Go Torres! ;)
Am going back to bed now...zzz....
Monday, June 30, 2008
Living up to expectation
Spain is the new Euro champions and the vital goal came from this man:
Go Torres! ;)
Am going back to bed now...zzz....
Go Torres! ;)
Am going back to bed now...zzz....
Friday, June 27, 2008
Miracles DO happen
Yup, Spain is in the Euro Cup final!
I can name almost the whole of the English team (yet the knowledge is redundant now isn't it?), a bit more than half of the Spanish squad and yet not a single one from the Malaysian team... sad isn't it? (the team, not me!)
My last (and only) experience watching Malaysian Football in this decade was back in 2004 when I went for the Malaysian Cup final at Bukit Jalil. The game was so boring that I almost fell asleep...sempat pergi beli burger lagi while the game was going on. I only went because a certain someone came all the way from Perlis to take me to the 'date'. Emmm...come to think of it now, no wonder it didn't work out...heheh..
I can name almost the whole of the English team (yet the knowledge is redundant now isn't it?), a bit more than half of the Spanish squad and yet not a single one from the Malaysian team... sad isn't it? (the team, not me!)
My last (and only) experience watching Malaysian Football in this decade was back in 2004 when I went for the Malaysian Cup final at Bukit Jalil. The game was so boring that I almost fell asleep...sempat pergi beli burger lagi while the game was going on. I only went because a certain someone came all the way from Perlis to take me to the 'date'. Emmm...come to think of it now, no wonder it didn't work out...heheh..
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Pakcik keje gomen
I am a government servant and I do take it as a personal attack when people make generalisations about the negative trademarks of orang gomen. Heck, I put in extra hours on daily basis, I sometimes have to go in at weekends, I frequently answer calls at odd hours like 3 in the morning and even when I am on holidays, I don't do teabreaks and my lunchbreaks normally consist of packed food and mountains of paperwork in front of the PC. All these without a single cent extra in pay.
And I am not alone. My colleagues, my staff (ok, my staff do get paid for overtimes but still not that much) and most of the doctors and nurses also work like dogs around the clock to provide decent services with the limited resources that we have. So yeah, I think it is only fair that I get mad when people say it to my face that government servants are lazy, inefficient, unhelpful, rude or plain stupid. If you have the nerve to piss me off, you should have the guts to face my wrath then... it's only fair right?
But anyway...the harsh generalisations were blaringly playing in my ears on wednesday when I stepped into the administration wing of the hospital to make arrangements for my upcoming Surabaya trip. I submitted my application quite a few weeks ago and only received the approval from the high and mighty on tuesday. So, apart from having to prepare the poster that I am supposed to present at the conference rushingly, I also had to make all the arrangements for the trip myself last-minutely. The first stop was where my attempts to get the money I need to pay for my conference fee and everything else were crushed at the front counter..
Anon 1 : Tak boleh ni...kena ada surat approval daripada VC
Me : Ni dah ada surat approval daripada HR, surat daripada VC nak dapat daripada mana?
Anon 1 : Tak boleh, kena ada surat VC jugak.. kena apply through system (and nobody told me that I have to do this when I first handed in my application!)
Me : Tapi saya nak pegi minggu depan dah ni..macamana ya?
Anon 1 : Kena tunggu jugak la... dah ada surat VC baru datang sini...
That person refused my forms at point blank. Mind you, the budget was already approved by the highest person in command for the hospital and here she was, wouldn't move an inch without the VC letter!
Anyway, after a few fruitless hours of trying to apply for the approval through the internet (the system just wouldn't let me do it and kept giving me error messages) and numerous phonecalls to Bangi, I was told that I DO NOT need approval letter from the VC...dang! It was supposed to be a good news but it got me stuck in between since there were no official letters from Bangi and that counter makcik definitely wouldn't entertain me without the letter. So, after a few more minutes spent coaxing (in a very polite manner!) the Bangi people to help me sort out the mess with our HR and Finance, I move on to the next task...to get my flight tickets.
Me : Can I see Encik Kh*******?
Anon 2 : Dia tak ada..kenapa?
