Overhaul

This is really just a record for my future reference, drafted 19th of May, when it happened.

My brother-in-law and a few of my colleagues bought new car this year. Upgrading to bigger or grander vehicle. Perhaps a better reflection of their grade level and income? =)

Have to admit that my interest got piqued, albeit just a little, and I spent about half an hour browsing for sporty looking car. This happened in early March this year.

For the record, I am not crazy about car, I just think of it as something that gets me from A to B and back really.

Oh, this led to another note I took in March about mid-life crisis. ^_^

So there I was looking at stylish sporty car, when the thought hit me whether my sudden interest has anything to do with mid-life crisis since, well, I am almost at that stage of my life.

And buying luxury or expensive car is one of the ways people deal with mid-life crisis. A quick browse on the internet, then a brief instant messaging session with finance minister, a.k.a. wifey, checking on our bank balance and financial status pretty much sealed the thought...

...I simply cannot afford to have mid-life crisis! >_<

Oh well.

Anyway, let's get back to the main topic. =P

I don't really want to change my MyVi, honestly. It has served me well all these years and the fuel consumption is still 15 to 16 kilometres per litre. And of course, it's not an expense that I can justify, not to mention that MyVi suits my grade level and salary better. =)

But seven years took its tolls on my faithful car, the bearings, especially the front ones, were damaged. It's actually something I noticed for quite some months already, just never got the chance to get them fixed.

Until the 19th of May, when my day ended earlier due to teambuilding event.

I ended up changing all four bearings. Getting the front bearings out took a longer time, and involved more banging and brute force than I anticipated.

how many people to remove a bearing? One to hold, one to hammer, and one to supervise

Also changed two tyres, the front wheels disc brake pads and the rear absorbers.

All those plus alignment, balancing and labour cost totalled to RM1325. Ouch.

But still a lot of cheaper compared to getting a new car. =P

Common sense, not common

When I was approaching the lift to my apartment this evening, I smelled something rather unexpected.

The burning smell like in a temple, you know, something like burning joss sticks.

I soon discovered the truth, and the first word that I uttered was: "idiot!"

See, there is this small lounge thing with sofa and a dustbin with ashtray top in front of the lifts. And just now, on top of that dustbin ashtray top was a McDonald's hot drinks takeaway holder, the hard cardboard type that we hold on the edge or bottom, not the one that has loops to hang four cold drinks that we carry using fingers through loops.

And on top of that hard cardboard hot drinks holder, was an unextinguished cigarette butt, which was happily burning away the cardboard holder, giving the joss stick like smell.

Yup, cardboard, safest thing to extinguish a cigarette, NOT.

I mean, seriously? Come on!

okay, I have always wanted to post this image, relevance be damned!

I guess common sense is just for common people like me, it does not apply to special people. You know, those abnormally special people. Abnormally retarded.

Well, McDonald's, bless them, used some kind of cardboard that doesn't burn with flame. So while the cardboard was merrily burning away giving out smoke, there was no open flame. Of course, it's just a matter of time before the fire got to something that does burn with flame, like the napkin, the straw, the paper cup.

While I pride myself not being those whose first action is to take picture of anything and everything to post on social media, I did regret I didn't do it today. Take a photo, that is.

See, my first reaction was to extinguish the fire. So I emptied my water bottle on it, refilled at nearby tap, and emptied it again to make sure it's really out.

Then, being the grumpy old man that I am, I grumbled about this idiotic incident to wifey as soon as I got home. Wifey, being a much more responsible person (and smarter, nicer, beautifuller, more social, et cetera et cetera), went down to take a photo and filed a report to the management.

I suppose a photo while it's still burning probably has more impact compared to a photo of wet cardboard...

Oh well.

Thomas Cup, almost

So close, yet so far.

22 years ago, in 1992, we won the Thomas Cup, tonight we hope we could do it again.

But alas we didn't. Japan, the country that kicked China out from entering final, won it.

It was nail-biting, hair-pulling, intense, frustrating. There were lots of cheers, moans, elations and ultimately disappointment.

Oh well, I am sure the Malaysia team did their best. It's a nice to watch final, kept you watching till the very last match.

That said, I am just so very sad now.

Busy week

It has been a busy week.

The week started off pleasant enough with a full day outdoor teambuilding event. Outdoor treasure hunt, while not a new thing, was a first for me since I didn't join any such prior events.

It was tiring but fun, though I am rather let down by the supposedly fear factor challenges. The supposedly fearful stuff didn't even give me pause or moment of hesitation. I was expecting something that I have to psych myself before I can do it. Oh well.

