Past Struggles, Future Gains - INDEPENDENCE DAY

Since when was I so patriotic? Can’t remember much thou but can I say I’m one of those proud ones cheering on for MALAYSIA whenever they’re up against countries esp. sporting matches (nah, I ain’t talking bout’ Msian football at all,:p)

I could still remember how I screamed my lungs out for MALAYSIA during the 92’ Thomas Cup victory over Indonesia as we emerged as Champions after Cheah Soon Kit/Soo Beng Kiang clinched the match. Dint the whole nation celebrate under the name MALAYSIA? I guess we all did and damn proud of it…

While studying in Australia, I did not let the opportunity to slip out too – its OLYMPIC, mind you! Malaysia was virtually nothing in all those competitions except for few worthy ones which we were strong in – so I chose the ultimatum, HOCKEY and found myself cheerin’ like a mad woman for Malaysia (though I’m not really sure how the points was calculated)

So what’s this hype about me writing about independence & me? 50 years down the road, Malaysia is 50 years old, phew how time passes. Celebrations and activities in country were enormous everywhere you go in Malaysia nowadays...

Recent one I attended was the Malaysian Fireworks event at Putrajaya – Simply extraordinary. Fireworks competition??? 1st time I’ve ever heard off and as usual, people arrives in flocks and jam is something not unusual and with an upcoming Floral parade running consecutively, ill bet many will struggle to juggle their time allocation (why all of sudden, there’s so much activities & so less time?)

And in counting down days to the 50th Independence Day on 31st August, I’ve been reading so much bout’ the country’s past history and its struggles. Of course, I was also cracking my head to join in the PETRONAS MERDEKA CAR CRAZE contest, whereby the Slogan goes “As a Malaysian, I have learned that….”

All those forms and receipts were waiting for me to fill, but a simple slogan seems so easy but hard to comprehend. I was like “As a Malaysian, I have learned that that we share the same passion for FOOD?, arghh I was like, no way I’m going to win a car with that creepy slogan. At that point of time, I was only thinking about ROTI CANAI & TEH TARIK, :p

I tried, tried to churn out some I thought were not that bad and below are some cracky ones :-

“As a Malaysian, I have learned that….”

a) We have stayed true to our ORIGINS
b) Multi-Culturalism that we practice was second to none
c) A truly diversed nation of amazing peoples
d) Yesteryears struggles was history beyond words
e) Independence has rewards us with PEACE, FREEDOM & ENJOYMENT
f) Past Struggles has unites us of all different races and cultures under a COMMON FLAG
g) We have the capacity to live together in diversity and difference
h) The country has served us well, thank you - Malaysia

Whaddaya think of the above? However this is the one I love best - “As a Malaysian, I have learned that INDEPENDENCE WAS NEVER OURS TO FIGHT BUT OURS TO RESPECT”
Wouldn't you agree more?

50 years has passed, it’ll soon be another dawning chapter whereby we could all make a DIFFERENCE if we all made an effort!

Happy 50th Birthday, MALAYSIA

FLAT & OUT

Man, man oh man, it’s spoilt, no response, harlo Mr Computer - what hapen to you?

Show me some response, if CPR can help I would do it but im stil unsure what went wrong. It was still okay this morning, what the heck hapen? You can’t be doing to this me when my bro (computer whiz of the house) is not in the country, I have loads to do (really felt like screaming)!!!

I tried checking on the connection, the wiring but no response but the weird thing is everything's fine except the CPU. Goodness, how am I gonna live without you for another month. I cant go online, I cant do my songs compilations, I cant check my emails, I cant check live scores, I cant blog - :(

Im realy gonna miss you man....

Different Peoples, Different Interpretations

Human Behaviours - the different types, the different personalities and how it oftens leave one bewildered and amused!

I was working at the MMU convocation - man, promotions for the graduates are really simple and straightforward. Yet, yet peoples can come back with so many different kind of response. Funny, ridiculous, obscure but yet intimidating at times. Read the below...

"Miss, how come the promotion so expensive? Can I get this and not that?Any further discount?", It's on offer and promotion period now - Sir/Madam, boss says cannot."

"Why is there so many people queueing up? I thot i dont have to queue? (harlo, auntie - even you go to a fast food outlet also you have to queue up right), blatantly c2pid question. I wana report you to student council (ohh, like i care!), go ahead by all means!"

"Miss, I didn't bring my receipt with me but im goin back to my hometown, can you let me take it? And cases continued with so many lames one coming w/o receipts, i said - NO receipt, no collection, bring the receipts or we have to charge again, hope you understand otherwise my business would close shop in no time". All these bloody excuses ...

Another funny one was the guy says he will give me a letter of undertaking to prove that he paid but lost his receipt. He said he was rushing but he dwell on the matter for 1 & half hour and i was like, "Sir - but i thot you were in a rush, i cant find your copy of the receipt, so get back another day " and i shoo him off.