Me : Saya nak hantar borang permohonan kapalterbang
Anon 2 : Letak kat sini
Me : Saya nak pergi minggu depan, agak2 sempat tak? ( I asked just to be polite ok, I NEED it by next week!)
Anon 2: Dah tau nak pegi next week, kenapa baru apply sekarang? Tak sempat ni!
Came the reply with her macam bagus face..
I was really at boiling point when I left that office. I knew En Kh******* personally and I was soooooo tempted to call him up and complain about that makcik's attitude. But I didn't want anymore headaches so I walked back to my office. No money, no tickets... frustrated, detached.
Yup, SOME orang gomen ARE apparently rude, unhelpful and stupid!
Fast forward 24 hours.
Early in the morning today, the ever so pleasant Encik Kh******* called me up to inform that he has received my form and that he would process it rightaway. He called a few times again later for extra information from me and by midday, voila! my tickets were ready!
In between, a very helpful Encik Iz*** from HR called, informing me that he has discussed the new payment procedure with Bangi people and in turn, would send a letter to Finance to inform them of the change. By afternoon, I received another call, this time from Puan Siti R****** from Finance saying that she was processing my form and asked me to meet her at her office and to bring along another supporting document. I did straightaway. She actually chase up two of her higher offficers to sign my cheque there and then while I was waiting and within 10 minutes, the cheque was in my hands! It was a huge (and pleasant) surprise for me considering that it took them almost 1 month to come out with a cheque the last time I had to deal with them!
So... my faith in my fellow gomen officers is restored today. Yeah... there are a few bad apples but negative generalisations are hugely unfair for those who'd go out of their way to get things done in timely manner. The likes of En Kh*******, Encik Iz*** and Puan Siti R***** are in abundance out there so please do not be nasty to them by making biased generalisations ok... Anyway, maybe when I am back from Surabaya, I will give them a call and ask them to give their counter staff some smackin' on the heads and to ask them to start learning good manners from their bosses. Maybe...*evil grin*
__________________________________________
I am in melancholic mood tonight so here is one from yesteryear...
Such a sweet song isn't it?
And I am not alone. My colleagues, my staff (ok, my staff do get paid for overtimes but still not that much) and most of the doctors and nurses also work like dogs around the clock to provide decent services with the limited resources that we have. So yeah, I think it is only fair that I get mad when people say it to my face that government servants are lazy, inefficient, unhelpful, rude or plain stupid. If you have the nerve to piss me off, you should have the guts to face my wrath then... it's only fair right?
But anyway...the harsh generalisations were blaringly playing in my ears on wednesday when I stepped into the administration wing of the hospital to make arrangements for my upcoming Surabaya trip. I submitted my application quite a few weeks ago and only received the approval from the high and mighty on tuesday. So, apart from having to prepare the poster that I am supposed to present at the conference rushingly, I also had to make all the arrangements for the trip myself last-minutely. The first stop was where my attempts to get the money I need to pay for my conference fee and everything else were crushed at the front counter..
Anon 1 : Tak boleh ni...kena ada surat approval daripada VC
Me : Ni dah ada surat approval daripada HR, surat daripada VC nak dapat daripada mana?
Anon 1 : Tak boleh, kena ada surat VC jugak.. kena apply through system (and nobody told me that I have to do this when I first handed in my application!)
Me : Tapi saya nak pegi minggu depan dah ni..macamana ya?
Anon 1 : Kena tunggu jugak la... dah ada surat VC baru datang sini...
That person refused my forms at point blank. Mind you, the budget was already approved by the highest person in command for the hospital and here she was, wouldn't move an inch without the VC letter!
Anyway, after a few fruitless hours of trying to apply for the approval through the internet (the system just wouldn't let me do it and kept giving me error messages) and numerous phonecalls to Bangi, I was told that I DO NOT need approval letter from the VC...dang! It was supposed to be a good news but it got me stuck in between since there were no official letters from Bangi and that counter makcik definitely wouldn't entertain me without the letter. So, after a few more minutes spent coaxing (in a very polite manner!) the Bangi people to help me sort out the mess with our HR and Finance, I move on to the next task...to get my flight tickets.
Me : Can I see Encik Kh*******?
Anon 2 : Dia tak ada..kenapa?
