Alarm nuisance!

Tue 020210

Yup, a house alarm installation appears to be kinda a necessity these days...considering the number of house break-ins reported. However, it can also be a great irritating nuisance!

And yup, I'm saying so because my neighbour's alarm has been sounding for the past 2 days! It started to go off some time before 12 noon and would stop around 4pm. The alarm would be sounding like continuously after shorter & shorter periods of silence.

Today it has already started...also at about the same time period. The second period of irritation is just over at this time of my keying in this sentence! And the frequency of its sounding is increasing...

Now, don't you think there should be some way neighbours could be protected from this kind of disturbance? This kind of inconsiderate houseowners? Just imagine having to go through more than 4 hours of such noise pollution (I would call it "torture"...) practically daily now? Have you ever experienced the loud bursts from a house alarm siren at close range?

How would it be if the alarm had kept on going off during the night? It had happened before...although not with such frequency. The worst part is that house is practically unoccupied most of the time!

So, is there any avenue for redress or even protection from such inconsiderate houseowners? Can we report such incidents to the police? Or even to the local authorities? Frankly, it is felt that houseowners should be held responsible for their properties...and whatever they installed in their premises. Agreed?

Btw, fyi Lot 10 also has a house alarm system installed...since Sept 2001. A very reliable branded system commonly installed in banks. And I can confidently say here that we had never disturbed our neighbourhood with such episodes! Of course, there were a few times when we ourselves had inadvertently triggered the alarm...but it was silenced almost immediately.

I sincerely hope that none of you have to undergo what me & the other "neighbouring" neighbours of this particular neighbour had to tolerate for these past 2 days (& now today) and probably more to come...

UPDATE #1 @3:25pm :

Peace & tranquility returned to Lot 10...finally! Yup, that neighbour's daughter came to reset their house alarm system. If only they had been a little bit more responsible, we would not have to suffer for so long...

UPDATE #2 @7:50pm :

Here's a view of the front porch of Lot 10 as darkness falls...

Lot 10 with new red lanterns & glimmering, running "rice" lights in preparation for CNY 2010...

Last day of 1st month...

Sun 31 Jan 2010

Yup, it's the last day of this first month of this new year, 1020! Fast flying month, huh? To me, looking back, time really flew...64 years flew! Just like in the blink of an eye! So what is one more month?

Me...a pessimist? Many have called me that. However, I've been trying & learning to look more onto the positive aspect of things in Life. Slowly but steadily...that day will come...

And yup, 1 day that me am looking forward to is Feb 5th. Why? That's the day our "Kay Pa" will be giving us our "angpow" for this CNY! Yup, our pension payment for Feb will be in advance. Many many days in advance! Good? Right. But for the pessimist in me, it means a long, long month before the next payment in March...the 19th. The optimist in me would say that that is still 2 days earlier than the usual date! And yup, pensions are normally paid on the 21st of the month! See? It's a matter of perspective. Ha ha!

Anyway, a more positive view would be the fact that the time that has passed would be bringing us closer to Feb 14th...CNY! Which also means that we would be meeting friends & relatives that we had not seen for at least a year...maybe even more! Lots to share then. Happy times.

An update here on my good friend & former colleague, Mr L...if me not wrong, he should have been discharged from hospital after completing the first course of the chemo prescribed by his haematologist. He would be having 3 weeks of rest before the next course. We sincerely wish him all the very best, good rest & a speedy recovery!

Finally, yesterday was another COD (Chef's Off Day) and so as not to bore you, it was the usual meals out kinda thing. Except that this time for dinner, our "boss" suggested a new location. A new coffee shop. Well, food was reasonably good. Tasty. However, most of the ppl serving in the shop were not of the friendly kind. Pity.

Cine Nite was the movie "The Treasure Hunter". Lots of special effects. Not so good colour. Ok kind of entertainment. We had to have a few intermissions, though. Kind of breaking the monotony at times during the show.

Well, Sunday today would be another day...another bonus day! Life for these 2 ole inmates of Lot 10 has been peaceful & tranquil. And we have God to thank for that...

UPDATE @2:45pm :

A very noisy start to our Sunday...supposedly a day of rest?

Our RHS neighbour's house alarm has been sounding practically non-stop since our (late) breakfast time! Less than 1 min break between abt 10 mins alarm siren! 11 times at last count. 12 now!!! Phew!

There should be a way to complain to local authorities about such matters (eg disturbing the peace? ) cos house alarms are so commonly installed these days. Moreover, there are so many "chapalang" makes in the market...many unreliable ones!

Finally...

Wed 27 Jan 2010

Yup, finally....we got to eat our fav braised duck with porridge....c/w a few other selected pre-cooked dishes!

