YEAR END

Well what's wrong when you look like your age? I am fifty-five so I must behave like fifty-five and look like fifty-five. And I don't understand why people must make themselves look younger than their age. People spent millions to look nicer, we can't make the time stop. Time is never eternal. So what 's wrong with fifty-five. Of course it's all up to you.

FICTION IN CARTOON

I managed to read these two books written in cartoon. I bought them in Gramedia, Grand Indonesia, Jakarta.

Diary of a Whimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney is about the life of a young school boy in US. I finished reading it while still in Jakarta. I think I would like to be a cartoonist after reading it.

But The Colour of Earth by Kim Dong Hwa is about a girl and her widow mother who alked about sex in a very symbolic way. I have this book in Indonesian - Warna Tanah. The drawing is very nice and the trees are drawn articulately.

END OF THE YEAR 2010

Photo taken from his Facebook.

It seems so sudden the year 2010 is coming to an end. It just seems to me. Well everybody knows this. This coming week is the very last week of 2010. It is full of school meetings and Jabatan meeting.

My father passed away in early January.

The two of us went to Kuala Terengganu, Kuantan, west coast of Johor, the very southern tip of Malaysia then go up to Melaca and Negeri Sembilan. It took us three days and three nights. I enjoyed this trip because we just want to enjoy the time together. This happened in April. Hope we can do it again this coming 2011'

I got my transfer in July from SMKSC to SMKS5.

I went to Bandung and Jakarta in July and again in late November. I went to Haadyai and Songkla in October.

My HEM in SMKSC promoted to Principal in April while my PK in SMKS5 promoted in December this year.

My second son Ucin had his convo in early December where we couldn't witness live.

Everything

Everything, I supposed everthing in this world has both sides of its characteristics. Just that to live we have to choose only one at any one moment. We can never get both.
So we simply have to make the correct choice. Sometimes we do make the wrong decision where at that particular moment it seems that the action taken is perfect to you. Later, much later you realise that it was wrong then. But somehow it seems again nothing can be done about it. I suppose it is Allah will then. We have to accept but at the same time we have to make an effort whatever it is.

MOVIE

I seldom had the chance to spend the evening with my kids especially to see a movie. So last night the three of us, Ucin, Ita an d me, went to watch Rapunzel cartoon in Cheras Leisure Mall. Before that we had dinner at Ani Sup Utara with Mak Yan, Pak Itam and Boboy. It is rare to spend some time with your own siblings at this age actually

Ucin Convocation

How to say I felt very very very slighted because both of us were denied admission to witness life Ucin Convocation in UITM this afternoon. After quieing a very long line, we were ushered to a hall next to the main venue. I really felt disappointed actually afterall one doesn't have kids to convo every year. I only have three kids.
I am glad for Ucin achievements.

HOME

We went home on Friday night by 1950 flight from Jakarta Soekarno by MAS. Touched down in KLIA at 2250 and we were backed to Bandar Warisan for the night.

The Friday morning we went to Masjid Istiqlal located at Taman Wijaya Kusuma, which is the biggest Masjid in South East Asia. It has five floors. Then we went to Mangga Dua to buy Indon handicraft, comparable to Tanah Abang and lastly we went for our last lunch at 24-hour Garuda.

I bought five books in Gramedia and one in Kinokuniya Grand Indonesia.

Holiday

Suddenly surprisingly as if we have all the time in the world. We killed the few hours we had in Grand Indonesia again to bite and play the free wifi.
This morning we were in Tanah Abang. I bought a white blouse for myself and him. Later we went to Block M, then to Plaza Indonesia before the Grand.

My time

Just finished our makan in Grand Indonesia Foodstall, Jakarta. It is considered expensive eating here since this is their exclusive shopping mall. We were from Bandung by train at 1130 reaching Gambir Railway Station, Jakarta 1530 local time. We are staying in One Studio Residence, a motel exactly by Malaysian standard which is in the heart of Jakarta.
Posted in Grand Indonesia.

My Day

This is posted in San Francisco Mertabak.
My third day in Bandung is quite a good time. The three of us went to Crater Tangkupan Prahu, later to Sari Ater some sort hot spring to dunk our feet, to Kampong Daun and ad a light meal. Later we went to Paris van Java Shopping Mall, managed to watch the Angklung Concert - that was a sweet experience and to buy Kartika Sari brownies, jajan and dinner in San Francisco Mertabak.

Tangkuban Prahu and Kampong Daun

This entry is posted in Kampong Daun
The light meal of goreng pisang is nice really.



Again I managed to have my feet on these two spots in Bandung.

My time

I come again to this part of the world for the second time this year. I am now in Bandung Indonesia with my siblings Pak Itam and Mak Yan. We flown in through Airasia touched down in Bandara Hussein Sastranagara on Sunday 28 Nov 2010.
This entry is done in the cafe of Heritage F O which is quite near our Progo Hotel.

