Hey there Constant Reader!
Those of you who know me personally will know that Farah’s coming home at the end of April. *Sigh* another two whole months of eating my own cooking. *sigh*
Anyway, I’ve recently started scouting out potential cars to buy in the next 6 months. Well, she will be needing a car by the time she starts working in September, and I thought it’d be nice if I could buy her a car as a birthday present sometime in August.
Since she wanted something small-ish, sporty and in her own words, “bukan macam kereta roti ban” e.g. Kelisa, Suzuki Swift etc. I’ve somewhat narrowed down the criteria to these:
1. Priced up to MYR100,000
2. “Bukan macam roti ban”
3. Safety features must include airbags, ABS, EBD.
4. Sporty
The cars I’m thinking about currently are:
Peugeot 308 VTI
Honda City i-VTEC
Honda Civic & Civic Hybrid (okay, these are above MYR100k, but they’re an exception!)
Fiat Bravo (no idea what the price is)
Proton Satria Neo CPS
Toyota Vios
Suzuki Swift (despite the ban-ness)
So today, I trundled along Jalan Bangsar after Zohor prayers, and decided to stop by the Peugeot showroom. Seems I’m in luck: a couple had just finished with the test-drive 308 VTI model, and in the space it took to say, “Man, that car’s bigger than I thought it was”, I was strapped in the driver’s seat, grinning from ear to ear.
I can’t help it. I love European cars. I know the resale value is pretty limited, but heck.
First impressions were good. The car’s a bit bigger than I had expected from the pictures I’ve seen. Sliding effortlessly into the driver’s seat, it seems that the dashboard was pretty well designed, conveying an impression of sporty elegance and spaciousness. AC vents (five of ‘em in front, two at the back) were well-styled, reminding me of a Mini Cooper. Speaking of Mini’s, the engine of the 308 VTi is the same as the latest-generation Mini, due to the engine being a collaboration between Peugeot and BMW.
Coming back to the driver’s seat perspective, the seat position was pretty high, making me feel like I’m driving an SUV. This allowed for a clear view of the road, and I did not notice substantial blindspots during the test drive (unlike the massive B-pillar obstruction on my BMW 118i). I’m sure the seat is adjustable for those preferring a more “cockpit”-ty feel, but for lady drivers, I think they’d appreciate the extra visibility one gets from the 308. Especially when parking the butt-heavy beast.
Speaking of safety, the 308 VTi’s packed with what I need: 4 airbags (front only), ABS, EBA & EBD, auto rear-hazard lights on emergency braking & 2 ISOFIX points (The saleswoman claimed there were three ISOFIX points for baby seats at the back, but I noticed in the official specs brochure that there was only two. Still, it’s better than most cars).
The drive was smooth, with the engine purring through the KL roads. At 120 hp @ 6,000 rpm and torque of 160 Nm @ 4,250 rpm, it was no slouch, but still it struggled a bit going uphill at Bukit Pantai (compared to the Beemer). Mind you, most cars in its class would struggle there anyway. Having said that, one would have to keep revving the car at a pretty high rate to enjoy the torque; I didn’t get the chance to drive the Turbo version, but with a whopping 240Nm of torque @ 1,400 rpm, I think it’s safe to say that performance-wise, the Turbo version kicks the VTi a$$ big-time.
Steering was nice and tight; it did not feel too light, although I did not feel much steering feedback as I would have liked. Braking was also too light for my liking, and I had to adjust my usual braking style to the 308: my usual leaden-footed gimme-all-you-got braking manoeuvre would have resulted in a messy rear-ender in about 5 seconds flat.
Rear seats were sufficient. Definitely bigger legroom than my current car. Rear AC vents is cool: no longer will I hear requests like “can you adjust the AC to the back, please?” Bootspace is a substantial 430 litres, smaller than the City, but sufficient for most purposes.
Overall, I like this car. The VTi may be underpowered to a certain degree, but maybe I’m used to more powerful cars. It’s all subjective at the end of the day anyway. I think the resale value for this car is going to be better than most Pugs, given its increasing popularity... more so the Turbo version than the VTI, I think. And at MYR96,500 on-the-road price, it won’t burn a hole in your pocket (financing package: up to 90% loan @ 2.5-2.7%).
Well, not as big a hole as a Jazz anyway.
Next up... the 2009 Honda City!
Saturday, January 17, 2009
.:Time for a revamp:.
Dear Constant Reader (are there any of you left by now??),
After all this time, I've just realised that I have not blogged for more than a year. Good grief. Where have I been? Truthfully, many things have happened. In what seems to be the blink of an eye (albeit one very long, drawn-out, super-extended.. err.. blink), I got married, went on a honeymoon, sent my wife back to Dublin (okay, only as far as KLIA...), moved to Standard & Poor's, picked up my wife from Dublin (okay, only as far as KLIA...), went to China, came back from China, sent my wife back to Dublin (okay, only as far as... wait... stop pointing the gun at me), joined a gym and tried (very hard) to play futsal last night.