And yup, we've tried at least 3 times to do so but each time we were thoroughly disappointed as the shop where the stall was situated, was in total darkness! However, this evening was a different story altogether...that place...somewhere along the ole Sg Korok Road...was brightly lit up and there were cars, cars & cars parked even by the kerb!

Luckily for us, some kind soul left just as we were about to enter the special parking space next to the shop. RM16.60. Yup, that's what that meal amounted to...with extra duck meat...definitely worth every sen of it! Besides the braised duck, we had fried eggs with large onions, braised squids & some vege.

Now stomachs are full and heads are kinda drowsy...hehe....

But felt that this successful evening should go down recorded in my Blog...for posterity? Yup, such evenings don't come by every day...Agreed? Just picture 2 very satisfied & happy inmates of Lot 10! Yup, happiness in our lives these days is no stranger to these 2 ole inmates and we thank God for His blessings & the happiness that we have come to receive...

And... believe it or not, me also got so many "tit-bits" to keep me busy!

There are, among others...

1. prawn crackers from Kamunting, Taiping (which even Taiping ppl not know about! Ha ha!) which me bought for RM3.50 a pkt;
2. "Ngaku" (Arrowhead) chips personally prepared & deep-fried by my other half yesterday (she spent 1 whole hour frying them! Phew!);
3. packets of groundnuts that my daughter had bought for us for CNY;
4. and even the Semi-Sweet Van Houten Almond chocs which came in small packets (which me had bought earlier) and more similar ones in a box (also one of the items my daughter bought for CNY...my personal choice when she asked what me would like to have. Biscuits? No! Me want chocs! My...was she surprised! Haha!) TQ, EL!

Well, certainly hope me won't put on too much weight with all those goodies to munch...must stagger my munching schedule. As is, me already taking enough medication...

Now which should I munch munch first? Join me?

As promised...

Tue 26 Jan 2010

Yup, as promised...a new slideshow of KL in 2010 is up & running (entitled "The 2010 KL") on the right side of this Blog! More pics will be added in time as KL continues to travel down the road in her "Journey of Life". Enjoy...

Well, those pics were taken during our special visit to KL & family to celebrate her 4th birthday. Our bday girl was all smiles & happy happy throughout her special day & even the day after! She enjoyed all the kiddy rides & even the repeated escalator trips @ Taiping Sentral! And, of course, her fav shopping mall...Tesco!

And yup, last Sat's COD was replaced on Sun 240110 and ended with Cine Nite...the DVD movie, "Surrogates". Not a dull moment, though. Sincerely hope the world would not have to go through such an episode & ppl would remain ppl...humans.

I'm taking this opportunity also to wish my good friend & former colleague, Mr L, the very best in his first Chemotherapy session today at a private hospital in KL! There would be a total of 6 courses in the treatment for his problem. Being the strong & optimistic guy that he has been & still is, we feel that he would get through this as well as anyone else can.

Our sincere apologies for being unable to be there personally to give our support but we are, nonetheless, spiritually there for him & he will always be in our thoughts for a speedy successful recovery.

It's quality & value time for both inmates now back @ Lot 10...enjoying what we enjoy doing...

Yup, we may not be able to enjoy what we can enjoy today tomorrow...that's Life As Is...

Sincerely hope it's the same for all of you...have a great week ahead!

UPDATE (Wed 270110 @ 10:30am.) :

A thousand apologies...my friend & former colleague, Mr L, was only admitted to the private hospital yesterday ie Tue 26 Jan & not having his 1st chemo on Tue 26th as I had written above. My bad.

If all preparations go smoothly & well, he should be having his 1st chemo today (Wed 27th Jan.).

Once again, we wish him all the very best in following this course of treatment! Be strong, Mr L!! We're all with you all the way...Stay strong!

KL is 4 yrs old!

Fri 220110

Hi...just a short entry...

Our fav grandaughter, KL, is exactly 4 years old today!!

And both Lot 10 grandparents are in Taiping now to be with KL and her parents... to share her special day! Presents were bought soon after arrival, given to KL & a specially-ordered Bday (by KL's own loving mum) cake was brought out and 4 small candles were blown out by the birthday girl. Her bday wish? Sorry but only KL herself knows...haha! Pic of KL's Bday cake sitting pretty with 4 little candles...

More pics would be posted in a new slideshow for 2010... to be set up when me am back in Lot 10. Sincerely hope yu guys who do drop by this Blog, can wait patiently for this ole man to get down to it then...hehe....

Until then, this would have to do...Have a great weekend, ok?

The so-called "Stupid Bread"...

