SaNdRa’s CoRnEr

2012 - yet another interesting and challenging year

2012-01-06T08:52:00.000+08:00

Just six days into the New Year and already I can't wait for it to end, but time is flying real slow. But having said that, I have reasons to be happy as some of what I wished to do this year has kicked off and hopefully it will be consistent.
Twenty-twelve is expected to be an interesting yet challenging year for me, it involves a lot of things - physically, mentally and spiritually - and I am not quite sure I am ready for these tasks. Everyone hopes for happy ending, but no one can guarantee you that life would be as sweet as that in fairytales. While some of us hate gambling, we cannot run away from the fact that as some point in our life, we need to have the courage to gamble.
Last year was a challenging year as well, but there were sweet memories to compensate the heartaches and sadness. I lost an uncle last year. A dear one. And how I wish he was with us as we celebrated the joy of moving into a new home. He could have been a regular in the house, much to the delight of my parents. But God loves him more.
Of course, Korea tops the sweet memory list. It was a fun fun fun trip. Planned some trips this year, and hopefully we will get there someday, somehow.
I made three resolutions this year, one may be a 'brought forward' material, but this time, I am determine to make it happen. All three involves a lot of commitments, and I believe with the support I get, I will be able to do it.
With this, I pray to God that He would lead me to the right path, to guide me towards doing the right thing, to help me decide what is best for me...and I pray that He would help all my parents, sisters, brother-in-laws, nieces, aunties, uncles, cousins, relatives and friends wishes come true too.

Happy New Year people and may 2012 brings us greater health, wealth and laughter.

it is time...

2011-08-19T16:33:00.000+08:00

There are times when we look back and think what we've achieved, what we fail to achieve and what we are still hoping to achieve ... all these makes who we are today, what we are today, what we've become.

I always think that I am still learning. The world, after all, is a classroom and at certain point we still need to look back at those days when you were just you.

I'm always thankful to my parents, for teaching me the values of life, for guiding me and help shape me to be who I am today.

Of course, I should also give thanks to my former teachers, superiors at work, my mentors, my friends ... they played their part to help me to be what I am today.

I've passed on what I gained from my mentors to my fellow colleagues. Its been over a decade now with the journalism line, and I believe it is a learning process everyday, still. There are a lot of things out there that interest us. I just wish I get to share my passion and let my friends see what I see. It is wrong to think that we're in a glamourous line, it's not! We're in this line for a reason. A good reporter can smell a good story. And I believe I've shared with my fellow colleagues how to deal with certain stories. But of course, there is very little we can do and it is always up to the person to absorb what we've shared.

So for the stubborn ones, congratulations, you're on your own ... I give up!

the meaning of respect

2011-08-03T00:54:00.001+08:00

It amazes me to see how our Muslim friends could abstain themselves from food and water for the whole day. I mean the challenges are there - the heat, the smell of food, the smell of nicotine (for smokers of course) ... it is superly hard work to ignore all temptations, at least for me.

I tried fasting, well to be precise, abstaining from food since I do take water, for the second day today, and it is such a struggle. Honestly, it brings a whole new level of respect to our fasting friends.

The best part was that I had the privilege to break fast with my Muslims friends, thanks to Promenade Hotel for the great Buka Puasa buffet dinner. Not that I have never joined them during such functions, this time it is extra memorable since I half-fasted. It was so much fun, waiting for the azan and to see them pray before taking the meals. I did my prayers too, according to my beliefs and religion. Traditionally, they'll start with kurma (dates) and I did just that, followed by a sip of water or syrup, which ever fancies you, but I must admit, it was a heavenly feeling.

This is a whole new experience for me too, I realise that it makes us to appreciate food and drinks more, it makes us realise that we can control our minds to refrain from doing things, self-control. It brings truth to the saying "it's all in the mind".

Well, it is entering the third day of Ramadhan. I've tried abstaining food for two days now, may be slowly I will join Muslims to abstain both food and drinks ... SLOWLY. A friend of mine told me that "just think it as your diet,", may be I should take his words and tune my mind to do just that.