I've also discovered how supremely unfit I actually am. It is hard enough trying to kick the bloody ball when you lack the basic eye-to-feet-to-teammate coordination (in my case it usually turns out to be eye-to-feet-to-grinning-opposition-at-the-expense-of-glaring-teammate coordination) and all the general trappings one would require to be a decent futsal player. It is pretty near impossible when you're trying to breathe through the equivalent of three blow's worth of snot stuck somewhere between your heaving, screaming lungs and that gob of meat between your watering, squinting eyes.
They must've invited me to play simply for the sheer comedic value. Yes, that must be it.
Anyway, Constant Reader, I'm back. Let's hope it's for good this time.
After all this time, I've just realised that I have not blogged for more than a year. Good grief. Where have I been? Truthfully, many things have happened. In what seems to be the blink of an eye (albeit one very long, drawn-out, super-extended.. err.. blink), I got married, went on a honeymoon, sent my wife back to Dublin (okay, only as far as KLIA...), moved to Standard & Poor's, picked up my wife from Dublin (okay, only as far as KLIA...), went to China, came back from China, sent my wife back to Dublin (okay, only as far as... wait... stop pointing the gun at me), joined a gym and tried (very hard) to play futsal last night.
I've also discovered how supremely unfit I actually am. It is hard enough trying to kick the bloody ball when you lack the basic eye-to-feet-to-teammate coordination (in my case it usually turns out to be eye-to-feet-to-grinning-opposition-at-the-expense-of-glaring-teammate coordination) and all the general trappings one would require to be a decent futsal player. It is pretty near impossible when you're trying to breathe through the equivalent of three blow's worth of snot stuck somewhere between your heaving, screaming lungs and that gob of meat between your watering, squinting eyes.
They must've invited me to play simply for the sheer comedic value. Yes, that must be it.
Anyway, Constant Reader, I'm back. Let's hope it's for good this time.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
.:Submission:.
An English translation of Muhammad Ubaid's "Ilaika", which is a beautiful expression of love and hope for Allah, in my opinion. This translation is imperfect and does not do it any justice, given it's an English translation of a Malay translation* of Ubaid's nasyeed, which in turn is based on the original Arabic text from Imam Shafi'e's Diwan Al-Shafi'e. Any weakness is on my part alone.
But you get the idea... *sniff*
But you get the idea... *sniff*
*Thanks to Mashie for the Malay translation from Arabic!
I submit my hopes to You, O Lord of all creation,
Though I am, O The Provider, Most Generous, a sinner,
When my heart is hardened, and my life is constricted,
I turn to my submission as the way to Your pardon,
Thus when You, The All-forgiving, wipe clean my continuing sins,
Your gift and Your clemency is a boon and an exaltation to me.
Is it not You who nourishes me, guides me?
Therefore cease not your benevolence and bounty to me,
May those who have obtained excellence forgive me my trespass,
And parade not my wrongdoings and things that have passed.
Should You forgive me, O Lord, absolve me of my treachery,
My injustice, that will be pardoned not on the day when grief is recollected,
But should you recompense my wrongs with your torment, still I will not lose hope,
Even as my trespass lands me in the Fire.
He is the one who speaks only in remembrance of his Lord,
And when he is with others in this world, he is silent,
Thus he says, “O my love, You are the One I beseech to, on Whom I place my faith,
Enough is You for those in need for their dependence and their pleas”.
Thus I defend my love, though they be tainted with worldly lust,
Thus I protect this promise of devotion, marred though they may be,
In my waking moments, I pine for You,
In my slumber, I hope for You,
Walking beside me, full of hope,
Thus though my sins are mountainous, then and now,
Far greater and more illustrious is Your compassion to Your servants.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
.:Message in a bottle:.
Dear reader,
I hope this message finds you well and safe. Safe from the horrors that leave me awake at night, every single tick of the clock magnified a thousandfold into the beating of an undead heart, booming, overriding any impulse nor desire for sleep.
You see, dear readers, I am haunted. There. It is said and done. I will now await the men bearing chains and a straitjacket. He is mad! they say. Yet they know not. I will prove them wrong!
Behold, gentle readers! the demon that haunts me!!!
I believe it prefers the shape of a very studious and analytically-minded green frog-thing. As the following picture shows, it started haunting me even back in my old accommodations... always watching, always waiting...
Curse ye! Ye demon from the depths of madness!
Post scriptum: the author of the above note has since been incarcerated for his own safety. Oddly, he keeps mentioning the green demon is awaiting the return of the yellow angel. For some assuredly strange reason. I think.
Reads: Genghis Khan: Life, Death & Reincarnation by John Man
I hope this message finds you well and safe. Safe from the horrors that leave me awake at night, every single tick of the clock magnified a thousandfold into the beating of an undead heart, booming, overriding any impulse nor desire for sleep.
You see, dear readers, I am haunted. There. It is said and done. I will now await the men bearing chains and a straitjacket. He is mad! they say. Yet they know not. I will prove them wrong!
Behold, gentle readers! the demon that haunts me!!!
I believe it prefers the shape of a very studious and analytically-minded green frog-thing. As the following picture shows, it started haunting me even back in my old accommodations... always watching, always waiting...