Another pak cik came, wanted the individual studio package but initially wanted a double pose with family & individual - when he finishes writing his details, he has the guts to tell me - he wants the individual package. I was like darn it, fine - i ask him to re-write again & when he wrote the wrong column, i said not these but the other two, he says mana I tahu, you pointed this & this and I gave it back to him, pakcik - berapa KALI sudah saya EXPLAIN sini dengan sini? He was silent then with ppls around all looking at me (wow, this gal - dun main main with her)

Lastly, almost got into a heated conversation with a bloody gal who took the photos but not paying. Got her name and ID, wow - she was at the wrong end but scream and shouted as if there were no tomorrow and was practically lying that she was on her way back to hometown when i slapped her back telling her, "miss - yday i called you, you told me you will come over as you were at the exam unit. She continued to scream, i shouted back and said don't use these kind of tone on me as you are on the wrong as your action constitute stealing already. If you dont remit the money, we will report to your University Council and will not be held responsible for any consequences". Don't blame us later

Phew, when I think of it - man, a thing which was so simple and straightfwd but how these simple things can be translated to the many conflicts and complication at times. And with, psychology plays a big factor when they decide they want to buy or not as the grads photos are somewhat tempting for them to not take it (once in a lifetime, ma!)...

Few more days to go - I hope there won't be people coming tomorrow telling me that they've forgot to bring their lipsticks, perfumes, left their family at home or etc...


(Trust me, these people they can and will do it. Sometimes it makes one think, how one thing can be so similar yet DIFFERENT in so many ways!!!)

HOME OF THE REAL FANS

Woo Hoo, the EPL is back for the 07/08 season. Well, avid supporters would always look forward to arrival of August after what, 3 months of FOOTBALL-less! Nuff said, my TIGER FC membership says so (the centrepage fixture by TIGER FC on THE SUN) and also HEINEKEN’s been calling me for some survey or something on the CL activities that I participated not long ago serve me a reminder that you know, hello gal - EPL’s back.

CL Trophy presented by Heineken at The CURVE

Well, it’s not too bad this year though I guess especially with ASTRO, there were so many other championships or tournaments that could keep any footie freaks at bay, the one MALAYSIA lost tremendously – ASIAN CUP (really breathe a huge sigh of relief when MU decide not to come or else I can’t imagine what kinda SHAME would we’ll be in). And now there is the Champions Youth Cup (too bad Arsenal youngster played in Alor Setar, otherwise ill surely be at the stadium to rot for them)

Simon asked me few months ago on how ARSENAL would be contending on the next season with Henry’s departure? Frankly speaking, i wasn't very sure of his departure till I checked it on Soccernet, it was time he finally decided to give it a go. A year ago, if you’d been reading my blog – I was then de keen one saying HENRY would stay for life but he didn’t. But I was not defeated and my immediate reaction to Simon was – fret not, we make & turn SUPERSTARS not the other way round. Arsene’s knows what to do and I know he can do it, just wait & see.

Big football night out – you bet, the wealth of promotional activities at pubs and restaurants alike on the season kick off at SOULED OUT will drill all supporters in on the opening match especially the big one – CHELSEA vs LIVERPOOL.

ME @ Tiger FC FA Cup Trophy Roadshow at The CURVE

Which team I’ll settle – Of coz and certainly none other than ARSENAL (CL & EPL double, man!), affirmative...

FRIENDSHIP LOST

What a way to kick off this blog after a long absence. Been doin blogging using the Friendster site but i’d thot a proper site would be a better bet for me to kick off my ambitious writing passion (no pun intended, eh!) which i’ve been putting it out for so long for one reason or another.

Say why friendship to kick off this blog? I came across a nice article on the papers about FRIENDSHIP & like to share it ere’ :-

When DISTANCE sets in
You used to be just a stone’s throw away
Always accessible, readily kind
And then it became a phone away
But you were still reachable
Too soon, you seemed too distant
Yet still promptly comforting
Even as distance set us apart
Even as we led increasingly different lives

As we tread on unfamiliar paths
You were right beside me
Recalling the days of innocence we’ve spent together
It seemed I could rant to you about anything
From my trivial worries
To my worst fears and my deepest thoughts

But now distance is not an issue
Yet I feel cruelly distant from you
I shake my head in disbelief
It never crosses my mind that our friendship would come to such an END
All this time, I thought you were my friend
Like lost souls dwelling in different worlds
Is this a brutal reminder that times have changed
Is this the price we have to pay for growing up?

It feels like ages since our last conversation
Since I heard your reassuring voice
Where are you, I really need you now
There might be a million people around me
But none can be YOU
Cause you’re my precious friend
And I miss you more than words can say
Someday still hoping, hoping our friendship may be restored

Specially dedicated to my friends whom i’ve met or somehow lost touch throughout the years.

WEI - Still giving you the benefit of doubt, i’m persevering, not ready to lose you, my friend
SIMON - Dude & my footie rival buddy, 2 years lapsed but so glad to have found you back (yes, ALIVE, :p). Cherish the friendship lots, thou times may change but I trust those good ol' times will bring back fond memories

For whatsoeva reason hapen, I’m confident somehow, someday we will be smiling & laughing together again like we’ve used to for I know & believe, FRIENDS ARE FOREVER.