Of course our team already identified HBK as the culprit for us not winning, due to his failure to get the marble and shoot a can. No we don't know our score, it may or may not just be a few points off but it's not important, it's all HBK's fault no matter what. =P

It went downhill after that fun day. One obstacle after another. It's as if people really want things to get into critical mode before they want to do something about them. And there I am, seemingly the only one who cares, trying to resolve things before they can turn ugly, and I have to fight for every single step.

What's wrong with these people?

So there are meetings, and meetings, and more meetings. Early morning ones, late night ones, and of course the usual work hours ones. Justifying, convincing, persuading, negotiating.

Had to prepare materials late into the night everyday, that didn't go too well with the early morning meetings.

There was a recognition dinner Thursday night, while I appreciate them recognising my contribution, I had to work till even later that night after the dinner, and needless to say there was an early morning meeting the next day. That door gift of a mini bolster is just... so temptingly appropriate yet so office conduct wise wrong. >_<

On a side note, I was seriously underdressed that night, didn't expect others to really turned up so formally-dressed. Why so serious?

Anyway, I am absolutely sleep-deprived this week.

The work week ended with a pleasant note though, a karaoke session! Yes it was a late evening session and it's almost midnight by the time I got home, but I didn't have to prepare any material yesterday night and there was no early meeting today. =)

Pleasantly surprised by a colleague's singing prowess, and mightily sad that she is leaving us soon. Would really love to go karaoke with her more. =(

Guess I should admit that I had to turn on my laptop after lunch today to clear some e-mails before they expire. Cleared enough to buy me another week before I lose any e-mails to retention expiry date. slacker point -1

Helplessness

I actually have a draft titled 'office politics' dated earlier this month, I haven't found the time and mood to touch that up. Maybe I will eventually, or maybe it will just join the many unposted drafts that I have accumulated since the beginning of this blog. slacker point +1

This entry is somewhat related to that entry, I could have just expanded that entry but I simply am too tired today for a long entry. Mentally tired.

So this is supposedly a short one, just a record of the helplessness I felt at work.

There are many things that I want to do, many things I believe are right to get done now so they do not come back to bite us in the future.

Unfortunately they are linked and I am getting no where with the very first of the chain. While I can collect the necessary data to raise up the concern for these potential issues, which I did, I am not the one who makes the final call.

So frustrated and feel so helpless, knowing there's a potential time bomb but cannot get the others to realise and quickly resolve it.

Meh! >_<

Monday Couple moment in Emergency Couple

Spoiler alert: this entry is about Gary's cameo in Ji Hyo's Emergency Couple drama.

I am a Monday Couple fan, so when I was told that Gary had a cameo in Emergency Couple, a k-drama with Ji Hyo being the lead actress, that k-drama got put on the "check it out when have time" list.

There are probably a gazillion entries about this on the web from the many Monday Couple fans around the globe, but this one is mine. It will serve as a reminder when I am older that I have once been on this band wagon. =P

Anyway, Gary appeared in episode 6 of the Emergency Couple drama series, a short few seconds as a taxi driver who drove a drunk Ji Hyo home.

The scene started with Gary supporting the drunk Ji Hyo out of the restaurant.

Ji Hyo was singing Gary's 'Shower Later' song while Gary was grumbling about the state his passenger was in

Before Ji Hyo entered the taxi, they got a short funny moment beside the car door. Ji Hyo asked if the taxi driver was Gary, to which he replied:

Gary: "who's Gary? I am Dary." (in his typical slurred speech)

then Ji Hyo commented that he was so handsome

to which Gary replied: "I heard that quite often. You should get home to sleep."

Ji Hyo, in a talkative mood, bragged about her earlier success operation in the drama storyline.

Ji Hyo: "I have the hands of God." Gary: "Oh, really?"

Then they crossed their fingers and we get the usual shy Gary moment. ^_^

After he successfully got Ji Hyo into the taxi back seat, Gary commented that:

"I have a feeling I will bump into you on Mondays."

And just before the taxi drove off and thus ended Gary's cameo, Ji Hyo sat up in the back seat and said:

"You are the type I like."

=D

Short few seconds, but so hilarious, so many Monday Couple jokes, really "laugh die me". =P

Got to say that after watching four of Ji Hyo's earlier movies and one of her earlier dramas, I don't think much of her acting. Perhaps it's her role in those, but I simply love her best in Running Man, the rest have been meh for me.

Having said that, I am currently at episode 13 of 21 of Emergency Couple and I am giving her thumbs up for her acting. Gotta say she is much much better compared to the rest I have seen, I think this kind of role suits her.

