you know who, right?) was asked what she would like to have for lunch, she answered (albeit wrongly...as she admitted soon after), "Duck Rice". And so it was to be...actually though, she did earlier (at home) suggested "Chicken Rice" but somehow she said "Duck Rice" when re-asked as mentioned above. A slip of the tongue, perhaps? Or so she said...haha!

So, me picked up on that & acted like me got the hint and turned towards our nearest Toll Plaza to head towards Sungei Petani (SP), where the Duck Rice that we so enjoyed before was sold. Frankly, me already planned to take our Chef for the Duck Rice treat! But, due to her slip of the tongue, me could act out as if it was me fulfilling her request...hehe...

She further realised that this ole man had planned the trip beforehand when, upon reaching the Toll Plaza, she saw me taking the Touch & Go card out of me pocket...shouldn't have been ready in there, right? Esp if trip was not pre-planned? Ha ha...

Well, lunch was as planned. Duck Rice complete with gravy & soup & with an extra fried Kangkong in sambal belacan dish. Yummy! RM21.40. Great meal.

After lunch, we adjourned to nearby Parkson @SP Parade to get a suitable plastic overlay for our room window. To prevent easy direct viewing of our room "contents" by occupants of the new houses coming up directly opposite our house. Bought 1 meter @RM15.90.

Next stop was at the Village Mall just next to Tesco SP. Both had to do what most ppl had to do to gain access to the Village Mall from the Tesco carpark area, namely "vaulting" a fence that separates the two! Wouldn't it be most considerate of both of them to provide an open "gateway" for one & all to move freely between the two areas?
Well, some kind soul(s) had padded a section of the lower round fencing bars with rubber sheeting...probably some unfortunate "fence vaulters" might have slipped & fell in the past!

Upon arrival, there appeared to be some official function about to take place...with booths promoting local products on exhibition. Pics below tell the story...
And here's our local "Mike Tyson" in attendance at the ceremony...

That event made the Village Mall a little bit busier...

Even up till now, the Village Mall has not changed much since it's opening. A lot of shoplots are still not taken up...a few on level 1 but even more so on the 2nd floor level.

More window-shopping there than contributing to their survival...haha!

After that, it was "vaulting" the fence again to get back to Tesco SP. Made a small contribution here though.

By then it was almost 6pm...believe it or not! Great mall/hypermarket explorers, aren't we?

Back in Lot 10, a short rest & it was time for another planned activity! Yup, this one was no secret though. Me had told the Chef that when we get our "allowance" from our "Kay Pa" for this month, we would have our long time fav dish ( one that we haven't had for a long long time...) again. And yup, it's what is known as "soft shell crabs" fried in batter.

And it was an opportunity to try out the food at the "quite new" Seafood Restaurant en route to AS Mall. Well, it was a fruitful & nice experience. Cheap, too! RM23 for that special dish, a mixed vege dish & "Hokkien Char" incl drinks.

Cine Nite was kinda delayed cos we adjourned to AS Mall...so near already, right? There we were attracted to a stage contest being held for kids. Great show, really! But, unfortunately, we couldn't stay till the end or there would no longer be a Cine Nite...

Here's a taste of what we saw...enjoy the video...

Phew! One is stumped by what kids of today can do....

COD 221108 ended with Cine Nite...watching the movie "You Don't Mess With the Zohan" starring Adam Sandler. Nothing great about this movie...kinda vulgar in most parts. Purely for entertainment. Kinda wonder how it was screened in the cinemas/cineplexes...if it was censored as it should have been in this country.

With that, me sincerely hope the start of your weekend was as good as mine...

A New adventure...

Weds 19 Nov 08

A New place to explore...in AS!! Yup, another venue for these 2 OFH inmates to explore...to enjoy...hehe...

And yup, a new adventure began earlier today...to further our lifelong hobby...that of enjoying movies! You got it! A new cineplex had just opened in A/Star! Belonging to the chain of cineplexes around the country known as Star Screen Cinemas, this new venue opened in AS Mall @ Tandop Baru, just a few days ago.

After making an initial visit (spying??) for info, both had an early simple lunch of potato bread & milk and then we were off to nearby AS Mall...not for our usual walk-walk session but for a movie date!!

Tickets were bought @RM6 each...sorry but no discounts for senior citizens...yet....

and then loaded with a box of their smallest popcorn pack, we were ready for the first show in the new cineplex! The movie? 007 in Quantum Of Solace. What else? Ha ha!

