Finally back. Will be blogging more soon.
Lot of things to write about but this is all for now.
Wishing all visitors to my site a very
Happy Halloween, Deepavali & Selemat Hari Raya Aidilfitri
31 October 2005
20 October 2005
Bye For Now
Dear visitors,
I will be on indefinite hiatus.
I love blogging but decided that I needed to take a break from the blogging world.
No special reason, just felt like it.
I will be on indefinite hiatus.
I love blogging but decided that I needed to take a break from the blogging world.
No special reason, just felt like it.
Endon Passes Away
While I was on the way to service my wife's car, I heard a shocking news on the radio - Datin Paduka Seri Endon Mahmood, the wife of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, had passed away at the age of 64 after her prolonged battle with cancer.
It was reported that she passed away at 7:55am this morning at the PM's official residence.
Members of the public can pay their last respects at Seri Perdana, Putrajaya between 11am and 4pm.
The Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had been married to Endon since September 4, 1965. They have a son, a daughter and four grandchildren.
She had been fighting against the disease since she first discovered that she had breast cancer in 2002 and had recently come back after undergoing months of intensive chemotherapy in Los Angeles,
She is best remembered for her efforts to popularise and rejuvenate the Malaysian batik industry and more recently the Songket industry.
Less known is her involvement in various charity programmes. She spearheaded efforts to assist children in North Korea, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo and was deeply involved in breast cancer awareness programmes.
My deepest condolences to the PM and the rest of the family. Al-Fatihah.
It was reported that she passed away at 7:55am this morning at the PM's official residence.
Members of the public can pay their last respects at Seri Perdana, Putrajaya between 11am and 4pm.
The Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had been married to Endon since September 4, 1965. They have a son, a daughter and four grandchildren.
She had been fighting against the disease since she first discovered that she had breast cancer in 2002 and had recently come back after undergoing months of intensive chemotherapy in Los Angeles,
She is best remembered for her efforts to popularise and rejuvenate the Malaysian batik industry and more recently the Songket industry.
Less known is her involvement in various charity programmes. She spearheaded efforts to assist children in North Korea, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo and was deeply involved in breast cancer awareness programmes.
My deepest condolences to the PM and the rest of the family. Al-Fatihah.
Malaysia’s Golden Girl
Nicol David the World squash third seed, beat fourth seeded Australian Natalie Grinham 9-6 9-7 9-6 to win the women's singles crown in the British Open final on Monday.
On the way to the final, she beat world number one Rachael Grinham of Australia in five games. She came from behind twice to beat the double defending champion Grinham 3-9, 9-7, 7-9, 9-4, 9-1 in 69 minutes.
FYI, Rachael Grinham is Natalie's sister.
In his letter to her, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi stated that "Saya amat tertarik dan berbangga dengan kejayaan Nicol (I'm thrilled and proud of your achievement, Nicol)."
Nicol who turned professional in 2000, is truly Malaysia's Golden girl.
Unfortunately Malaysians were sleeping at that moment and we didn't even get to see replays of the match on national TV or even on Astro.
RELATED POST:
Not Again
On the way to the final, she beat world number one Rachael Grinham of Australia in five games. She came from behind twice to beat the double defending champion Grinham 3-9, 9-7, 7-9, 9-4, 9-1 in 69 minutes.
FYI, Rachael Grinham is Natalie's sister.
In his letter to her, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi stated that "Saya amat tertarik dan berbangga dengan kejayaan Nicol (I'm thrilled and proud of your achievement, Nicol)."
Nicol who turned professional in 2000, is truly Malaysia's Golden girl.
Unfortunately Malaysians were sleeping at that moment and we didn't even get to see replays of the match on national TV or even on Astro.
RELATED POST:
Not Again
19 October 2005
Waiting for the call
I haven't been able to update my blog for quite sometime now. The past few days have been quite hectic with work, meetings and other stuff.
I am now waiting for a call from the UK. It’s from my prospective PhD supervisor.
Yes! I have decided to continue with my PhD in the UK. I was pursuing it part time in University of Malaya but made the choice to discontinue it here and start all anew in the UK after taking several factors into consideration.
It’s a tough choice considering that I have to leave the security of my present job and the fact that have covered nearly a year in University of Malaya. And in the end I may end up changing the whole topic based on the area of interest of my prospective supervisor.
Another factor that adds to my feeling of insecurity is that even if I do get selected as one of the PhD candidates, I still may not be able to accept their offer if I cannot come up with the funds to support my study. I don’t have enough funds for the study and I would have to apply for a scholarship. And I can only apply for a scholarship after I get accepted into the University. There are only a limited number of scholarships and I would be fighting for them with people from all around the world. That’s why obtaining strong support from a supervisor is very important.
Fortunately, living costs and other expenses won't be a problem as my wife is going there too supported by the Malaysian Government.
I am not sure what he is going to talk about. I am praying that everything goes OK.
UPDATED 20 Oct. 2005:
I received his call while I was on my way to pick up my wife from her office. Talk about lousy timing. And my prediction was right, he expects me to incorporate some of his research areas into my proposal if I want him to be my supervisor. Now I am cracking my head wondering how I am supposed to do that. Guess I have to change my whole proposal.
I am now waiting for a call from the UK. It’s from my prospective PhD supervisor.