Me : Saya nak hantar borang permohonan kapalterbang
Anon 2 : Letak kat sini
Me : Saya nak pergi minggu depan, agak2 sempat tak? ( I asked just to be polite ok, I NEED it by next week!)
Anon 2: Dah tau nak pegi next week, kenapa baru apply sekarang? Tak sempat ni!
Came the reply with her macam bagus face..
I was really at boiling point when I left that office. I knew En Kh******* personally and I was soooooo tempted to call him up and complain about that makcik's attitude. But I didn't want anymore headaches so I walked back to my office. No money, no tickets... frustrated, detached.
Yup, SOME orang gomen ARE apparently rude, unhelpful and stupid!
Fast forward 24 hours.
Early in the morning today, the ever so pleasant Encik Kh******* called me up to inform that he has received my form and that he would process it rightaway. He called a few times again later for extra information from me and by midday, voila! my tickets were ready!
In between, a very helpful Encik Iz*** from HR called, informing me that he has discussed the new payment procedure with Bangi people and in turn, would send a letter to Finance to inform them of the change. By afternoon, I received another call, this time from Puan Siti R****** from Finance saying that she was processing my form and asked me to meet her at her office and to bring along another supporting document. I did straightaway. She actually chase up two of her higher offficers to sign my cheque there and then while I was waiting and within 10 minutes, the cheque was in my hands! It was a huge (and pleasant) surprise for me considering that it took them almost 1 month to come out with a cheque the last time I had to deal with them!
So... my faith in my fellow gomen officers is restored today. Yeah... there are a few bad apples but negative generalisations are hugely unfair for those who'd go out of their way to get things done in timely manner. The likes of En Kh*******, Encik Iz*** and Puan Siti R***** are in abundance out there so please do not be nasty to them by making biased generalisations ok... Anyway, maybe when I am back from Surabaya, I will give them a call and ask them to give their counter staff some smackin' on the heads and to ask them to start learning good manners from their bosses. Maybe...*evil grin*
__________________________________________
I am in melancholic mood tonight so here is one from yesteryear...
Such a sweet song isn't it?
Friday, June 20, 2008
Stop and smell the roses
I saw his familiar face while I was seeing another patient. He, in turn was being seen by a colleague of mine in the consultation room we were sharing. I have not seen him for quite awhile I think, but I could still remember his face although the face that I used to know was a sharp and smart-looking one, not weary, sad and unkempt as the one in the room that day. Out of curiosity, I turned to him and said ‘hi’ as soon as I was done with my patient, not knowing whether he would still remember me or not.
Then something unexpected happened. The weary face suddenly gave out a big, cheerful smile. He told me that he wanted to greet me when he walked in but he thought I was busy with the other patient and I didn’t looked his way anyway..... He then said that every now and then, he would bumped into me along the hospital corridor or when he was waiting for his turn at the clinic waiting room but he said I looked busy all the time. He noticed I now walk really fast too so he didn’t want to slow me down or to interrupt my routines. My heart skipped a beat.
I pulled myself closer and asked him how he was doing and why he looked so thin and sad. He told me that he had a stroke last year and was admitted to the hospital for a long time but in another ward. He wanted to find me but didn’t know how to since he couldn’t walk or talk much after the stroke. Even now, his speech is still slurred and his left hand limpy. Instead of donning crisp-ironed shirt, smart pants and polished shoes like he used to, he just wore collared t-shirts with a pair of 3-quarter shorts and slippers this time. Yup, slippers. He stays alone now and not managing well at home. Just a few days before his visit, he fell off his own bed..
My heart skipped another beat.
He said he wanted to call me but he has lost my telephone numbers. Well, even if he hasn’t, the number that he had would be useless since the hospital numbers have all changed to new ones anyway… He said he misses his ‘old friend’. His sentences touched me to the core and I couldn't stop thinking about him for the rest of the afternoon although I was physically busy. Truth to be told, by the time he left the room, I had tears in my eyes..
Chong Chee Fong. That's his name. I didn’t even remember that so I had to ask my colleague who attended to him, right after he left. He called me 'his friend' but I couldn't even remember his name...pathetic eh?