Curse ye! Ye demon from the depths of madness!
Post scriptum: the author of the above note has since been incarcerated for his own safety. Oddly, he keeps mentioning the green demon is awaiting the return of the yellow angel. For some assuredly strange reason. I think.
Reads: Genghis Khan: Life, Death & Reincarnation by John Man
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
.:Ramadhan:.
Hi there Constant Readers!
Hooray!! It's that time of the year again. Yup. Ramadhan. The fasting month for Muslims world-wide. In and of itself, the month is a special one. However, over the last couple of years, it's significance has really grown on me. It is in this month that one recharges one's spiritual batteries for the rest of the year. And boy, do I need some recharging.
Ramadhan Mubarak, dear readers! May this be the best Ramadhan ever for you!
Hooray!! It's that time of the year again. Yup. Ramadhan. The fasting month for Muslims world-wide. In and of itself, the month is a special one. However, over the last couple of years, it's significance has really grown on me. It is in this month that one recharges one's spiritual batteries for the rest of the year. And boy, do I need some recharging.
Ramadhan Mubarak, dear readers! May this be the best Ramadhan ever for you!
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
.:Ships and Power Generators Don't Mix:.
Dear Constant Reader,
How have you been? I know it's been a while since I updated this blog, but in the meantime, a lot of things have been happening. Just so you know, I've settled into my job here at Nomura, halfway through my coverage. Passed my licensing exams already, so should not be long before I get my aforesaid license. Managed to spectacularly fail CFA Level II (Note to self: find your studying hat and dump it on your noggin, please). Bought Farah's wedding ring and other miscellaneous jewellery to go along with it. Moved to a new place (actually just the apartment one floor up), which incidentally has air-conditioning (yay! the marvels of modern technology!)... etc etc.
Oh yeah, I've also bought a house in Rawang.
Now, before any of you decide to pipe up and scream, "Rawang??!! That's like, in the county next to the traffic sign and up the ramp that leads to the middle of Nowhere, Malaysia!!", I do freely admit that it's miles from anywhere. However, I kind of like it that way. I don't really want my children to grow up in KL. I'm a kampung guy at heart, and as much as you try to outrun it, you can never really escape who you truly are. So I long for the clear skies, tall shady trees, streets unspoilt by the roar of speeding cars, open spaces where my children can roll around on the grass and get scruffy while Farah (who will be Mrs Ahmad by then, Insya-Allah) nags them to death for soiling their newly-washed pants while I watch with a smile, knowing that I'll soon have to reproach the boys in front of their mother. of course, I was the one who gave them permission to roll around in the first place, but their mother doesn't need to know that.
Oopss.
Amidst this complex web we weave every single day, with every single person that we meet, I long for a simpler life. I yearn for that which makes me whole. Not money, I certainly have enough of that. Not style, I think I'm adequately endowed when it comes to that. Not love, I am lucky enough to be loved unconditionally by the woman of my dreams.
I long for peace, to be honest. Luckily, Ramadhan is around the corner; a chance to find peace, and seek solace from the Eternal Love, once again.
Reads: The War of the World, Niall Ferguson
How have you been? I know it's been a while since I updated this blog, but in the meantime, a lot of things have been happening. Just so you know, I've settled into my job here at Nomura, halfway through my coverage. Passed my licensing exams already, so should not be long before I get my aforesaid license. Managed to spectacularly fail CFA Level II (Note to self: find your studying hat and dump it on your noggin, please). Bought Farah's wedding ring and other miscellaneous jewellery to go along with it. Moved to a new place (actually just the apartment one floor up), which incidentally has air-conditioning (yay! the marvels of modern technology!)... etc etc.
Oh yeah, I've also bought a house in Rawang.
Now, before any of you decide to pipe up and scream, "Rawang??!! That's like, in the county next to the traffic sign and up the ramp that leads to the middle of Nowhere, Malaysia!!", I do freely admit that it's miles from anywhere. However, I kind of like it that way. I don't really want my children to grow up in KL. I'm a kampung guy at heart, and as much as you try to outrun it, you can never really escape who you truly are. So I long for the clear skies, tall shady trees, streets unspoilt by the roar of speeding cars, open spaces where my children can roll around on the grass and get scruffy while Farah (who will be Mrs Ahmad by then, Insya-Allah) nags them to death for soiling their newly-washed pants while I watch with a smile, knowing that I'll soon have to reproach the boys in front of their mother. of course, I was the one who gave them permission to roll around in the first place, but their mother doesn't need to know that.
Oopss.
Amidst this complex web we weave every single day, with every single person that we meet, I long for a simpler life. I yearn for that which makes me whole. Not money, I certainly have enough of that. Not style, I think I'm adequately endowed when it comes to that. Not love, I am lucky enough to be loved unconditionally by the woman of my dreams.
I long for peace, to be honest. Luckily, Ramadhan is around the corner; a chance to find peace, and seek solace from the Eternal Love, once again.
Reads: The War of the World, Niall Ferguson
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
.:A month of brain-rotting:.
