An "aftershock"...

Sat 160110

Yup, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti just a few days ago. Somehow, an "aftershock" ripped through Lot 10 after lunch today!

And yup, the cause was...you guessed it! That "S"'s situation again!

Lot 10 & it's inmates had been enjoying peace & tranquility for some time already. However, it was too good to be true. Too good to last. Now feels like an illusion. Maybe a dream? Me was hoping it would last & that my other half had a better grasp of the issues at hand. Especially after that day of "Closure". ( Pls check out earlier entries re "Closure". TQ.)

As is, the issue about the preparation & distribution of angpows for the coming "Tiger" year came up and once again, that "S"'s family was brought into the limelight.

I had thought that, with the seemingly improved relationship of past weeks, my other half would be receptive of a mutually agreeable handling of the problem at hand. It appeared like just a simple question of "Since that "S" had not, did not & still does not respect nor accept me as his natural father, it simply boils down to a simple fact that I no longer qualify to be the grandfather of his kids"! No father...no grandfather...Doesn't that go hand-in-hand? Simple conclusion. Correct?

And in this family, since Day #1 of our lives together, both me & my other half do not have any "in-betweens" of things we do. Whatever is done, is done by both. A very simple philosophy that had worked well all these 41 years!

But today, she insisted that she wanted to continue with the practice of giving out the angpows...not personally as we no longer have any physical meeting with that "S"'s family but through a 3rd party. Last year there was the same insistence but then it was already just a few days away from CNY. And me didn't want to create any scene, thereby spoiling the CNY & thus agreed (under protest, though) to her intention.

But now, it was brought up a month before CNY...and guess what was her response? A straight query...

" Can he come back? "

That did it! It was back to "Square One"...so to say. I had to explain all over again that "that "S" had 360 days to come back...but did he?" And so the "merry-go-round" continued. Same ole "lack" of understanding of the seriousness of the issues. Or should I say "denial" & "refusal" to face the reality of the situation.

(NB. For those who have not been following this Blog, pls refer to past entries starting from March 2008. Too long a story to repeat here. TQ.)

Well, I'm so tired of having to repeat & repeat.

To me, nothing matters more now than how my other half sees me. Who am I to her? And of course, what's in her heart.

I always ended up being the guy who had done wrong...that I should close my eyes to the way how this "S" had disrespected me, not forgetting the accusations that "S" had hurled at me! And even that I was the one who had stopped him from coming back....blah, blah, blah...

I am so tired....I've used all ways that I knew to make it clear that that "S" could have come back on any of the 360 days in a year (only 5 days are excluded...for the simple reason that I wish for peace & my sanity on those 5 days. And I've repeated that umteen times.)

It's been almost 2 years now. I have asked her time & time again, a simple question... "Can you give me one good reason why he had not made that extra effort to come back...." NO answer.

So why must you ask, "Can he come back?" NO answer.

A follow-up question... "Am I the one stopping him from coming back?" NO answer.

YOU be the judge. TQ.

ps. Sincerely hope this "aftershock" is truly the very last one. But me am not keeping my hopes high, though. Each & every time me hoped, my hopes had been dashed to smithereens...sad but true.

Day of sadness...

Thur 140110

Yup, Wed 130110 was to be remembered with sadness. Remember my entries earlier about my friend & ex-colleague, Mr L?

And yup, for a few days, there was a general feeling of hope with the fast flow of procedures to investigate the possibility, location & seriousness of the unwelcomed "growth" in his brain. All his friends & former collleagues contributed in providing whatever moral support & encouragement for a good prognosis.

Mr L went for consultation with a neurosurgeon on Tues 120110 and decision to operate the very next morning to remove the "growth" was made. To everyone, that was good progress as the neurosurgeon was confident of what he could do.

The removal of the "growth" was successful. However, simultaneous investigation of the "growth" confirmed that it was malignant and a localised chemo was applied.

That was the sad news that nobody wished for...nor even wanted to think about...although there was that inescapable possibility, namely the 50-50 possibility that any growth might be malignant.

On behalf of all his friends & former colleagues, I sincerely wish him a speedy recovery from the open brain surgery (he's in ICU now) and that all future treatments, as prescribed, would be effective in eradicating the malignant cells that might be left behind or at least in controlling their growth & spread.

And I could not agree more with what his daughter had written in an email to me...

"whatever the prognosis, I am determined to help my father have the best quality of life in whatever time he has with us. I trust you agree too and will not be too focussed on the length but on the quality, which is a lot more meaningful."

