2012 in numbers

125 blog entries, as usual.

198 days of commute recorded. Missed a few, but should have more than 95% of my commute to work recorded.

19783.4 kilometres covered in those 198 days, average of 99.9 kilometres per day.

47 petrol filling. Good old MyVi is still doing well, an average of 15.532 kilometre per litre of petrol. An average of 12.3 cents per kilometre using RON95.

66 badminton sessions attended, out of 81 that happened. Missed 15, hmm...

31 novels read. Twelve days for a book, I am getting slower. =(

502 hours and 20 minutes spent playing World of Warcraft. That's up to 30th of December, not including the game time later tonight. =P Worked out to be 92 cents per hour of entertainment for the year long subscription, plus I get Diablo III free.

35, 8, 5, 3, for my own reference.

 

Happy New Year dear reader, wish you a fabulous 2013!

 

Coffee lovers rejoice (while I cry)

For someone who needs to eat supper every night, having a 24/7 Mamak store round the corner is a good thing.

A very good thing. You know, sense of comfort and security, like a safety net.

When Subaidah closed for renovation, wifey and I have been eagerly awaiting its reopening. Took months, but the wait is finally over! The only thing is, it's not Subaidah that has reopened, but...

Starbucks, WTF!?!

Why oh why?!?!! >_<

Where am I going to get my Maggie Goreng fix now? And my quick and easy meal solution when wifey left me alone?

Bollocks!

Do you really need to have another store between Gurney Plaza and Straits Quay? Really? -_-

Starbucks, now available every 1km in Tanjung Tokong area!

Ever since that birthday dinner all those years ago, I made it a point to go have a Maggie Goreng on or if out of town, shortly after, my birthday every year. I even started to go for Maggie Goreng with sotong for such occasion instead of the normal plain version that I order on other days.

The place has sentimental value, and now they took it away. =(

yea yea, caffeine on the go, whatever!

I am sure the coffee lovers and hippies will be happy with this new addition. I am neither so I just feel like crying for the lost of my beloved mamak store.

Inevitably by writing this rant I have helped to advertise the store, something that I consciously avoid doing on my blog for I want to keep my blog commercial free. Oh well. More bollocks!

Anyone working in Starbucks who read this and has the good grace to pay me advertisement fees please feel free to do so. =P

Don't worry, I am super-elite-ultra-platinum member of both www.tankuku.com and www.banbantan.com.

Subjugated Mind

My blood is pumped full of medicine, antibiotics and what not.

I could just imagine it, an influx of these synthetic chemical warriors into my bloodstream, battling the bacteria and whatever that's causing the infection.

My only hope is that this reinforcement will finally turn the tide of battle, winning it where my natural defence and Chinese medicine had utterly failed me thus far.

Much as I prefer to let my body takes its course and recovers naturally, the throat infection has gone on well over a week with no sign of getting better despite all I did and refrained from doing. Though honestly, if that's the only discomfort I would have stayed my course.

The real killer that finally broke me down and made me go see a doctor is the incessant coughing. Racking coughs that are hurting my lungs and muscles, and caused me to be sleepless every night.

Every, single, night.

I am so tired. I am wrecked.

So I gave in and spent the one hour for commute and waiting for a two minutes consultation in order to get the medicine. Sorry to put it this way (which is the truth nevertheless), never did like to go see a doctor.

Wifey said one of the drugs I was given looks like a mild form of morphine, good for suppressing cough. Not sure if that's really the medicine but I did cough less after the medication this afternoon, but I am also feeling lightheaded and kind of weird. I hope it's just because I am so knackered.

Here's hoping the synthetic chemicals will do their magic, there is a task force ongoing, I cannot afford to be sick.

Foul Mood

Sore throat and fever last weekend. Both gone earlier in the week, but left me voiceless and coughing incessantly till now.

I can deal with the lost of voice, just a missed karaoke session primarily, but the ceaseless coughing is really wearing me thin and wearing me out.

Every night I coughed till I was sleepless, when it finally abated enough for me to grab some rest, it's already early morning and the two little monsters will be up and creating ruckus.

So I am constantly in a foul mood these few days. And everytime I cough I feel like cursing and swearing.

When will this fish and ducking stop?

Do avoid me.