Hey there Constant Reader,
I have officially resigned from Deutsche Bank, although my last day will be this Friday June 29th. Friends & acquaintances who would like to celebrate this closing of a chapter in my life are more than welcome to a round of drinks somewhere in KLCC. But please, bring your own credit-card. =)
By the by, I will be joining Nomura Securities as a research analyst from Aug 1...
One whole month's worth of free time! Actually, when you consider the fact that I have to sit for my SC exams, and also find time to get my wedding stuff sorted (although the wedding itself is due in July next year, this is probably the only window I have to get things sorted before then), and also get up to speed with my coverage, I do not think I'll have that much time to rot my brains away to be honest.
Farah's back in town! Yay!!!
Mood: Happy!
Reads: How to win friends & influence people, Dale Carnegie.
I have officially resigned from Deutsche Bank, although my last day will be this Friday June 29th. Friends & acquaintances who would like to celebrate this closing of a chapter in my life are more than welcome to a round of drinks somewhere in KLCC. But please, bring your own credit-card. =)
By the by, I will be joining Nomura Securities as a research analyst from Aug 1...
One whole month's worth of free time! Actually, when you consider the fact that I have to sit for my SC exams, and also find time to get my wedding stuff sorted (although the wedding itself is due in July next year, this is probably the only window I have to get things sorted before then), and also get up to speed with my coverage, I do not think I'll have that much time to rot my brains away to be honest.
Farah's back in town! Yay!!!
Mood: Happy!
Reads: How to win friends & influence people, Dale Carnegie.
Sunday, April 08, 2007
.:No worries:.
Dear readers,
Lately this song has been playing in my head. It's probably a children's song, but I guess I could learn a thing or two from it. After all, what's the point of worrying about the challenges coming up, when in truth it is all part and parcel of Allah's plan for me? For indeed, Allah is sufficient for me, and the best of Protectors.
Heading off to Singapore for a two-week stint soon, folks. Wish me luck!
Oh the moon has come
The day is done
The night has covered up the sun.
I have stood so often before you to pray
But I wonder Allah, tell me, what did I do today?
Did I remember the words of Al-Fatiha?
Did I take time to thank you for all that I have?
Did I call on you to guide my way?
Tell me, what did I do today?
...Did I smile at my brother?
Was I kind to my mother?
Did I teach another something that I know
Or did my love of this world lead me astray?
Tell me, what did I do today?
...Did I use my mind?
Did I use my time?
If I search my heart what will I find?
The light of your guidance is a glimmering ray,
Tell me, what did I do today?
- Dawud Wharnsby Ali, "What Did I Do Today?"
Lately this song has been playing in my head. It's probably a children's song, but I guess I could learn a thing or two from it. After all, what's the point of worrying about the challenges coming up, when in truth it is all part and parcel of Allah's plan for me? For indeed, Allah is sufficient for me, and the best of Protectors.
Heading off to Singapore for a two-week stint soon, folks. Wish me luck!
Oh the moon has come
The day is done
The night has covered up the sun.
I have stood so often before you to pray
But I wonder Allah, tell me, what did I do today?
Did I remember the words of Al-Fatiha?
Did I take time to thank you for all that I have?
Did I call on you to guide my way?
Tell me, what did I do today?
...Did I smile at my brother?
Was I kind to my mother?
Did I teach another something that I know
Or did my love of this world lead me astray?
Tell me, what did I do today?
...Did I use my mind?
Did I use my time?
If I search my heart what will I find?
The light of your guidance is a glimmering ray,
Tell me, what did I do today?
- Dawud Wharnsby Ali, "What Did I Do Today?"
Thursday, January 18, 2007
.:When in Dublin:.
Now, I've heard of the rumour that when some researchers in some university tested some banknotes for some scientific study or other (makes you wonder where or indeed what our research grants are going into, seeing as these scientists could actually afford to test bank notes - instead of spending the darned quid on a sandwich or two), they discovered traces of cocaine on the notes.
Now, however, Jonathan Bones of Dublin City University’s National Centre for Sensor Research has apparently found that from a sample of 45 random banknotes, 100% of them had traces of cocaine.
...
Given that Dublin's widely considered as one of the most expensive cities in Europe, it's a wonder anyone can actually afford drugs over here.
Oh and a sidenote, I'm in Dublin right now, in case you haven't figured it out yet, dear Reader.
Ta!
Now, however, Jonathan Bones of Dublin City University’s National Centre for Sensor Research has apparently found that from a sample of 45 random banknotes, 100% of them had traces of cocaine.
...
Given that Dublin's widely considered as one of the most expensive cities in Europe, it's a wonder anyone can actually afford drugs over here.
Oh and a sidenote, I'm in Dublin right now, in case you haven't figured it out yet, dear Reader.
Ta!
Saturday, January 06, 2007
**Some thoughts on why we all need to breathe**
Hey there folks.
I'm trying to fulfill my new years' resolution to update more often, so bear with me while I put my writing hat, so often left untouched over the course of last year, back where it belongs, which is to say, erm.. without overcomplicating things, my big ol noggin.