And this is the way in...
Not bad, eh? A total of 4 cineplex halls, the biggest seating abt 170 patrons. Sorry but can't remember the capacity of the other 3.
Well, the one screening the 007 latest movie was Cineplex #1, the largest.
Seats were comfy & on a great slope...no blocking by patrons in front rows which is a very good feature. Air-con was cold though towards the middle of the movie.

However, 1 minor (can be considered serious, too!) irritation or shortcoming was the performance of the projectionist at that screening. Blurry image when the movie started. Obvious. Although other patrons kinda appeared to tolerate & accept it (maybe they didn't expect high quality from an AS venue?), me felt that me was not gonna sit through an entire supposedly great movie and suffer such poor quality images!! Even the subtitles were horribly out of focus...

So me went outside, found a cineplex employee & voiced my observations. Within a few minutes, we could see the focus being adjusted and, oh my...clear clear movie on screen...at last!!

Unfortunately, that clarity didn't last till the end of the movie. When the projectionist changed over to the 2nd projector in use, the screening lost a bit of its sharpness...but it was not as bad as in the first instance. Tolerable...and so it was for abt one-third of the movie. Luckily...when the projectionist switched back to the first projector that was re-adjusted, it was good & clear again...phew!!

Another thing me noticed was that the subtitle format/fonts were different, in size & type, when the switchover of projectors took place. Was the cineplex supplied with mixed reels or...?? Can anyone confirm that or explain why? TQ.

One good point that me can mention here abt the service provided by the Cineplex staff is that the one to whom me voiced my complaint, was efficient & prompt in dealing with the said problem. He even came in to confirm with me that the focus was ok already a short while after the adjustment was made & even wished me, "Enjoy the movie..."!! Frankly, me was pretty surprised that he could pick me out from among the other patrons in the dark! Maybe it was easy because I was the only patron with almost a headful of white hair? Glows in the dark? Ha ha!

However, the projectionist himself remained kinda unaware of his own failings. That's why when there was a projector change, the quality deteriorated slightly. Maybe due to his inexperience? Only he knows...

As we all know, first impressions are very important. Advertisements by word of mouth count a lot...more than any printed media. So extra care must be taken to ensure patrons get their money's worth in the early days of a new cineplex operation. Or else....

Well, only time will tell if this new cineplex would survive where others have failed. Frankly me sincerely hope it would cos both inmates here would welcome a local cineplex to enjoy certain movies...rather than have to travel all the way to Penang!!

The movie itself? Not bad, I must say...lots of action, too! Probably done with lots of computerised graphics help? Enjoyable nonetheless.

Anyway, me would still get a DVD copy of Quantum of Solace when it becomes available...hehe...feel there are parts that were missing...if you know what I mean...haha!

ps. An update here : Yup, my tooth that lost its old filling was successfully re-filled! Hooray! Cheers! Saved!! Thanks a meg, Dr K!! For saving 1 of the very few teeth that me could chew with! Me have been a grandpa for years but looks like it won't be long before me not grandpa in name/status but gonna look like a real grandpa soon...with totally white hair & NO teeth!! So, any tooth saved makes that day a little bit farther away...hehe...

The Good, The Bad and The ....?

Mon 171108

End of another bonus week...thank God 4all blessings...

And like life always is...there is the Good, the Bad and whatever comes next...

First the Good...

Last Sat started as the usual "COD"...another Chef's Off Day. Breakfast was the local fare from the nearby open market. Then "borrowing" the air-con @Tesco Mergong. Kinda paid a small "instalment" to Tesco Store's kitty...need to replenish a few daily needs eg fresh milk.

Lunch was supposed to be Hokkien mee at a nearby coffee shop but on arrival, the stall was not operating! Maybe closed for the day. So the alternative was a similar do at the other end of the block. Me was adventurous though...tried the curry mee of a new stall. And what a letdown...the curry was too HOT for my needs! Eventually...after a couple of mouthfuls, my tongue & mouth just couldn't stand the hotness! Me gave up & opted for a plate of econ rice with a few selected dishes. Phew...that was close!

A rose plant that was totally covered by aphids & on the verge of dying, was saved by a number of sprays of Malathion insecticide. Now it is in full bloom...looks great, doesn't it? Nice....That was certainly worth the save...a beauty of a bloom!

Next was a real happy event! We were on our way out for dinner at Timuran...a place our "Chef" missed for the past few weeks. Me got a call from our daughter asking where we were...and the revelation that they could not find us at home! It was a great dinner do for all at Timuran...with our fav grandaughter for lively company!

A pic of her to share...taken with my N73 phone cam:

That's KL saying "Hi!" to all visitors @ Middlelip...