So, to all my Muslim friends, happy Ramadhan. Kudos for your strong will to rejecting all temptations. Thanks for this valuable lesson.

a little bit of golfers' jargon

2011-08-02T02:03:00.003+08:00

10 things in golf that sound dirty...

1. Look at the size of his putter.

2. Oh, dang, my shaft's all bent.

3. You really wacked the hell out of that sucker.

4. After 18 holes I can barely walk.

5. My hands are so sweaty I can't get a good grip.

6. Lift your head and spread your legs.

7. You have a nice stroke, but your follow through leaves a lot to be desired.

8. Just turn your back and drop it.

9. Hold up. I've got to wash my balls.

10. Damn, I missed the hole again.

sometimes all we need is a good laugh ...

2011-08-02T01:51:00.001+08:00

Funny Quote

Writers Quotes

The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense.
Tom Clancy

I never know what I think about something until I read what I've written on it.
William Faulkner

I handed in a script last year and the studio didn't change one word. The word they didn't change was on page 87.
Steve Martin

I have always been a huge admirer of my own work. I'm one of the funniest and most entertaining writers I know.
Mel Brooks

It took me fifteen years to discover that I had no talent for writing, but I couldn't give it up because by that time I was too famous.
Robert Benchley

A writer is congenitally unable to tell the truth and that is why we call what he writes fiction.
William Faulkner

The free-lance writer is the person who is paid per piece or per word or perhaps.
Robert Benchley

Work quotes

The reason why worry kills more people than work is that more people worry than work.
Robert Frost

The easiest job in the world has to be coroner. Surgery on dead people. What's the worst thing that could happen? If everything went wrong, maybe you'd get a pulse
Dennis Miller

Hard work never killed anybody, but why take a chance?
Edgar Bergen

Doing nothing is very hard to do...you never know when you're finished.
Leslie Nielsen

The trouble with unemployment is that the minute you wake up in the morning you're on the job.
Slappy White

I only go to work on days that don't end in a 'y'.
Robert Paul

It's just a job. Grass grows, birds fly, waves pound the sand. I beat people up.
Muhammad Ali

A good rule of thumb is if you've made it to thirty-five and your job still requires you to wear a name tag, you've made a serious vocational error.
Dennis Miller

I like work: it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours.
Jerome K Jerome

Wisdom Quotes

Whenever I'm caught between two evils, I take the one I've never tried.
Mae West

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.
Jimi Hendrix

The pen is mightier than the sword, and considerably easier to write with.
Marty Feldman

How to make a million dollars: First, get a million dollars.
Steve Martin

If at first you don't succeed, try again. Then quit. There's no use being a damn fool about it.
W.C. Fields

Wise men make proverbs, but fools repeat them.
Samuel Palmer

For more funny quotes, click here

the response ...

2011-07-29T01:59:00.005+08:00

Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Masidi Manjun responded to the Terengganu Turtle Sanctuary Advisory Board (TTSAB), demanding them to furnish evidence that indeed the turtle eggs found sold at their markets came from Sabah.

Guess the man with the bionic eyes has to prepare an answer to support his claim.

To know more, click here for the article on Masidi's response.

when one has good eyes...