The year has started off in a crazy way I must say. The first three days back at work in January has resulted in two late night sessions already, and its increasingly looking like I'll have a working Sunday tomorrow, just to finish up my research note by Monday afternoon. Sigh. The crazy things I do for this company. Okay, the bonus makes up for all the suckitude throughout the year, but still...
But enough talking shop. I discovered an interesting thing today. Some of you may know that I was nominated by a friend (Nida, you know who you are!) for a certain award run by a certain women's magazine. Obviously I didn't win (not that it matters... really... *sniff*), but I just realised that the voting page is still up, and my nomination is still there. Feels kinda weird to read what she wrote; brings back a lot of memories.
In truth, I'm glad things happened the way they did. I guess at the end of the day, Allah just wanted me to have something better, someone who actually loved me, instead of an automaton who can't really see the woods for the trees (Sorry, ex-of-mine, didn't mean to lambast you there, but there's really no other way to describe it).
Having said that, I really, really wish I didn't have to go through all that sh*t, the pain of having to disassociate myself from her circle of friends, deleting her emails, burning her crap that had piled up in my room, erasing every trace of a life I had built up in my head. It was unfair, it was cruel, it was heart-rending, not just for myself, but for my friends as well, who could see me go through hell and back again, for the second time in my life.
Why am I going through this? Well, I know a couple of acquaintances who are going through tough times. I can't tell you it doesn't hurt, because it hurts like hell. I can't tell you that you'll feel better tomorrow, because you may feel as shitty tomorrow as you do today. But I can tell you that I've been there before, and I've gone down to the depths of despair, as far down as you are now. Grieve if you must, but just remember that you need to come up to breathe every once in a while.
Oh well. C'est la vie. What goes up, must come down someday. And no one stays down forever, Insya-Allah.
I'm trying to fulfill my new years' resolution to update more often, so bear with me while I put my writing hat, so often left untouched over the course of last year, back where it belongs, which is to say, erm.. without overcomplicating things, my big ol noggin.
The year has started off in a crazy way I must say. The first three days back at work in January has resulted in two late night sessions already, and its increasingly looking like I'll have a working Sunday tomorrow, just to finish up my research note by Monday afternoon. Sigh. The crazy things I do for this company. Okay, the bonus makes up for all the suckitude throughout the year, but still...
But enough talking shop. I discovered an interesting thing today. Some of you may know that I was nominated by a friend (Nida, you know who you are!) for a certain award run by a certain women's magazine. Obviously I didn't win (not that it matters... really... *sniff*), but I just realised that the voting page is still up, and my nomination is still there. Feels kinda weird to read what she wrote; brings back a lot of memories.
In truth, I'm glad things happened the way they did. I guess at the end of the day, Allah just wanted me to have something better, someone who actually loved me, instead of an automaton who can't really see the woods for the trees (Sorry, ex-of-mine, didn't mean to lambast you there, but there's really no other way to describe it).
Having said that, I really, really wish I didn't have to go through all that sh*t, the pain of having to disassociate myself from her circle of friends, deleting her emails, burning her crap that had piled up in my room, erasing every trace of a life I had built up in my head. It was unfair, it was cruel, it was heart-rending, not just for myself, but for my friends as well, who could see me go through hell and back again, for the second time in my life.
Why am I going through this? Well, I know a couple of acquaintances who are going through tough times. I can't tell you it doesn't hurt, because it hurts like hell. I can't tell you that you'll feel better tomorrow, because you may feel as shitty tomorrow as you do today. But I can tell you that I've been there before, and I've gone down to the depths of despair, as far down as you are now. Grieve if you must, but just remember that you need to come up to breathe every once in a while.
Oh well. C'est la vie. What goes up, must come down someday. And no one stays down forever, Insya-Allah.
Monday, December 25, 2006
Crimbo bells, Batman smells, Robin lays an egg (yuck)..
Hey there folks.
Been a long time eh? It seems that the suckitude and the blodelays (the latter is a new word... means delays in updating one's blog... the former is attributable to a fellow blogger) is going to continue in future. Sorry guys. I just don't feel like updating that often anymore. Possibly because of the fact that there's not that many interesting things to talk about anymore in my life. Of course, I could talk about politics (or how the world is going to hell in a handbasket), but I'm feeling a little too shallow for all that heavy stuff right now. My teeny-weeny brain just shuts down whenever one mentions the word 'geo-political'. This does not bode well for the future.
Anyway, as I promised Farah that I'd post the results of my recent culinary experiments on the web, here's some pics of my version of Beef Braciole with handmade linguini pasta and chickpeas.
Work in progress. Yes, I know, there's only one piece of beef in there. As you probably know very well, I don't think i'llbe cooking for more than one person for at least the next 1.5 years.
The end product. I must say I think the sauce was delish! =)
Till later folks.
Been a long time eh? It seems that the suckitude and the blodelays (the latter is a new word... means delays in updating one's blog... the former is attributable to a fellow blogger) is going to continue in future. Sorry guys. I just don't feel like updating that often anymore. Possibly because of the fact that there's not that many interesting things to talk about anymore in my life. Of course, I could talk about politics (or how the world is going to hell in a handbasket), but I'm feeling a little too shallow for all that heavy stuff right now. My teeny-weeny brain just shuts down whenever one mentions the word 'geo-political'. This does not bode well for the future.