I got to know him a few years ago when he got admitted to one of my wards for heart problems (can’t remember the details) and I taught him on his long-list of medications. Since then, he would stopped by my wards/office to look for me whenever he came to the hospital, either with drug queries or just for short chats. Sometimes he would call too. He was one of my 'good' patients, compliant to drug treatment and always asked questions. I like responsible people who value knowledge so I had no problem entertaining his queries. In fact, I enjoyed his visits because I got to learn too since he reads a lot and we would have short discussions on alternative medicine (which he was interested in but could not take much due to interactions with his warfarin therapy).
I can still remember one day a few years ago, he came in with a few types of leaves (chinese herbs) and helped me to identify them for interactions with drugs. You see, it is really difficult to find data when it comes to herbal medicines especially the raw ones since the names in references would be the scientific ones while patients would normally refer to their common names so his help was greatly appreciated.. I think he was satisfied with his work too. But over time, his visits and calls lessened. I in turn became too absorbed with my own life too and didn't think much about him. Well, not until that particular day.
In his own way, he reminded me to be my old self again.. I think I need to care more and definitely need to walk slower now and start looking at people in their eyes again. Who knows, there are people whom I pass-by each day who are quietly in need of my help but too shy or too weak to catch up with me.
Thank you uncle for the friendly reminder..
Then something unexpected happened. The weary face suddenly gave out a big, cheerful smile. He told me that he wanted to greet me when he walked in but he thought I was busy with the other patient and I didn’t looked his way anyway..... He then said that every now and then, he would bumped into me along the hospital corridor or when he was waiting for his turn at the clinic waiting room but he said I looked busy all the time. He noticed I now walk really fast too so he didn’t want to slow me down or to interrupt my routines. My heart skipped a beat.
I pulled myself closer and asked him how he was doing and why he looked so thin and sad. He told me that he had a stroke last year and was admitted to the hospital for a long time but in another ward. He wanted to find me but didn’t know how to since he couldn’t walk or talk much after the stroke. Even now, his speech is still slurred and his left hand limpy. Instead of donning crisp-ironed shirt, smart pants and polished shoes like he used to, he just wore collared t-shirts with a pair of 3-quarter shorts and slippers this time. Yup, slippers. He stays alone now and not managing well at home. Just a few days before his visit, he fell off his own bed..
My heart skipped another beat.
He said he wanted to call me but he has lost my telephone numbers. Well, even if he hasn’t, the number that he had would be useless since the hospital numbers have all changed to new ones anyway… He said he misses his ‘old friend’. His sentences touched me to the core and I couldn't stop thinking about him for the rest of the afternoon although I was physically busy. Truth to be told, by the time he left the room, I had tears in my eyes..
Chong Chee Fong. That's his name. I didn’t even remember that so I had to ask my colleague who attended to him, right after he left. He called me 'his friend' but I couldn't even remember his name...pathetic eh?
I got to know him a few years ago when he got admitted to one of my wards for heart problems (can’t remember the details) and I taught him on his long-list of medications. Since then, he would stopped by my wards/office to look for me whenever he came to the hospital, either with drug queries or just for short chats. Sometimes he would call too. He was one of my 'good' patients, compliant to drug treatment and always asked questions. I like responsible people who value knowledge so I had no problem entertaining his queries. In fact, I enjoyed his visits because I got to learn too since he reads a lot and we would have short discussions on alternative medicine (which he was interested in but could not take much due to interactions with his warfarin therapy).
I can still remember one day a few years ago, he came in with a few types of leaves (chinese herbs) and helped me to identify them for interactions with drugs. You see, it is really difficult to find data when it comes to herbal medicines especially the raw ones since the names in references would be the scientific ones while patients would normally refer to their common names so his help was greatly appreciated.. I think he was satisfied with his work too. But over time, his visits and calls lessened. I in turn became too absorbed with my own life too and didn't think much about him. Well, not until that particular day.
In his own way, he reminded me to be my old self again.. I think I need to care more and definitely need to walk slower now and start looking at people in their eyes again. Who knows, there are people whom I pass-by each day who are quietly in need of my help but too shy or too weak to catch up with me.
Thank you uncle for the friendly reminder..
Tioman Revisited
It was for a friend's Open Water Certification this time round and here are some random shots...