Yup, CW, that really touched my heart...where it really matters...

And yup, I do believe strongly in that view & especially more so now. Honestly I've even told my other half that I would not want to spend all the unnecessary time in hospitals should I become such a patient. I would prefer to spend whatever time I might have left with her, doing the things I enjoy most, etc., etc., with her by my side. Simply put...quality & value time...happy time! Not to end my life worrying about the inevitable...true?

As one of my friends & former colleague wrote me in an sms.... "That is Life..."

And, believe it or not, that is the answer to a question that I've repeatedly asked my other half from time to time... "What is Life?"

Anyway, pls do not let the sombre thoughts & words above spoil your day...just an ole man's rantings...

If you're young, feel young...be young! If you're old, enjoy the moment...there is only ONE life!

Have a good weekend, everyone! Life is short...Oops, sorry about that...haha!


UPDATE ... 18 Jan pic :

Here's pic of staples at location of surgery carried out on our friend...taken just b4 discharge from hospital :

Very well done, huh?


Our hopes & prayers go out to Mr L & family for his speedy recovery!

Bits & more bits...

Sun 100110

Yup, it's a weekend full of bits & more bits... So here goes...

Bit #1 : COD (Chef's Off Day) passed smoothly & with nice feelings. Meals were out as usual. The evening ended with Cine Nite. Movie was GI Joe. What can I say...non-stop action with not a dull moment! Unbelievable weaponry & futuristic action...

Bit #2 : Yesterday morning, both inmates re-visited our friend & ex-colleague, Mr L, at his residence. Our friend was in high spirits & with a great positive attitude towards his condition. (Pls refer to earlier posts re his condition. TQ.)

Mr L would be going to KL tomorrow to consult neurologists as to the next step to take. We wish him all the very best! We will certainly keep in touch with his progress.

Have a safe pleasant trip to KL tomorrow, Mr L & family!!

Bit #3 : So far 3 of our 5 emergency lamps in Lot 10 have had their rechargeable batteries replaced. The replacements had become a "need" rather than a "want" now because we've had 3 power failures this new year itself! Each battery cost only RM18. Sold as "Sunkyo". The usual branded (Yokohama) ones were no longer available and getting this substitute was the only way out.

I tried to get a replacement for the smaller battery for the E-lamp in our dining area but none were available. So me had to improvise to use the standard-sized 6V one. The important part was that it worked! Might even last longer running on the larger-sized battery, too! Just that one can see the extra 2 wires running from the lamp to the external battery. Ha ha! (Pls see pic.)

Now we just need to replace one more battery...for the E-lamp in our Master Bedroom. Not urgent at the moment because the battery appeared to be working fine on testing...

Bit #4 : Our niece, YL, would be going for a follow-up X-ray/Scan today. (Pls see earlier posts for the background of her condition. TQ) We wish her all the very best & sincerely hope that results would be positive and thus negate the need for further ops. Chin up, YL!!

Well, that's it for now. Nothing much really. What can I say...that's the Life As Is of these 2 ole pensioners. Too much excitement would not be good for their ole hearts, right?

We thank God for another bonus week...

Hope your weekend was good, too. TC always...

Good news!

Fri 080110

Yup, Good News! For a change!

And yup, it's about my friend & former colleague, Mr L. For one, he was discharged yesterday evening. And more as good news because the battery of investigations eg X-rays, scans & scopes done to try to detect any other locations of possible tumours came out negative!

As such, the "growth" in his brain is most probably a primary tumour which can then be treated accordingly. As is, the family would be taking him to Kuala Lumpur to be in the capable hands of an experienced neurologist.

On behalf of all his friends & former colleagues, I sincerely wish Mr L all the very best in his bid to rid himself of this unwelcomed "growth". We will be hoping & praying for success in all efforts all the way.

Well, weekend is here in Kedah. And tomorrow is another Saturday. Another COD, too!

We once again thank God for another bonus week for these 2 ole inmates of Lot 10!

Have a great weekend yourselves, ok?

What Life can be...

Wed 060110

Yup, what Life can be...

And yup, Life can be happy, enjoyable, rewarding & lots of other good things. However, Life can be also the opposite...sadness, sorrow, pain, suffering & lots of other unpleasantries...

And frankly, this new year hasn't started with much good news...at least for me...

Just recently, I've mentioned re 1 of our nieces who had to go for an exploratory ops. The good part is that she came out of it fine. The biopsy results came back negative...which was great news! The not-so-good part is that she would be going in for further examination, scheduled for 10th Jan, for the outcome of the effects of the "growths" around her ureter & kidney.