Anyway, as I promised Farah that I'd post the results of my recent culinary experiments on the web, here's some pics of my version of Beef Braciole with handmade linguini pasta and chickpeas.
Work in progress. Yes, I know, there's only one piece of beef in there. As you probably know very well, I don't think i'llbe cooking for more than one person for at least the next 1.5 years.
The end product. I must say I think the sauce was delish! =)Till later folks.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
.:Damn you, Murphy. Damn you to Heck!:.
[I don’t know why I have this sudden urge to write something in Malay. I’m never the most comfortable using the language as a medium of expression, especially so in written terms. Bear with me]
Hari ni ada kisah sedih berlaku.
Macam biasalah, aku pi breakfast kat mamak belakang IMC tu. Yelah, after the morning meeting and duties dah abis, ada la window of about 20-30 mins, so boleh la isi perut and buang isi perut during that time. So, lepas makan, aku dengan bersahajanya (casually) membawa diri ke lobi lif.
[Oh man, that’s just too much effort. The rest of the story will be in English. Not to degrade the language or anything (in fact, I think it is one of the most expressive languages around), but you’re reading the ramblings of a person who had to go for “Kelas Pemulihan Rumusan” back in his MRSM days. I don’t think anyone should be put through that horror, period.]
So there I was, about to enter a jam-packed lift. As I walked in, I noticed that the floors 7,8,9, 11 and 12 were lit up. I pressed the level 18 button and prepared myself for a relatively long lift journey. Little did I know...
Being right smack in front of everyone, I naturally walked out of the lift at the 7th floor, assuming some of those behind me wanted to go out at that floor. As it turned out, only one solitary girl stepped out of the lift. I then turned around to step back in the lift.
Malaysians, being Malaysians, are unfamiliar, I suppose, with the concept of courtesy. Zebra crossings, it must be said, do not facilitate pedestrians in Malaysia. In fact, it is positively a tourist death-trap. Do not ever assume that the car heading your way will slow down once you step foot on that yellow and white strip of death; it will, in all likelihood, speed up instead of slowing down.
Anyhow, as soon as I stepped out, someone in the lift had pressed the ‘Door Close’ button. Naturally I got stuck trying to come in again. No biggie. At the eighth floor, I stepped out again to let my fellow lift-hoggers through, assuming all the time of course that it is plainly visible that I was simply trying to be courteous.
But it was not to be.
Again, only one single girl stepped out. Again, some imbecile had pressed the ‘Close Doors’ button. Again I got stuck. Someone muttered, “he don’t know which floor la. Aiyoh…”
Hello? Isn’t it obvious that I had pressed the level 18 button?
I gave up trying to be courteous then.
Lo and behold! The rest of the pack then decided to jostle me around like a chicken in a coop along with 500 other feathery friends as they all made a rush to exit the lift at the next floor.
*sigh*
At least I’ve managed to prove Murphy right this time around.
Hari ni ada kisah sedih berlaku.
Macam biasalah, aku pi breakfast kat mamak belakang IMC tu. Yelah, after the morning meeting and duties dah abis, ada la window of about 20-30 mins, so boleh la isi perut and buang isi perut during that time. So, lepas makan, aku dengan bersahajanya (casually) membawa diri ke lobi lif.
[Oh man, that’s just too much effort. The rest of the story will be in English. Not to degrade the language or anything (in fact, I think it is one of the most expressive languages around), but you’re reading the ramblings of a person who had to go for “Kelas Pemulihan Rumusan” back in his MRSM days. I don’t think anyone should be put through that horror, period.]
So there I was, about to enter a jam-packed lift. As I walked in, I noticed that the floors 7,8,9, 11 and 12 were lit up. I pressed the level 18 button and prepared myself for a relatively long lift journey. Little did I know...
Being right smack in front of everyone, I naturally walked out of the lift at the 7th floor, assuming some of those behind me wanted to go out at that floor. As it turned out, only one solitary girl stepped out of the lift. I then turned around to step back in the lift.
Malaysians, being Malaysians, are unfamiliar, I suppose, with the concept of courtesy. Zebra crossings, it must be said, do not facilitate pedestrians in Malaysia. In fact, it is positively a tourist death-trap. Do not ever assume that the car heading your way will slow down once you step foot on that yellow and white strip of death; it will, in all likelihood, speed up instead of slowing down.
Anyhow, as soon as I stepped out, someone in the lift had pressed the ‘Door Close’ button. Naturally I got stuck trying to come in again. No biggie. At the eighth floor, I stepped out again to let my fellow lift-hoggers through, assuming all the time of course that it is plainly visible that I was simply trying to be courteous.
But it was not to be.
Again, only one single girl stepped out. Again, some imbecile had pressed the ‘Close Doors’ button. Again I got stuck. Someone muttered, “he don’t know which floor la. Aiyoh…”
Hello? Isn’t it obvious that I had pressed the level 18 button?