The great setting (Salang at its best):
The company:
The activity:
My first ever underwater photo-taking experience:
Much more photos here.
The great setting (Salang at its best):
The company:
The activity:
My first ever underwater photo-taking experience:
Much more photos here.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Liar liar
When I was a young girl suffering from frequent bouts of dysmenorrhea, I was told by a number of people that the problem would disappear when I get married. I couldn't remember who said that exactly but the idea of pain-free that-time-of-the-month cycle was something that I looked forward to when I was growing up. It was a grand notion especially for a girl who had numerous incident of allergic reactions due to incompetent GPs who kept giving her different types of painkillers of which she was (and still is) allergic to.
Such a lie.
I am a full adult now and already experienced a few years of marriage but am still suffering from on-off dysmenorrhea. Like I said, such a lie! And to those incompetent GPs from my growing up years...FYI, I am allergic to Paracetamol, all NSAIDs and COX-II Inhibitors, which you should have detected much earlier if you've learned your pharmacology well at medical schools instead of putting me through hell by testing different painkillers like Diclofenac, Ibuprofen, Aspirin, Synflex, Ponstan etc on me. But thanks to you guys, I took up Pharmacy and found the answers myself..
Anyway, some also said that the pain will go away once I've experience childbirth. Well, obviously I can't testify to that yet but I am wiser now and not going to be lied to twice. Furthermore, I have friends who already have kids but like me, still experience dysmenorrhea episodes. I have now accepted the fact that it is something that I have to go through (until I hit menopause maybe?) and for days when it gets really unbearable like today, I just need to curl-up in bed for hours with a few doses of DF118, half a tub of tiger balm and a RM16 MC slip from my local GP who took less than 2 minutes to see me.
Well, I could save RM16 and get a free MC slip by going back to the hospital to get it from friends there but if I was well enough to drive to my workplace, I might as well go to work right?
___________________________________________________
My verdict? SUPERB!
Of course, it was not as good as my all-time favourite Phantom of the Opera, but this is one local production that I wouldn't mind watching again. Musly Ramlee who played P Ramlee was amazing.. he gave me goosebumps when he first sang Azizah, such a resemblance!
Such a lie.
I am a full adult now and already experienced a few years of marriage but am still suffering from on-off dysmenorrhea. Like I said, such a lie! And to those incompetent GPs from my growing up years...FYI, I am allergic to Paracetamol, all NSAIDs and COX-II Inhibitors, which you should have detected much earlier if you've learned your pharmacology well at medical schools instead of putting me through hell by testing different painkillers like Diclofenac, Ibuprofen, Aspirin, Synflex, Ponstan etc on me. But thanks to you guys, I took up Pharmacy and found the answers myself..
Anyway, some also said that the pain will go away once I've experience childbirth. Well, obviously I can't testify to that yet but I am wiser now and not going to be lied to twice. Furthermore, I have friends who already have kids but like me, still experience dysmenorrhea episodes. I have now accepted the fact that it is something that I have to go through (until I hit menopause maybe?) and for days when it gets really unbearable like today, I just need to curl-up in bed for hours with a few doses of DF118, half a tub of tiger balm and a RM16 MC slip from my local GP who took less than 2 minutes to see me.
Well, I could save RM16 and get a free MC slip by going back to the hospital to get it from friends there but if I was well enough to drive to my workplace, I might as well go to work right?
___________________________________________________
My verdict? SUPERB!
Of course, it was not as good as my all-time favourite Phantom of the Opera, but this is one local production that I wouldn't mind watching again. Musly Ramlee who played P Ramlee was amazing.. he gave me goosebumps when he first sang Azizah, such a resemblance!
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Kickin' off
Euro 2008 has finally started but this time round, without the presence of Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Lampard, Wayne Rooney (ergh), Rio Ferdinand (ergh) and the rest of the gang. A bit weird I'd say but on the positive side, no probability of false hopes and disappointments again this year so it's good for my heart!
I shall start watching on Monday morning when quarter-finals for Group D kick off. It will be interesting to see how will Spain (who last won the cup in 1964) fares without its former captain, Raul. I hope Torres will be as brilliant as how he was with Liverpool last season though..