一通电话

今天午餐后接到萧喳娃的电话，她打我的手机，闲聊了几句。

要知道我的手机是鲜少会有来电的，而且来电要么就是老婆仔询问或告知些重要的事，要么就是同事催我快快滚出实验室去吃午餐，全是短短几句就收线那种。几乎是没有人打我的手机找我闲聊的，毕竟我是不喜欢用电话的怪人。

所以这通电话真是大件事咯，嘿！

我常在想，这些鲜有的闲聊电话，是不是对方按错键误打了给我而将错就错随口讲几句？

我接电话后萧喳娃愣了下，以为她打错电话了（可能真的是，呵呵！），因为我喉咙痛复原中的声音太「性感」了，几乎就是无声文化，所以她认不出。

问她怎么会突然打电话给我，她说什么在唱歌和什么鸡公鸡婆的，我决定只当做她是唱歌想到我，不管鸡公鸡婆那一段，呵呵！

好开心哦，唱歌会想起我！

（是的，单纯白痴般乐天派的人是可以欺骗自己来自爽的。）

我可是每次有和同事朋友去唱K时都会邀萧喳娃的，虽然她在别州赚大钱吃大茶饭时每次都放飞机，但我仍旧是每次都会邀她的。

（是的，单纯白痴般乐天派的人是可以很傻的。）

但她现在回来美食州了，我们又可以一起去唱K了！想到都开心。和她这种会抢麦克风，敢敢唱，够神经的人唱歌真的是很爽的。当然，萧喳娃唱歌是很厉害的，只是声音没有我现在这样性感啦…

希望很快就会和她见一见，要和大伙讨论下，搞个聚会或什么的：收工酒？圣诞新年聚？悻存世界末日庆祝会？

Musing

Suddenly sick yesterday evening, high fever, had been bedbound since.

Couldn't sleep though, just tossed and turned the whole night, so I am feeling like a zombie now.

During the long night, when the fever had abated somewhat, I dragged myself out of bed and booted up the computer to surf the net.

The restless mind wandered and wondered, particularly after viewing the photos of friends having fun, gathering. And I felt a sudden... longing? Jealousy? Envy?

How happening their lives are compared to mine.

Have I been antisocial for so long now I no longer know how to reach out, to connect?

Or have I isolated myself so much so that I no longer have those circle of friends? Have I ever have such circle of friends?

Melancholic thoughts.

Funny Mr Nerdy Nerdy

Had a really pleasant surprise a few days ago when I returned from lunch and found a giant envelope on my desk.

fake unsuccessful postal delivery is the excuse used

My birthday happened while I was on business trip, and apparently I am to believe that they have sent the card there, failed to reach me in time, so the card being returned, and all that took exactly a month. ^_^

Oh, the pen is included in the photos for size reference, and no, that's not a mini pen! =P

cute card

Lame excuse aside, it's truely surprising to receive a birthday card a month after my birthday, and genuinely heart-warming knowing the time and effort needed to go round collecting birthday wishes and signatures. Oh I know.

So thank you very much! I am really touched.

wow, I have colleagues and friends who care! =P

Are you all trying to make a sentimental fool (me) cry?

Overjoyed and touched, truely. Gratitude and appreciation, sincerely.

Another surprise is when I found out that it's actually not the usual suspects who initiated this, but a colleague who I never thought as the sentimental type. Thank you Ayam! ^_^

Not finding any suitable place to hang the card in my cubicle, I eventually brought it home.

My elder son discovered the card the next morning and came to me holding the card while I was preparing to leave for work. After asking from whom and when did I get the card, and other usual questions, he asked something a bit unusual.

Hsiang: is this you? *pointing at the guy with spectacles on the card*

Me: why do you say so?

Hsiang: because he is wearing spectacles and looks like Funny Mr Nerdy Nerdy.

Me: I look like Funny Mr Nerdy Nerdy?

Hsiang: yes, hahahahaha!

Me: -_-

Mr Nerdy Nerdy

I have no idea where he learned that from, but at least he said I am funny!

12.12.12

Even the Americans can't get this date wrong in their backward format. =P

Let me state the obvious here: it's a special date because for the Gregorian calendar, by omitting the first two digits of the year, gives us a set of same number once per century. There are only twelve such dates per century.

It's special in that way, that's it. Though of course the opportunists will make a big hoo-ha out of it to fatten their own purse. Same old same old.

Anyway, there are those who like to choose this kind of special date for their special day, like engagement, marriage, child birth, or what not. This makes it doubly special or something?

Only thing is it's doubly special for a gazillion others who have the same idea, and that, to me, makes it not so special anymore. While I know I share my birthday, wedding date with many others, it's no way near the gazillion number of people on such special date.