THESE DAYS

It seems suddenly that the year 2010 is near the end.
Like last Sunday we had our Convent Peel Reunion. We just held it at Kenny Rogers in Cheras Leisure Mall. Who were coming? Kak Jamaiyah and her two daughters, Hafizah, husband and her two kids, Dr Maria, Laili, Maznah and another whom I couldn't recalled her name. I brought Ita along. Then after that we went to Nilai 3 to visit Arpah, another Convent Peel friend.
It is nice to see them again. Hope they are coping life.
For the record, besides this reunion I attended more than ten social gatherings and functions. One each in Grand Seasons - hi-tea, Royale Chulan hi- tea, Royale Bintang dinner, Swiss Garden dinner, IOI Mall dinner, Flamingo - dinner, Legend - hitea, glamourous Golden Horses - dinner and Pullman of Putrajaya also dinner, Seri Cempaka dinner and twice in Quality - dinner and hitea. These took place almost every other day. I only missed one hitea in Grand Season.

TIME

It is more than four months I have been working in Kuala Lumpur, Wangsa Maju Section 5. The route I used to take these days are those journey I took on my way home to Ulu Yam then. But since staying in KL traveling less than twenty km one way is considered very very convenient. I used different routes to and fro work. In a way I like it even though the jam is always there. Life here is more hectic.

FOR TODAY 20-10-2010

It's quite sometimes that I didn't post any news here. Actually there were a lot of happening really but I supposed I was just lazy and at times I read. I have to have an entry today because of the lovely numbers.

I managed to read two novels - a sequence actually - The Missing Piece Part I and part II. Both are over 700 pages thick, beautifully written by Fatimah Busu. The story revolved around Imrah and her two husbands Lawrence Joehari and Charlie. They stayed in Penang and some parts in Kuala Lumpur. Imrah studied hard and got her PhD and worked as a lecturer in USM. I like this part of the story because I studied in USM too and the scenes were memory lanes to me.

Now for four consecutive weekends I am fully occupied with school works. With meetings and works, works and works. There are mountains of papers to sign. With only Sundays as my free days I felt it is never enough of time. One thing about all these is I still have my weight on. It never less as if nothing really matters.

MEETINGS

Since the school reopened I have been attending six meetings just for the week. I think I am sick of it already. Some were just time wasting.

THE HARI RAYA HOLIDAYS

At this age, Hari Raya is a day to get back together and exchange notes. It is our turn to become the old parents where the kids come home to us. I am accepting this fact of life - just that I don't have any grandchildren yet. None of my kids is married.

This Raya we went to Taiping, Kuala Kangsar, Ipoh and we managed to pass through Cameron Highland before going home. That was our third trip to Cameron this year alone. Second day the two of us went to Semenyeh Selangor to visit his brother. On the third day we went again to Ipoh and later to Taping for his old school reunion.

I went to work on the 6th Shawal and to Rawang and Batang Kali on the 7th. We are going to Ipoh again tomorrow.

MY ACTIVITIES

Today my City recorded 121212 km at 7.52 am. Since I worked in Wangsa Maju the machine does not travel much. Usually my mileage is more than 2K per month but now to beat 1K seems impossible.

Today I went to the Immigration Department and for the first time I was asked whether I am a senior citizen. I felt funny. I admitted that I am not young anymore but to say as a senior citizen I felt different. May be I am not used to it. Well this is my first time. In a way I didn't have to wait for long like the others.

TODAY

Today I am 55. It is a day to remember. I supposed insyaallah I will too in another three years time. Nothing that great happening today.
Now I am free of facebook. I have to delete it to prevent another disaster.

THE E-MAIL

Somehow I couldn't open my usual e-mail. I don't think I forgot the password after all I have to look at it more than once a day. I considered it active because there were many facebook messages. If I didn't peek it for three days then there would be more than half an hour to browse all of them.

Then started the call asking am I still in the country. I was supposed to be in Nigeria doing an educational conference. What a hack. And I needed some cash as I lost my papers while I was there. I hated what happened. May be I opened a stupid e-mail supposed to be from him. I pitied my friends and brothers who concerned about me. Thank you so much. Allah bless all of us. Now I have a new e-mail. I lost my ten years e-mail address as I love it. There are many mails that I treasured especially his words when he was in London a few years back.

IN ONE WEEK TIME

In one week time I should have stop working. I'll be fifty-five. But more than ten years earlier when I was working in college came a circular to extend the service till fifty-six. I agreed with it. Then came another two years extension to fifty-eight, I still signed for it.

So now I still have another three years to go. I just hope I am always fine and ok to carry out my duties. Amin

WHICH WAY

I remembered I have to take that particular route to go to work. One year later I have to take the opposite way. Is it fated then? Nothing is eternal really.
Last time those 42 km got me one hour if nothing blocks my diving, now that particular one hour is still there on my way home. Still wasted the hour after all now it is less than 20 km from home. I shouldn't complain really just be thankful. Amin

MY CITY

My City is recording 120000 km today - 5 August 2010 after having it less than five years. It is in SMK Sungai Choh, Rawang, my former school. I supposed I really travel and made full use of it. However I had it serviced last Saturday near home. Just love you City. Thank you so much.