Do check out a few more pics of KL in her slideshow in this Blog. Those pics were snapped during this surprise visit by KL & family...a happy KL...

As for all good things, the weekend with KL passed all too quickly & soon it was time for her to go home. We could see that strange & puzzled yet sad look on KL's face as she & family in their car slowly pulled away from Lot 10. KL must be wondering why she's waving goodbye to these 2 nice guys who gave her happy times during this weekend. Well, KL...grandpa & grandma will be seeing you again...hopefully soon....

Now for the Bad...

Lot 43, KL's home, was broken into during the family's absence!! It was a shock to her parents...esp her mom who lost the most.

No worries, MDEL...what matters utmost must always be the safety of oneself & family. $$ is only $$ and can be replenished in due course. As long as we are alive, capable & in good health. Experience is a good teacher. And, with experience, one comes out stronger & better for it. And always remember, you can always count on us for any support that you may need. With love in our hearts, one need not feel and is NEVER ever alone...cos we will always be one FAMILY!! The Tan Family. Of course barring those who feel that once they are married & have their own families, they have no more ties with this "old" Tan Family. Cos to such ppl, the "old" ppl are not family anymore & is more of a burden than anything else...ppl whom they can do without! Sad but true....wonder if such ppl will ever realise how they came to be in this world & how they could be what they are today? Could they be so today w/o the original Tan Family standing solidly behind them? Or is it the proverbial "Seperti kacang lupakan kulit" thing?

I, for one, firmly believe that God is fair... only time will tell though...we will see...

Anyway, back to the original theme...I'd always believed that ppl with ill-gotten things/$$ will never really enjoy their so-called profits from their wrongdoings. Consider what such ppl have taken from us to be our charity to them who need it more than we do. It's their grave desperation to survive & not knowing how to nor well-equipped to, that has driven them to such acts of theft & disrespect of others' legal & hard-earned property. Whatever we achieve & enjoy with our own sweat, gives us the most satisfying feelings beyond words to describe. Thank God for our safety, ability to continue living & for us to be able to continue to enjoy our future to come...

Well, 2009 is approaching fast...and with its coming, we all can look forward to better & happier times ahead. I certainly do. Every day is precious. Let's live the moment, count our blessings, and not let those with selfish & bad thoughts & actions spoil our lives.

ps. Update : 1 more Bad event occured during lunch today. An old filling of 1 of my teeth came out!! Unfortunately, my fav dentist is off on Mondays. Will have to get that tooth filled early tomorrow morning...keeping my fingers Xed that it can indeed be filled... Sincerely hope that's the last of Bad events for this session. Not wanna end 2008 in such a fashion.

TGIF??

Fri 141108

TGIF? Maybe so for those of you still working...hehe...but definitely, it's just another day, another bonus day, for me & everyone else in similar conditions to mine!

So congrats to all who have managed to survive another week at work & congrats, too, to my fellow retirees who have been blessed with another week of life! Sincerely hope you did have good memories of the past 1 week of bonus days...

Me? Kinda quiet tho. But happy. Peace & Happiness. Good. And...Oh yes! In mid-week, me sort of yearned for a plate of nice succulent roasted duck. And so far, such a dish hasn't been found in A/Star in spite of my making enquiries from former colleagues. Tried one at Sbg Jln Putra once but it didn't measure up to the SP quality. Another was a stall next to the former Rex theatre but the duck meat that greeted us then, was not in the least inviting. (Any other recommendations?)

So, it was... that on last Weds, me made a special trip down to Sungai Petani where me had last enjoyed our lunch serving of tasty roasted duck!

As it was still too early for lunch when we reached SP, a detour to the nearby Giant hypermarket was in order. Although we do have a Giant hyper in A/S, certain items found in one appear to be not found in the other. So, such a visit has never been dull nor boring...got new things to browse through, not forgetting the shoplots within the same premises. More of such shoplots in SP than in the Giant in A/S. Me had my first experience with those "fish spa" treatments...those tiny fish which could cleanse your skin of dead cells, etc. Kinda ticklish experience...with a strange sensation that lasted a while even after treatment...haha!

Now about the roasted duck for lunch. What can I say? That wasn't my lucky day cos upon arrival outside the restaurant, it was found that the restaurant, with its special roasted ducks, was NOT open that day! The disappointment was instantly felt. The restaurant must be closed on Wednesdays. That was duly noted down.

Well, looking back, we realised that we had our first taste of the roasted duck when we actually went down to SP to have a second round of "Pan Mee" which was sold in a coffee shop nearby. At that time, the "Pan Mee" was not available. And so it was...this time around..., that since the roasted duck was not available but the "Pan Mee" was, we opted for the "Pan Mee" this time around...with extra "Mani" vege, too!!