We are all hoping & praying for her that what she fears most would not happen and that she would be able to continue life as is. Best wishes & best of luck in your forthcoming scan, YL! Pls do keep us informed, ok? Thanks!

Another unwelcomed piece of news was that of my friend & former colleague who apparently appeared to have suffered a minor stroke. However, on carrying out a further MRI scan, it was confirmed that the "stroke" was a symptom caused by a sizeable "growth" in his brain. It was a devastatingly worrying outcome to be borne by both him & his other half! And of course, their kids. We feel for them. What had happened came as a surprise & a shock to all of us.

As is, we can only be there for them should they need any form of assistance. I have offered mine. In the meantime, we can only hope & pray that all efforts to investigate & treat the "growth" would be encouraging & positively rewarding. All the very best, L! Be strong, Mrs L! All your friends are & will be with you...never fear!

Well, Life, as some had put it, is borrowed time on this Earth. We all have to leave it sooner or later. Only the manner in which we leave is unknown till the time comes. We can only hope it would be a peaceful one then. With God's blessings...

Now a bit of good news...to brighten up the start of this new year.

Our fav grandaughter, KL, would be 4 years old on Jan 22nd...soon. How time flies! And if all goes well, we should be seeing her & spending some time with her then. Happy times.

With that, it is hoped that this Blog would have more good things to share soon...

41 years on...

Sun 030110

Yup, it's been 41 years...plus a day, to be exact! And yup, me & my other half have been married for 41 years. No minor feat huh?

To be honest, I wouldn't say it has been a bed of roses throughout all those years. Do tell me whose marriage IS a bed of roses. That couple must either be robots or ppl with no feelings nor emotions whatsoever. Agreed?

What is most important is the understanding, the relationship & the bond that has been tested through time...again & again. And in spite of everything, the couple IS still a couple...still together!

And especially for these 2 ole inmates of Lot 10 now, there is nothing more important than to spend the years that we would be bestowed with, our bonus years, as happy & as peacefully as we possibly can.

Like my other half told me the other day ( and even before that... ) :

"We do not know when we came into this world and we would not know when we leave it..."

How true. Me am now her confirmed disciple. Many of her "teachings" have worked wonders in shaping my outlook of Life As Is. You should have come across a number of such quotes as you followed this Blog.

So how did we spend this 41st wedding anniversary? Simple. Yup, it fell on the same Saturday as our usual COD. And yup, what is most important is not where or what, but how we feel on such a day. No fancy dinners. No fancy restaurants. Just being together & spending time together. Happily together. True?

And we both felt so much closer & happier than in the past 22+ months. Yup, when the road ahead is clear to both, then the journey for both is much much more pleasant & enjoyable.

Thanks a meg from the bottom of my heart, my dearest B...mostly for sticking with this ole, kinda intolerable & sometimes frustratingly non-understandable man you call your partner! Sometimes I just could not help but wonder if any other girl would have stuck with me (like you have done) through all that we'd gone through together all these years. No simple easy task lo...

And yup, like one line I've often heard (a reference here : http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/405750.html )...

"What God has joined together, let no man put asunder!"

Finally, we sincerely & humbly thank God ever so much for His generosity & blessings...

Sad start to New Year of 2010...

Fri 01 Jan 2010

Yup, it's indeed a sad start to this new year of 2010.

And yup, it marked the passing of a former colleague, former room-mate & good friend, Raymond Seaton. On 30th December 2009.

I only learnt of his passing when me came to the final pages of The Star this morning while doing my "thing" in yu-know-where. And there it was...a full page Obituary notice inserted by his family.

Raymond had been fighting a long battle against the Big C...in his brain. Me & my other half were fortunate to have met him roughly more than a year ago when he was in Penang. At the time, results of tests had been positive & encouraging.

However, his condition took a turn for the worse recently with metatasis to his lungs. He was undergoing further chemotherapy and we were hopeful & continued to pray for success.

So this morning's obituary page came as a shock to both of Lot 10 inmates. Both Raymond & his wife were former colleagues & friends of ours during our stint in Temerloh, Pahang, and his wife still was my other half's colleague in Alor Star before her retirement.

Our sincere & heartfelt condolences to Molly & family over their deep irreplaceable loss. May God bless them and see them through this difficult time.

Raymond, we will always remember you as a great colleague & good friend. May you Rest in Peace...in God's loving arms...