MY ACTIVITIES

Actually this July is quite busy for me. First I had my transfer - because of this I had to pack my things for good and do my serah tugas which I haven't done officially yet until today. However I managed to come to SMKS5 on 6 July, Tuesday. Then on 10 till 13 July the four of us went to Jakarta-Bandung with the principals of Hulu Selangor. I have uploaded more than 300 shots in facebook PKPSM Hulu Selangor.
In between then, the weekends we went to Shah Alam to take Ita home or sent her back to UITM.
Yesterday 24 July, the two of us went to Fraser Hill following both routes. Just for a drive and had some shots.

MEETING OFFICIALLY

I received today the official letter from Director of JPN WP Tn Hj Adenan, in his office in Jalan Duta together with four other principals of Wilayah Persekutuan who received their promotion.
Thank you. Hope I can do my job. Amin

SMK SECTION 5 WANGSA MAJU, KUALA LUMPUR

Courtesy from http://smksungaichoh.blogspot.com

I was instructed to transfer to SMK Seksyen 5 Wangsa Maju, Kuala Lumpur on 1st July 2010 but the letter was received on 2nd July. To be honest I am just glad to overcome the burden of driving 84 km per working day but the jam is still there. Well thankyou anyway. How to have the joy when one must be behind the wheel more than two hours a day, we only have twenty-four hours. As if we have nothing better to do.

I just hope I can do my very best there. AMIN AMIN AMIN

MY DRIVING

I still love my City.

Today and yesterday I have to drive his crv to work. My City had some noise if I turned on the pedals. I hardly have my City less than five years and I bought it brand new, meaning I am still paying it's installment monthly.

So from my experience of driving both cars, I love my City more. Why? Because I can speed up to 140 km/h within seconds but not with a crv. I have to admit crv is very stable and you have a feeling of comfort and big there. But I like speed better. Remember I am driving 84 km per working day. End of this June I have been driving that 84 km per working day for a complete one year. I can't afford to drive slow as taking my sweet time. Just can't stand it. I can't afford to spend more than two hours a day just behind the wheel. We have other things to do.

I have been travelling with my City for about 54 months or four and a half years with about 116700 km. Faster than the normal rate. Or I can say less than three months for my 5000 km service.

CAMERON HIGHLAND

I came again to Cameron Highlands for the second time this year. I think about a month duration. We were from Kota Bharu and went home through Gua Musang but actually this way is much much further than the usual way. Just bought green tea

Kota Bharu

Both of us are now in Kota Bharu since yesterday. He has his meeting as usual before the school holiday so I follow him.
We managed to have lunch at Kedai Kopi Din Tokyo yesterday.
This time only the two of us are going and we are staying in Grand Riverview Hotel. Today I had the chance to go Pasir Panjang as their activities to the principal's families. I really don't buy abything just a few scarves and a dozen rollerball Parker refill since I considered them quite cheap. I got it RM7.20 each in Pasir panjang but in Kota Bharu, it costs only RM5.20. I remembered in KL, in Alor Star, in Kangar, in Batang Kali it costs me RM8.90. I got it once in Taman Midah Rm8.00.

LATE SUNDAY AFTERNOON

I don't like time like this. I mean the very Sunday late afternoon. Because it means tomorrow is another working day. Just hate the 84 km driving. i think I am already stressful. Can't deny it.

I still remembered when I was young, indeed very young, I told my late mother not to sleep in the afternoon. I used to see her taking her nap without fail then. I told her if she fall asleep then night will fall then. She told me night will fall no matter whether she sleep or not. Later, so much later then I understood it.

May be that's why you called it Black Monday. Other days are not that bad then.

MY SAY

On certain day of my life, how to say you just pass through without much luck. I am not expecting anything great, just a normal one will do. Nothing to think about. But this happening - is in fact some great moments about my time.

Like my driving. For one thing I am expecting I will drive one kilometer within a span of one minute. So for 42 km I will take at most 45 minutes - an extra 3 minutes. I usually beat this time on my way to work. So far I only involved with two unfortunate journeys, one - when the landslide occurred somewhere near Selayang sometime late last year and two - just last Saturday 15 March 2010 when a lorry carrying full load of bricks met an accident somewhere at the end of the one lane road before Tesco Rawang. That Saturday cost me about fifty minuted late than usual. But that landslide I just turned around and went home.

On my way home - I can say I am always not so lucky. Sometime it started with the traffic light near the Nasi Ayam Restaurant, about one kilometer near school. To pass that trafficlight took nearly fifteen minutes. Then it continued with the fruit stall before Rawang and went on until Tesco. The road leads to then, I considered quite lonely where I could drive 140 km/h - that near Rawang Craft College. I must drive fast here because I couldn't get anywhere later to drive fast. Usually I just beat 120 km/h here.

Diving on I will pass the National Mosque. How do I say? I am the one who didn't get any blessing as I passed it twice a working day.

TO CAMERON HIGHLAND ON THE FIRST THOUGHT

We went to Cameron on the first thought without much thinking. We were from Ipoh about 2.00 pm and reached Tapah by 6.00 pm. Hardly less than four hours the journey. By 9.30 pm we reached home.