And so, that trip was not totally in vain. And a nice but simple lunch it was!

After lunch, Parkson's was the next stopover. A redemption of my Bonuslink points was made...I'd lost 500 over points collected over the years! So, if you had not made any redemption of yours, don't forget to do so or your points would just fly away. Frankly, there's not much choices of redemptions to be made. With my total of just over 2000 pts left, I could just redeem 2 X RM10 Parkson vouchers. Well, better than nothing, right? I would have lost some more points by end of this month if I didn't redeeam them then. RM20 is still $$....

And yup, me almost forgot...a 2nd Tesco Store appears to be coming up soon in A/S!! Location? At the new Stargate development area just after the A/S (S) Toll Plaza. Saw the banner announcing it on our way back from SP that afternoon. Maybe ready for opening in time for the CNY 2009? Can't help wondering if biznes is that good in A/S...with 2 Billion's, 2 Pacific's/The Store, 1 Giant...and now gonna be 2 Tescos? Phew...

To me, however, it means 1 more venue for our "walk-walk" sessions...hehe....another place to while away our time! Wonder when is Jaya Jusco coming to town....??

In the meantime, me gotta etch 6 more marks on me prison wall before the prison gates are open once more so that me can take my other half on our rollercoaster ride upwards. 1 thing is for sure...one can feel confident that our "Kay Pa" will never fail us & will always be on time...even earlier at times!

Until then, do have a great weekend ahead...I will...with "COD" on tomorrow with the usual Cine Nite!

Prison Break!!

Sat 081108

Target achieved! Time to break free! Yup, that was the feeling me had on 071108...

And yup, it was a long long term served. But a break well-earned! Both me & my understanding other half decided to enrich our "economy cake" further a mite...so tightening the proverbial "belt" was the only way to achieve that. That was 10 days ago. And it culminated with a great icing on our "cake" when that day arrived...071108!

And as me had "promised", we broke out from our self-imposed prison! Truly a great feeling of satisfaction & joy. Unity is certainly Strength...and with it comes everything good & nice.

Now, what could 2 freshly released jailbirds do? Fly....fly...fly...

Yup, we almost literally "flew" out of our nest! To somewhere new. A new Mall. En route to Penang. And yup, it was the newly opened Aeon Seberang Prai City...where the main tenant was Jaya Jusco.

Frankly that destination was not pre-planned. And so it was that we had to proceed there kinda blindly...had maps of the route there printed out days before but, being on the spur of the moment decision, those maps were left at home! So the drive there became a simple test of this ole man's memory bank...haha!

Well, what can I say? Me passed the test la...haha! Yup, the route there was kinda straight & simple...as me had remembered from the map. Most important was the road to take at a roundabout after turning out of the highway & going towards Bukit Mertajam town. And, being a newly opened Mall, signboards were visibly placed at intervals at the roadside along the way. The final move was to make a left turn at the traffic lights when the "Jusco" name was clearly visible at the top of the building to one's left! No way anyone could miss that...hehe...



This is the frontal view of Aeon Seberang Jaya City. Grand & imposing look.
On arrival, we headed for the indoor parking area but it was found almost totally empty (only 2 cars were there!) & so kinda "unsafe". Maybe it was early & a weekday...a working day for others. So we decided to go down back outside and park in the outdoor car park area just in front of the building...so much safer lo...haha!

That was what greeted us on entering through B Zone....there were a few other entrances.

And this is a view of the main (Jaya Jusco) tenant's entrance on the First Floor.

Well, everything was spick & span. Floor tiles were shiny. Air was cool. No crowd. Easy free strolling at our own leisure & pleasure. However, only 2 floors are occupied at the moment.

When lunch time came, we found there was no food court. Only various shoplots that were occupied by the likes of Nandos, KFC, Pizza Hut, etc. After checking out the menus at a few, it was finally decided to have simple KFC selections. My other half had the Festive Rice Combo & me a simple Snack Plate. Hot & Spicy. Tasty, too!

The rest of the day was spent crossing over to Penang Island & visiting the usual relatives. The sad part was that my other half's cousin & my bro-in-law did not seem to be doing so well...healthwise. We did what we could to cheer both up & can only hope & pray that they would receive God's care & blessings...

The return trip was uneventful. Which is good. Along the way we popped a couple of semi-sweet Van Houten Almond chocs to stave off any hunger pains we might get if we don't! And yup, that was 1 of 2 items me bought at the new Mall...the other being a block of special DARK (85% cocoa) imported choc...Lindt Excellence from France! Dinner cum supper was our fav bread meal.

