Turning 50

I will be 50 tomorrow, July 29th 2009. I have my own reasons to rejoice. I almost could not make it a few years back, when I had an Acute Heart Attack. A lot of things has happened ever since. It is not wrong to say that I am living the second lease of life now.

I have some wish list that probably will not get fulfilled. The short list is:

1. A brand new car. A BMW or Merc preferably. I would settle for a Honda Civic Hybrid.
2. A Nikon D90 D-SLR camera
3. A Digital video camera
4. A brand new sofa set; would love to have laZ boy set if possible.
5. A house makeover, consisting of interior paint job, minor extension to the kitchen and improve the front lawn.
6. An automated gate, so that I will not have to get wet when opening the gate when it rains.
7. Air-conditioning units to be serviced and the two other room need to be fix with air-condition units as well.
8. Do up the present car back to it's pristine best.
9. Go for a short holidays......

I hope these wishes can be achieved.....

Happy 50th Birthday to me.....

Wishlist for the first half of 2009.

1. Liverpool wins the BPL and Champions League.
2. A reasonably good Nikon D-SLR Camera
3. i-Phone 3G for the significant other
4. Hi-Fi set for my listening pleasure. AudioNote pre & power Amplifier, AN Speakers and Cyrus CD player with a separate D/A Converter.
5. A Plasma TV with full Home Theatre system
6. A BMW M5
7. A semi-D house in a gated community in PJ or Shah Alam
8. Holidays in the Scottish Highlands or in New Zealand.

Welcome 2009. Goodbye 2008.

As 2009 being ushered in, let us just look at what 2008 has brought us with it.

1. Unprecedented increased in gasoline price from RM1.90 to RM2.70.
2. Increase in food and other amenities, due to the rippling effects of the huge increase in gasoline pump price.
3. March 8th General Election surprises.
   
4. The frustrations of getting dumped during the some part of 2008. Personally and professionally.

The list can go on.....

I am hoping for a much better 2009 and willing to work for it. The current economic outlook maybe bleak but I am looking at things rather positively. It takes a lot of effort and needing some very real focus to get us out of the current quagmire, God willing, we'll get there.

Have avery Happy and Prosperous New Year of 2009.

Being brutally honest can be detrimental to one’s health.

I am in two minds about being open, i.e. brutally honest with a number of people. My business partners, my employer, my children and those who really matters. My policy has always been to speak out about my likes and dislikes! Sometimes I may sound like a goody-two shoes person, which I am not! God forbids! Do I have to keep my views to myself, when it is very obvious that I will regret it later for not voicing it out in the first place? It happened many times before.

Do I have to tell only what people want to hear? Do I have to keep the bad news all to myself? Must I lie just to be popular? Will I be shot for being the bearer of bad news? History has shown that being the messenger will get you rewarded, either with accolades or with sticks.

To my business partners, when I say my piece, it has to do with issues at hand. Nothing personal. Let's look at things objectively. If the earlier decision was made without any sound business rationale and now we are having problems, then let us work on finding the way around these problems. No point crying over spilt milk. Let us move on by finding the way around them.

To my employer, sometimes what we actually see and think we see, may be a mirage. We need to make sure that what we see is real, not a fantasy! We are not in the business of make-believe! Leave it to the film-makers. Let us deal with reality.

To my children, life is never a bed of roses. What you enjoy today is the result of labour that the earlier people has put in. It is never by chance! Even when you were conceived, was the result of hard work between your mum and me! The only one who defy that rationale is Prophet Isa PBUH (Jesus to the Christians). Therefore, when I tell you things, please take it as it is (on the face value). I do not want to have to clarify things all the time.

To my significant other, sometimes I find it hard to be open with you. Please try to read my body language. You would be the last person that I want to hurt. I'd rather endure the pain myself rather than seeing you suffer the indignity. Not to know things is actually a bliss. Enjoy it while you can.

This posting is not a confession, but my way of coming out clean with all the people I mentioned above. I have NOT touch on my siblings, my parents (actually just my father, since my mother has passed away) and some other people which I have conveniently left out.

Now I feel a lot easier with all that off my chest!

Going back to being employed.

I am going to go back to being an employee as of today, November 1st, 2008. I had 6 months hiatus and in spite of being broke most of the time, I enjoyed the freedom and the peace of mind. I have been given some kind of flexibility, i.e. working only 3 days out of the 5 days week. I will be working on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. These days may be changed in due time to suit any project needs. I shall be back in the Oil & Gas fraternity. My roles among others, will be developing new businesses, developing new accounts and influencing the direction of projects. A mouthful indeed.

Apart from this employment, I will also be involved in technical trainings, related to Oil & Gas industry. My involvement with Manpower Skill Development Department of Ministry of Manpower, will still be on. I have WIM project with CIAST and Idaman Jauhari, plus some involvement in NOSS and coordination work for both WIM and NOSS projects. All these will keep me busy until end of December 2008.

I hope to have the drive to do all these and be able to deliver all of them with the best of my ability.

National Day 2008 / Nature's Walk

I spend the morning at the Lake Gardens Park for for what supposed to be my Morning Walk. I ended up going about the Nature's walk and snapping some pics. I did go for the walk. The nature walk and the pictures taking was unplanned. I did that after I completed my walk. have always known that Lake Gardens park has a lot to offer. I have been there a few times before and it never cease to amaze me of the new discovery.

For now, just enjoy the pictures. I wish I have a more sophisticated camera though.

Here Comes Ramadhan

To all my friends ( and readers), Ramadhan will be here soon. On September 1st, to be exact.

To all muslim friends (and readers)

Happy Fasting.