Tue 190110

Yup, to some cynical (maybe even arrogant) ppl, a specially baked, unique, wholesome & nutritious kind of bread can be nicknamed as the "Stupid Bread"! Believe me, that is not a made-up nickname but one I would never ever forget...

And yup, I was told that once upon a time when that "S" was still part & parcel of this family. I was told (to be fair it was not by that "S"...) that was what they called this kind of bread...the 3-seeded bread loaf by Adventist Bakery in Penang. And me was telling them how I loved that kind of bread...its texture, its taste & its goodliness. Some ppl can be a true "spoilsport" or did I use that term wrongly?

Thank God that view was only by that person & that person alone! And definitely not by most ppl, if not all, that I've mentioned that bread to. And it made me especially happy & proud that our family doctor shared my views, besides enjoying the same bread!

I had once even requested that "S" to buy a loaf of that bread for me since he was at the bakery branch in Farlim and he was going to come to A/Star. But alas, he could not even do that for his own father. His response to my request at that time? "I don't know which kind of bread you're talking about..." And when I stated that it was the "3-seeded" type with a red-coloured wrapper, he further complained, " There are so many types there. I don't know which one is that."

Phew! Can you ever believe those were responses from a son to his own father's request for help to get him a loaf of the bread that his father loved & enjoyed taking? And it wasn't a repetitive request from me...not like I asked for it each & every time! Just a simple affordable & do-able request. Only God knows why...

Fyi I got another loaf this morning. One of many that I've been so lucky & blessed to receive before this day. Thanks a meg, doc!

Frankly, doc, you are, at any time, zillion times better than my so-called "S"!! I do sincerely appreciate your thoughts of me each time you see the availability of that bread. I thank you from the bottom of my heart...your kind gesture had been so often that I've lost count of the number of times you've bought & brought the bread all the way back from Penang...for lil ole me! ( NB. ...which my own "S" could not do even once...for his own father! Sad but true... )

As you can feel (in this entry), Lot 10 inmates had ridden over the "ripples" that passed through Lot 10 last Sunday. The clouds have cleared & Lot 10 is once again basking in the glorious sunshine & its warmth. Once more the love between 2 ppl was tested & it was a grand graduation with flying colours! 41+ years of relationship just could not and would not crumble under, what I call now, the "Divide & Rule" strategy. We will be stronger because of the failed attempts. Maybe me should even say "TQ"?

Finally, it's just a day more to go before the monthly allowance from our "Kay Pa" reaches us. Feathers are sprouting and pretty soon wings would have grown. Ha ha! And yup, it's true that "No petrol how to move..."

And with CNY this year coming on 14th Feb, pensioners would be getting their dues next month on Feb 5th! However, the following month is gonna be a long long month...of waiting...

Sincerely hope your week started well & would end just as well, too!

Ripples...

Mon 180110

Yup, last night a few ripples followed in the wake of the "aftershock" of Sat 160110. Thank God it didn't last for long & the waters were calm once again very early that same night or, to be exact, early the following morning...

It is my sincere hope that, as time passes, those ripples would never form and Life As Is in Lot 10 and for its 2 ole inmates would be peaceful & tranquil, with attached happiness along the way. There now appears to be a glimmer of light at the end of this long, long dark tunnel...hopefully we would reach it soon.

And yup, it's a better day today because me had received word that our friend & former colleague, Mr L, was already discharged from Sunway Medical Centre in KL. However, he would have to return there for a follow-up & change of dressing this coming Thursday. We sincerely wish him & family all the very best and more good tidings...

To add a bit re yesterday, it was also lucky for Lot 10 inmates that the ripples formed only after the postponed but rescheduled Cine Nite, normally held on Saturdays which were CODs (Chef Off Days). And yup, we did manage to enjoy the DVD movie, Monsters and Aliens, to its ending. A nice movie.

Well, it's 2 more days before our "Kay Pa" gives us our monthly "pocket money". And the day after would be our fav grandaughter's 4th birthday. Nice timing this month, right? Or else it would have been a "No petrol how to move..." scenario! Ha ha! Furthermore, me am hoping that Lot 10 inmates would have completely recovered from those ripples to be able to go to Taiping & enjoy some value time with KL. Wish us luck...

Oh! Before I forget, me just got a call from one of my former students (Year 1985?) that they would be having a reunion/getogether on the 2nd day of CNY and lil ole me was invited. Unfortunately, me had to turn down the kind gesture as me would be in Penang doing our rounds at our relatives' homes as usually had been our practice each CNY. Tks a meg for the invite and especially so for remembering lil ole me!! Gong Xi Fa Cai to all of you!!

That's it for this entry. Have a good new week!