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Me speak no England!
Something annoying happened this afternoon.
2 drug reps whom I've never met before came to visit and all went well until just before they left... One of them asked whether I am of a mixed blood and when I asked back why, she cheerfully answered "you looked like a chinese and you speak English very well!"
Ok.. I am not pissed off that they said I looked like a chinese...I get that all the time, even with my skin colour and that I am much darker now (or burned to be exact!) after spending 3 days by the beach with minimal usage of sunblock. What made my blood goes upstairs (quoting Azean Irdawaty in one of her famous teledrama which title I can't remember anymore) was the statement about me having good command of English... Emmmm, was she implying that only certain races can speak good English??
The worst thing is, this statement didn't just came from this particular person...I have in fact, received similar comments on a number of different occasions already! Hello? Why do people have this kind of stupid generalisation? For the record people, I can speak fluent English (although I noticed that my own standard has greatly declined in recent years especially if comparing it to the years I was in the UK) because I learned it hard and well...not because of who my grandparents or great grandparents are!! I have so many Malay friends who are non-mixed and yet have excellent command of English too.. so what's your excuse now eh?
grrrr...
Footnote: Ok, I am also pissed off because of the oil price hike. I may be driving to Tioman next weekend for a diving trip...kena buat budget baru ni..grrrr...
2 drug reps whom I've never met before came to visit and all went well until just before they left... One of them asked whether I am of a mixed blood and when I asked back why, she cheerfully answered "you looked like a chinese and you speak English very well!"
Ok.. I am not pissed off that they said I looked like a chinese...I get that all the time, even with my skin colour and that I am much darker now (or burned to be exact!) after spending 3 days by the beach with minimal usage of sunblock. What made my blood goes upstairs (quoting Azean Irdawaty in one of her famous teledrama which title I can't remember anymore) was the statement about me having good command of English... Emmmm, was she implying that only certain races can speak good English??
The worst thing is, this statement didn't just came from this particular person...I have in fact, received similar comments on a number of different occasions already! Hello? Why do people have this kind of stupid generalisation? For the record people, I can speak fluent English (although I noticed that my own standard has greatly declined in recent years especially if comparing it to the years I was in the UK) because I learned it hard and well...not because of who my grandparents or great grandparents are!! I have so many Malay friends who are non-mixed and yet have excellent command of English too.. so what's your excuse now eh?
grrrr...
Footnote: Ok, I am also pissed off because of the oil price hike. I may be driving to Tioman next weekend for a diving trip...kena buat budget baru ni..grrrr...
A weekend in paradise
This is a purely self-indulging entry...you've been warned!
Where I was at the weekend:
What I did:
UFO-spotting in the conference hall
Creative learning with a bunch of D-SLR enthusiasts
What I REALLY do:
Errr.. I think I'm having trouble fitting into this wetsuit!
All set and ready to go (phewww..)
A boat and a DM all to myself..Life is great!
Let's go down mister!
After 2 dives, time for some BBQ on the beach
My lunch plate: The crabs reminded me of those on Kaleebso..yummy!
Time to say goodbye
Back to creative learning on dryland
My photo-taking is incomplete without waterlilies right? Too bad I couldn't get near..
Sunset on a cloudy day
More photos to come but need time to sort them out...till later!
Where I was at the weekend:
What I did:
UFO-spotting in the conference hall
Creative learning with a bunch of D-SLR enthusiasts
What I REALLY do:
Errr.. I think I'm having trouble fitting into this wetsuit!
All set and ready to go (phewww..)
A boat and a DM all to myself..Life is great!
Let's go down mister!
After 2 dives, time for some BBQ on the beach
My lunch plate: The crabs reminded me of those on Kaleebso..yummy!
Time to say goodbye
Back to creative learning on dryland
My photo-taking is incomplete without waterlilies right? Too bad I couldn't get near..
Sunset on a cloudy day
More photos to come but need time to sort them out...till later!
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The story begun more than 1 1/2 years ago at Chili's KLCC when my mate, Siew Lian and I met up with our OWD instructor, DiveChiefKaz for... -
I was lurking through my old blog posts while nursing a bad stomach just now and found this . It was written in February 2007, probably almo...