I gave up trying to be courteous then.
Lo and behold! The rest of the pack then decided to jostle me around like a chicken in a coop along with 500 other feathery friends as they all made a rush to exit the lift at the next floor.
*sigh*
At least I’ve managed to prove Murphy right this time around.
Friday, September 08, 2006
.:Hot Co-Eds!!!:.
My dear Constant Reader,
I am so glad that the heading finally got your attention, old chap. It is, admittedly, rather not my style to be copying spam headlines in my email inbox as the title of a post, but nonetheless, it was my sincere wish to gain your inestimable attention that led me to do it. That, and the fact that the other choice was "17-inch pe*** extensions!!", which obviously will not work as well, if you do not mind me saying so.
I digress. The purpose of this post is to direct your attention to the setting up of my photopage at mayomyth.fotopages.com. I will hopefully be updating it as frequently as I do update this page (which means to say not very often, but I will try my best. Scout's honour and all that.)
I do hope you are keeping well, and I do hope to speak to you again soon. In the meantime, I remain,
Very affectionately yours,
Ahmad
I am so glad that the heading finally got your attention, old chap. It is, admittedly, rather not my style to be copying spam headlines in my email inbox as the title of a post, but nonetheless, it was my sincere wish to gain your inestimable attention that led me to do it. That, and the fact that the other choice was "17-inch pe*** extensions!!", which obviously will not work as well, if you do not mind me saying so.
I digress. The purpose of this post is to direct your attention to the setting up of my photopage at mayomyth.fotopages.com. I will hopefully be updating it as frequently as I do update this page (which means to say not very often, but I will try my best. Scout's honour and all that.)
I do hope you are keeping well, and I do hope to speak to you again soon. In the meantime, I remain,
Very affectionately yours,
Ahmad
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
.:Yadda yadda yadda (incoherent mumblings)...... yadda."
Has it been that long, dear readers? the difference between the date for today's post and teh date of the last post seems to confirm this sneaking suspicion of mine that it HAS been an eternity in blogging terms since I last updated (oh, I should SO be awarded the Nobel prize or the Booker prize or the "whatever-it-is-they-award-people-who-have-moments-of-staggering-mental-clarity" prize for that particularly brain-stretching conclusion).
Anyway, time really flies when you're having fun. Work's been, well, work. Tiring and unpleasant at times, a huge rush and fun TBH at other times. I've been spending more time with Farah in the last two months than I've ever had in the last year. She's a breath of fresh air in this dull life of mine. Pity she's leaving for dublin soon. *sigh* And back into cold storage for you, dear heart o' mine.
It was good to see Mel again; I'm glad I've actually made my peace with her, and we could be friends again. It was also great to see the gang again; my, how your close friends never really change, they just grow a little older (and broader) every time you see 'em.
Lately, I keep getting woken up several times at night, thinking it was already 6 am and it's time to go off to work. A quick check on the clock would usually reveal it was only 2.30am or something of that sort. This would usually repeat itself every half an hour till I get to 6 am.
Am I stressed out? I'm always under stress, anyway.
Am I depressed? I don't think so. I'm sad that farah's leaving, but I'm dealing with it.
Or am I?
Mood: Neutral
Reads: Sherlock Holmes (of all things) - Hey, it takes me back to my younger days... so buzz off!
Listens: Snow Patrol; "Run"
Anyway, time really flies when you're having fun. Work's been, well, work. Tiring and unpleasant at times, a huge rush and fun TBH at other times. I've been spending more time with Farah in the last two months than I've ever had in the last year. She's a breath of fresh air in this dull life of mine. Pity she's leaving for dublin soon. *sigh* And back into cold storage for you, dear heart o' mine.
It was good to see Mel again; I'm glad I've actually made my peace with her, and we could be friends again. It was also great to see the gang again; my, how your close friends never really change, they just grow a little older (and broader) every time you see 'em.
Lately, I keep getting woken up several times at night, thinking it was already 6 am and it's time to go off to work. A quick check on the clock would usually reveal it was only 2.30am or something of that sort. This would usually repeat itself every half an hour till I get to 6 am.
Am I stressed out? I'm always under stress, anyway.
Am I depressed? I don't think so. I'm sad that farah's leaving, but I'm dealing with it.
Or am I?
Mood: Neutral
Reads: Sherlock Holmes (of all things) - Hey, it takes me back to my younger days... so buzz off!
Listens: Snow Patrol; "Run"
Monday, July 24, 2006
.:as you wish:.
Okay, time for more pics!
Farah and her relatives. Unfortunately, the only one I can remember now is Baiti (the one in white). Sorry, dear! (note to self: must draw family tree with pictures of each person. Must do this ASAP to avoid future embarassing moments)
Anticlockwise from right: Farah, mum, myself and Baiti.
The light of my life. (As Joe would say... "mamat ni jiwang karat siott!")
Clockwise from left: moi, Papa, Mama, Farah and Sarah (my sis).