Soon life returned to normal once again at Lot 10 OFH.

Today is another "COD" (for those not in the know...COD =Chef's Off Day!) with Cine Nite tonight. Movie would most probably be Mamma Mia, the Movie.

So until my next post, do have a great weekend, everybody!

The Quality of Life...

Thur 6th Nov 2008

So sorry for the lack of entries since my last effort...nothing much had happened around these parts...

Therefore, to prevent any wrong misconceptions of my personal well-being, me thought me had better allay all "fears" of my long absence! Nope, me not kicked the proverbial bucket yet! Ha ha....

Well, latest news that kinda "shocked" the world was that of Obama winning the 2008 Elections in USA...truly history in the making! For the first time, an Afro-American has become the President-elect of USA & who will be installed in Jan 2009 as the new 44th President of the USA!! Living proof that nothing is impossible in this world...

And he won...mainly because ppl in USA wanted CHANGE...a real change in the way their lives are being affected by the ppl in power! Yes, WE can! Said the Americans.

Now, back home here in Malaysia, can we? Can we have a real change...changes to how our lives are being affected by our politicians and the powers that be? Mutual respect between all the peoples in Malaysia?

In my lifetime? Nope. Don't think nor believe so. We hear a lot of ppl saying lots of things. However, in practice, me feel that those ppl were just practising their rhetoric abilities. Ha ha! We are way way behind the USA...in almost everything. Sorry...but the truth hurts. Sad but true.

Anyway, to be more close to home, our own lives are still what they are. Family relationships are still very uncertain...being controlled by so many factors.

For instance, every parent hopes & wishes for their kids to grow up & be successful in their own lives. Each parent takes care, nurtures, protects their kids the best way they could...hoping that they would one day be able to relax & enjoy whatever is left of their lives..in peace, happiness & with luck in relatively good comfort. But do their hopes & wishes come true?

That depends. Depends on lots of factors. I've found out the hard way that upbringing alone does not leave a strong enough imprint in the young minds to ensure such an achievement nor realisation of such hopes & wishes.

A parent normally hopes that when his son gets married, he would not be losing his son but gaining a daughter-in-law!

However, a son who marries, might be "lost" as quoted in a much-repeated Chinese saying...

that a son would no longer be a son but become only the husband to his wife after his marriage.

It would be worse, if the wife he marries, has a worse family background & worse parent relationship than your son. For then all would be lost! No son. No daughter-in-law. Sad but true. The risks are very high these days.

Similarly, in the olden days, a daughter who takes a husband might be compared to "water in a basin that is thrown out..." Like quoted in a current Taiwan serial over Astro's HHD Channel...Mother's Home. However, to the parents, the daughter's family home would always be her home. That is, should she feel the need to come home.

To my kids, I've always told them that the doors to our home would always be open to them if they feel that our home is still their home & part of their lives. They have the keys. Only 1 condition. Come HAPPY!

Inversely, if they don't feel that our home is still their home & that we are still their parents, all such rights to enter would be withdrawn. One cannot treat one's parents disrespectfully and expect to be treated well. Love for one's parents is either in one's heart or not. Such feelings can never be forced nor be an pretense. Love & respect in a family is a 2-way emotion. Period.

I thank God that these past few weeks have been kind to me. Peace & Happiness....my birthday wish... seems to have been heard. And hopefully, too, my other half's added wish...Good Health, would be a great added blessing indeed.

So, earlier during dinner today, a phrase uttered during a documentary on TV caught our ears. "Live Life to the fullest! " And I commented, "Maybe we should live our lives to the fullest..."

"That's what you wish for," my other half added. "But if you live your life to the fullest, then you would not be happy should there be a downturn in your life! When you have nothing left to fall back on."

So, poor lil ole me had to correct myself...adding that we could only live our lives to the fullest within our true capabilities & not beyond our means. That way we could be happy & still be "safe"....if you know what I mean.

In other words, do live life in the best possible way...be happy with what you have. Accept what cannot be yours to have. There is this "10/90 Philosophy" that I read in a Blog I frequent. In short, it means you cannot control 10% of whatever happens in your life but the remaining 90% ie how you react, is what you can control. And that could make your life a better & happier one.

Yup, I've learnt that and am now controlling how me react to "bad" events in my life. Never let such "bad" events affect your happiness. You don't need them! Find your own happiness. That's exactly what me am doing these days...so far so good. Thank God!

Be happy! Have a happy weekend!