I prefer a date to be special because it's a special day for me, instead of a special date to make my day special. ^_^

Read the above sentence a few more times and it will be as clear as mud. =P

Though a special date is really good for people like me who has goldfish memory, easier to remember so I won't miss important milestones like anniversary!

There's always a but

After being "abandoned" for two weeks, I came to the inlaw's to be reunited with my family, yay!

No more being alone, yay! No longer need to cook for myself and eat whatever the food ended up as, yay! Can hug hug and kiss kiss again, yay!

So happy! ^_^

The only thing is, they are all out having fun when I arrived.

Abandoned, yet again. >_<

Random Thoughts

They must have forgotten to send me the 'slacker day' memo, for by lunch time, of my usual lunch gang, there were only me and Mr Pork Leg in the office.

The nerve! Missing out slacker extraordinaire on 'slacker day' memo, that's just so wrong. Karma -1 for all of you!

=P

Anyway, Mr Pork Leg and I walked to the other site for lunch, as Pork Leg said the food there is better.

He would know, as he has higher requirements when it comes to food and dining. You know, exquisite and expensive taste, something like that. Okay okay, that's just my polite way of saying he is picky. =P

Those who know him will know this is not baseless accusation, and those who know me will know I am just stating as it is, no blemishing. And no I am not judging.

Nothing wrong with enjoying fine dining, having high expectation for food and cuisine. It's not for 'cheap' people like me, cheap taste and lean wallet, but each to his or her own.

What surprised me though, was the chat after the meal. You see, Mr Pork Leg is still single with many girlfriends and has been working longer than I do, so he can afford the fine and expensive dining, and other expensive hobbies or expenditures.

I did not expect him to understand and empathise with people in my situation and lifestyle. I am the sole bread earner for a family of four, I started working late in life so my income is still rather pathetic. My wife and I are no strangers to simple and frugal lifestyle, we are well accustomed to it for all the years we spent in England.

But he does. He probably never experienced simple and frugal lifestyle but he does understand.

Though I have to say I am not a big fan of fine and expensive dining not just because of cost, but I honestly prefer the good old hawkers' food, they taste so good! So I guess I just have 'cheap' taste. =P

That said, I can never understand just what value for money is perceived by those who go for a coffee costing more than what I normally spend for my entire lunch, or some funky drink that costs two or three of my usual meals worth. Because it's trendy? Because of the ambiance? Because it's the 'in' and 'cool' thing to do?

Maybe it has nothing to do with value for money, I just have to be rich enough to appreciate such luxury. =P

I have to express how lucky and blessed I am to have found a woman who is sticking with me, living in such lifestyle, who is not materialistic and not the high maintenance type, who shares the same values and who believes in giving our children the best we can offer - a full time mum.

The kids love their mum lots, and in lesser degree love me too, I hope. Thank you wifey, for nurturing such a loving family (and for everything!). We are not wealthy, but we are rich in our own way. =)

I do hope that if we ever become wealthy, please go shopping more and spend more on yourself!

尊重，所以颓废

那天，赶着去教课途中碰到位同事，她问我：

“近来很忙啊？”

近来？我心想我已忙足一整年了，所以她应该是指这几天吧？

“教书嘛，”我说。

其实是训练课程啦。

我知道我知道，我也是不太相信我是教练，有点不能接受咯。

但我真的是嘞，我教的课程可是在公司正式训练课程单子里的。有空我才写篇有关我做教练的文章来「号练」下，嘿嘿！

“做么不修边幅的？”

我这几天留胡子，但我是有修边幅的，胡子不是自然生得那么均匀的啦！其实呵，修胡子比剃光胡子还要费时费神的。

“颓废咯，”我带点笑地回答。留胡子会给人颓废的形象的嘛，像上回那样。

乘着学校假期，老婆仔带着两个瓜到娘家玩几周，留下我一个人孤苦伶仃，自生自灭。

（有没有这么惨啊？）

没有人陪我谈天，听我讲废话。没有人吵醒我，做顽皮的事气我（这个一点都不惨）。没有人煮饭给我吃，和我玩版图游戏。没有了那每天习惯了的抱抱和亲吻（这个真的十分非常惨！）。

怎能不颓废？

老婆仔不在身旁时，我颓废，是对她在我生命里、生活里的重要性的一种肯定和尊重的表示。

真的嘞。

请把这歪理发扬光大！ =P