That's all folks! (Okay, there are more pics, but most of em are of Farah, and I think you guys won't appreciate that as much as I would, right? =P)
Farah and her relatives. Unfortunately, the only one I can remember now is Baiti (the one in white). Sorry, dear! (note to self: must draw family tree with pictures of each person. Must do this ASAP to avoid future embarassing moments)
Anticlockwise from right: Farah, mum, myself and Baiti.
The light of my life. (As Joe would say... "mamat ni jiwang karat siott!")
Clockwise from left: moi, Papa, Mama, Farah and Sarah (my sis).That's all folks! (Okay, there are more pics, but most of em are of Farah, and I think you guys won't appreciate that as much as I would, right? =P)
Monday, July 17, 2006
.:Guilt trips:.
Hello, folks. It's been a little tough lately, with SY being on maternity leave and most of the team being out marketing. Oh, not to mention the fact that YT has left the team to join Lion Cap in Singapore. I do miss him sometimes, in an entirely platonic way, of course.
As promised, here are some pictures of the engagement ceremony.
My dad (in green) with the rest of the convoy. Although I wasn't (technically) supposed to be there, I came along anyway. Pining hearts and all that jazz, ya know.
Aahh... here she comes...
The obligatory mother-in-law hug (of death/destruction/love*) * delete where appropriate. (Obviously love in this case, of course =P)
A new one for me, this. This is the 'menyuap gula' ceremony... whereby the relatives (on both sides) feed the future bride a spoonful of sugar each. Considering that there were upwards of 80 relatives that day, this would probably be the reason why Malaysia experienced a sudden sugar shortage in early July, as reported by major newspapers.
One ring to rule them all... Habib Jewels, on the other hand, would be far happier with at least three to four rings to rule them all, I think.
More in the next post..
As promised, here are some pictures of the engagement ceremony.
My dad (in green) with the rest of the convoy. Although I wasn't (technically) supposed to be there, I came along anyway. Pining hearts and all that jazz, ya know.
Aahh... here she comes...
The obligatory mother-in-law hug (of death/destruction/love*) * delete where appropriate. (Obviously love in this case, of course =P)
A new one for me, this. This is the 'menyuap gula' ceremony... whereby the relatives (on both sides) feed the future bride a spoonful of sugar each. Considering that there were upwards of 80 relatives that day, this would probably be the reason why Malaysia experienced a sudden sugar shortage in early July, as reported by major newspapers.
One ring to rule them all... Habib Jewels, on the other hand, would be far happier with at least three to four rings to rule them all, I think.More in the next post..
Monday, July 03, 2006
.:In the meantime:.
I am now officially engaged. However, pictures will only be posted as soon as I get my hands on them, which unfortunately will not happen anytime soon-ish.
So in the meantime, let us stick to the World Cup-mania sweeping the globe, by reproducing some quotes for your intellectual consumption:
"Home advantage gives you an advantage" - Sir Bobby Robson, former manager of Barcelona, Newcastle & England.
"... and the news from Guadalajara where the heat is 96 degrees Fahrenheit is that Falcao is warming up..." - Brian Moore, commentator.
"I don't think there is anybody bigger or smaller than Maradona." - Kevin Keegan, ex-player and manager of Newcastle, England & Manchester City.
"Very few of us have any idea whatsoever of what life is like living in a goldfish bowl, except of course, for those of us who are goldfish.' - Graham Taylor, former Watford & England manager, a.k.a. (rather cruelly) the Turnip.
Enjoy!
So in the meantime, let us stick to the World Cup-mania sweeping the globe, by reproducing some quotes for your intellectual consumption:
"Home advantage gives you an advantage" - Sir Bobby Robson, former manager of Barcelona, Newcastle & England.
"... and the news from Guadalajara where the heat is 96 degrees Fahrenheit is that Falcao is warming up..." - Brian Moore, commentator.
"I don't think there is anybody bigger or smaller than Maradona." - Kevin Keegan, ex-player and manager of Newcastle, England & Manchester City.
"Very few of us have any idea whatsoever of what life is like living in a goldfish bowl, except of course, for those of us who are goldfish.' - Graham Taylor, former Watford & England manager, a.k.a. (rather cruelly) the Turnip.
Enjoy!
Thursday, June 22, 2006
.:TMOASU (fn):.
The Mother Of All Screw-Ups (for now).
I'm so tired I can't even begin to describe what went wrong last night. Suffice to ssay I got an earful today, thankfully dulled by my half-awake senses. And all this due to myself going home 'early' (read: 1.15 am).
FYI all this is made worse by the fact that the person who is as responsible for the cock-up as myself is not here this morning. So in effect, I have to take the fall.
*sigh*
A good way to start your day. Oh well. Accipere quam facere praestat injuriam.
I'm so tired I can't even begin to describe what went wrong last night. Suffice to ssay I got an earful today, thankfully dulled by my half-awake senses. And all this due to myself going home 'early' (read: 1.15 am).
FYI all this is made worse by the fact that the person who is as responsible for the cock-up as myself is not here this morning. So in effect, I have to take the fall.
*sigh*
A good way to start your day. Oh well. Accipere quam facere praestat injuriam.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
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