Yes! I have decided to continue with my PhD in the UK. I was pursuing it part time in University of Malaya but made the choice to discontinue it here and start all anew in the UK after taking several factors into consideration.
It’s a tough choice considering that I have to leave the security of my present job and the fact that have covered nearly a year in University of Malaya. And in the end I may end up changing the whole topic based on the area of interest of my prospective supervisor.
Another factor that adds to my feeling of insecurity is that even if I do get selected as one of the PhD candidates, I still may not be able to accept their offer if I cannot come up with the funds to support my study. I don’t have enough funds for the study and I would have to apply for a scholarship. And I can only apply for a scholarship after I get accepted into the University. There are only a limited number of scholarships and I would be fighting for them with people from all around the world. That’s why obtaining strong support from a supervisor is very important.
Fortunately, living costs and other expenses won't be a problem as my wife is going there too supported by the Malaysian Government.
I am not sure what he is going to talk about. I am praying that everything goes OK.
UPDATED 20 Oct. 2005:
I received his call while I was on my way to pick up my wife from her office. Talk about lousy timing. And my prediction was right, he expects me to incorporate some of his research areas into my proposal if I want him to be my supervisor. Now I am cracking my head wondering how I am supposed to do that. Guess I have to change my whole proposal.
11 October 2005
Simply Not Enough
I love reading about new electronic gadgets. Quite a number I have my eyes on, for sometime now... a digital camera, a laptop, a new handphone and some other stuff for myself. Materialistic? I guess so but I would like to get other people things too.
I would also like to buy my wife a nice big diamond ring because that tiny one that I put on her finger on our wedding looks so small when I see the stones on other ladies' fingers. I would like to give something back to my father too after all he has done for me. And for our close friends.
However, something or the other keeps coming up and I never have enough money in the end. I could also run up a debt on the credit cards but that won't really solve the problem. Actually I could take out the little savings I have but that’s for unforeseen circumstances in the future - say for example, unemployment.
I remember what my economics lecturer taught us in University - "human wants are unlimited."
It's true. When you just started that job and took the LRT to work everyday and had to push into the crowded feeder bus and nearly vomited from the body odour, you looked forward to the day you could afford to buy a car - any car.
When you finally got that Perodua Kancil, you were happy for a while but got pissed off when guys in bigger cars bullied you on the road and acted as if you didn't exist.
Then you upgraded to a Proton Wira. Wow! It was like a dream come true but later you started casting your eyes on that curvaceous Toyota/ Honda in your parking lot. When you do get the Japanese car, I guess a Merc or Beemer is next. And it never ends.
Someone was complaining that only a few non-Bumiputra's are working with the Government (BTW, I am one of those few guys). This was from a guy working in a nice MNC with a handsome salary and perks. I would be happy to trade places with you anytime.
It's not that bad actually. I do earn more than a several other employees of our organization. Some of the clerks earn less than RM2000 and I wonder how they are going to raise those 5 kids.
I am really looking forward to our one month's bonus and was really happy when I learnt that we would be getting a pay rise too (not much but any rise is welcome). God bless the PM. I am supposed to have some money coming in but the stupid organisation (a so-called strategic alliance with ours) is delaying the payment.
However when money comes in, something or the other turns up.
I have our 3rd wedding anniversary and Rahil's 2nd birthday coming up this month, closely followed by my wife's birthday in November. Of course I have to spend some money. Then ther's the renewal of our maid's visa to take care of. We also have to give her some money when she leaves for Indonesia for a short break. Then finally, there's my sister's wedding in February next year in Melbourne.
Do I really need those gadgets? Actually, I guess not. There are a million other more important stuff to tend to - like my PhD (as my wife always remind me) and a future addition to our family.
I could certainly do with some extra cash in hand.
09 October 2005
One After Another
What’s happening to the Earth?
After the Asian Tsunami came floods in India, China and several other parts of Asia.
Then Hurricane Katrina (nearly 1200 people dead) in August followed by Hurricane Rita hits the US coast leaving thousands dead and devastation on its track.
Last week, mudslides in Guatemala kills hundreds, said to be the worst single tragedy in central America. It was the result of Tropical Storm Stan, which also hit El Salvador and south Mexico.
Read here..
Just across the globe, terrible earthquake hits Pakistan Administered Kashmir and also parts of Afghanistan and India killing over18,000 20,000 people.
Read here..
Scary.
UPDATED:
And now Hurricane Wilma is moving at 7mph (11km/h) towards Mexico's Yucatan peninsula as I write this post at 12:11pm Malaysian Time on 20th of October.
After the Asian Tsunami came floods in India, China and several other parts of Asia.
Then Hurricane Katrina (nearly 1200 people dead) in August followed by Hurricane Rita hits the US coast leaving thousands dead and devastation on its track.
Last week, mudslides in Guatemala kills hundreds, said to be the worst single tragedy in central America. It was the result of Tropical Storm Stan, which also hit El Salvador and south Mexico.
Read here..
Just across the globe, terrible earthquake hits Pakistan Administered Kashmir and also parts of Afghanistan and India killing over
Read here..
Scary.
UPDATED:
And now Hurricane Wilma is moving at 7mph (11km/h) towards Mexico's Yucatan peninsula as I write this post at 12:11pm Malaysian Time on 20th of October.
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