Anyway, this is my Monday Couple fan service done and done. =)

生活点滴：小瓜和爸爸

无意间翻出这张照片，是二零一一年四月二十七日的照片。

三年了。

都忘了那时一岁半的他手上拿着什么要我看。

那时他应该还不太会讲话吧？

也忘了原本要写些什么的，照片只是写了日期和名为「小瓜和爸爸」，没有附加的初稿或草记。

也许就是想要保留小瓜年幼时和我的一些温馨时刻吧？

唉… 他们怎么长大得这么快？

生活点滴 |系列|

Tired, just tired

Wesak Day today, a holiday.

Got up for the morning meeting, despite being a holiday, and listened to someone kind of similar to Mr Memory going on as if he personally led and delivered the many things he was presenting.

But some of us know otherwise.

There will always be this kind of people, unfortunately. One of the sources of work frustration and mental imbalance.

Anyway, tried to get back to sleep after the meeting, but the little monsters were up then, oh well...

Refused to get out of bed until noon though, heh.

Only wifey didn't really prepare my lunch, so I had to settle it myself. McD it was.

Of course it had to suddenly rain cats and dogs and whatever other animals as soon as I was ready to go out, and turned bright and sunny as soon as I reached McD, and then started raining heavily again as soon as I got near my home.

Bollocks.

Elder son spent the whole afternoon being scolded by wifey, procrastinating and wasting everybody's time doing his homework, as the 'king' needs other to accompanied him and pretty much do all the thinking for him while he does homework.

Younger son completed his in half an hour, one hour top, and proceeded to play with neighbour's kid, having fun like what little kids do.

But the elder son, *sigh*...

I do not have wifey's patience, everytime I see his attitude doing his homework my blood boils, so after a few rounds of lecturing on my part I gave up and stayed in room instead.

Don't have the energy for him. Tired, just tired.

Eventually I drifted off to sleep, only to wake up at eight. The elder son apparently spent the whole afternoon and evening doing... Okay, doing is not the right word, he spent the whole day fooling around and wasting time trying to complete his homework, and still he didn't complete all of it.

I am speechless.

Why can't he be like his younger brother?

Really, I am tired just thinking about it.

A happening day

The in-laws are here.

Having three energetic kids in the house pretty much means that there is no sleep until waking up naturally.

I refused to get out of bed until late morning though, that's when they had been out and returned, hence the resumed of the noise.

Wifey and I took the opportunity to leave the little monsters with parents-in-law and went to watch The Amazing Spider-Man 2, a better movie compared to the first.

It was raining when the movie ended, we spent a little 'just the two of us' time window shopping before father-in-law picked us up and we went to Tesco to buy food for dinner.

Bumped into a colleague there, a pleasant surprise.

Got home and had durian. Then brother-in-law, the kids, wifey and I played a few rounds of different board games before dinner. Fun time.

A little hiccup at dinner time but we had our steamboat dinner nevertheless, eight of us round table style. =)

After washing up we played another board game, one that's still too complicated for the little monsters but they tagged along anyway, having fun watching us play.

Brother-in-law had to go meet up with his friends half way through so we break for the time being. Took my shower, did some chores, and now writing this blog entry.

It has been a really happening day thus far. A fun day, a quality time spent with family day, a happy day.

心的频道：再忙，也该保持联络

从工厂回办公室途中很偶然的碰到好久不见的同事朋友，

是关系蛮好可以很自然无畏忌谈天的那种朋友。

坐下来和她闲聊了一会儿，了解下她的近况。

很开心得知她怀孕的喜讯！

有点惭愧自己没有早点得知恭喜她。

但毕竟她也忙、我也忙，

真的好一阵子没见了。

虽然我一见她犹豫难言就直接告诉她不必跟我讲，

她仍是告诉了我一些其他的事。

我绝对明白有些事是私隐的，不是谁都可以讲的，

真的，我不是那么三八的人来的。

我关心在乎朋友，是不需要知道一切的来龙去脉的。

感谢她对我的信任，让我做她的聆听者，

很庆幸自己还是一些朋友谈心的对象。

也很感慨，

怎么一转眼就这么长一段时间没有联系了？

真的要不时提醒自己：

再忙，也该保持联络，关心在乎下朋友的近况。

心的频道 |系列|

生活点滴：很大的瓜

初稿于二零一四年四月二十四日。

惯了和老婆仔是用华语交谈，和孩子们则是用英语交谈。

小儿子今年开始上幼儿园，对华语有了接触。

那晚和老婆仔谈话间讨论了些孩子的事，小儿子在一旁听了有点疑惑的样子。

我见了就对他解释说:

“when papa and mama say 小瓜, that's you. Koko is 大瓜。”

他想了想，然后回答说:

“then I will call you... 很大的瓜！”

生活点滴 |系列|