2011-07-27T18:17:00.005+08:00

And so I came across with this article today, and it made me wonder about many things.
  The article is about the Terengganu Turtle Sanctuary Advisory Board's (TTSAB) statement, denying that the turtle eggs sold at their market are collected locally.
  I quote TTSAB chairman Datuk Mazlan Ngah's statement that: "I don't see any Terengganu turtle eggs being sold openly in the markets, but if they are being sold secretly, then I would not know." That was his statement to Bernama on Tuesday.
  He claimed that the turtle eggs came from Sabah, Sarawak and the Philippines.
  Something is not right here. Turtles are protected species, and that include its eggs. How can such protected items, which is prohibited from being sold or exported, are found elsewhere, as claimed by Datuk Mazlan Ngah.
Which brings into question our enforcement and security at the gateways. Is it that easy to 'smuggle' out turtle eggs from Sabah to Terengganu? How can this happen?
And, most interesting fact is that how on earth does Datuk Mazlan Ngah knows that 'no Terengganu turtle eggs are sold openly at their market' ... is there any difference to distinguish the Terengganu and Sabah turtle eggs? He must have very good eyes to tell the difference.
Kudos to Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun for his statement to demand for evidence from the Board to support their claims that the turtle eggs came from the state.
He also called for thorough investigation to shed light on how Sabah turtle eggs end up in Terengganu ... well, someone will face the music, they're in big trouble!

For more details on the article, click here

just for laughs

2011-07-10T18:00:00.013+08:00

was just browsing through the net and i really need something to amuse myself, so i stumbled upon this site http://www.parentinghumor.com ... check it out, and in the mean time, let me share what they have ... if it doesn't make you laugh, well i guess you need help!

Q: If you peel my skin off, I won't cry, but you will. What am I?
A: An onion.

Q: What has four legs one head but only one foot?
A: A bed

Q: Where do cows go to have fun?
A: To the mooovies!

Q: Why didn't the skeleton go to the ball?
A: Because he had no body to go with!

Q: What do you call a cow in an earthquake?
A: A milkshake!

Q: Why is a cat in the desert like Christmas?
A: Because of its sandy claws!

Q: What notes does the tightrope-musician have to worry about?
A: C sharp or B flat!

Q: Why did the chicken cross the road?
A: To show the armadillo it could be done!

Q: Why was 6 afraid of 7
A: Because 7 8 9!

Q: Why did the man put his money in the freezer?
A: He wanted cold hard cash!

Q: Why won`t cannibals eat clowns?
Because they taste funny!

Q: What did the porcupine say to the cactus?
A: "Is that you, Mama?"

Q: What is black and white and sleeps a lot?
A: A snoozepaper!

Q: Why did the chicken cross the road?
A: He didn`t want to go to the barbecue!

Q: What did one plate say to the other plate?
A: "Lunch is on me!"

Q: What is black and white and red all over?
A: A sunburnt zebra!

Q: What do potatoes wear to bed?
A: Their yammies!

Q: What happened when the cow jumped over the barbed wire fence?
A: It was an udder catastrophe!

Q: What do birds need when they are sick?
A: A tweetment!

Q: What do you call a sheep with no legs?
A: A cloud!

Q: What do you get when you cross a bear and a skunk?
A: Winnie the 'pe-u'!

Q: What vegetable do you get when King Kong walks through your garden?
A: Squash!

Q: What did one toilet say to the other toilet?
A: You look a bit flushed!

Q: What dog keeps the best time?
A: A watch dog.

Q: What do you get when you cross a telephone with a very big football player?
A: A wide receiver!

Q: Why did the man destroy his piano?
A: He was looking for his keys!

Q: What do you call a 5000 pound gorilla?
A: Sir!

Q: Why don't elephants smoke?
A: They can't fit their 'butts' in the ashtray!

Q: Why did Piglet look in the toilet?
A: He was looking for Pooh.

Q: Why do cows use the doorbell?
A: Because their horns don't work!

Q: Why did the turkey cross the road?
A: It was the chicken's day off!!!

Q: What do you have if you have 100 rabbits in a row and 99 step back?
A: A receding hare line!

Q: Why did the skeleton play the piano?
A: Because he didn`t have any organs!

Q: What time is it when a elephant sits on a fence?
A: Time to get a new fence!

Q: How much money did the pirate pay for his ear to get pierced?
A: A buck an ear!

Q: What is the difference between broccoli and bogies?
A: Kids don`t like to eat broccoli!

Q: How do you stop a baby alien from crying?
A: You rocket!

Q: Why did the tomato blush?
A: Because it saw the salad dressing!

Q: Why do elephant tusks stick out?
A: Because their parents can`t afford braces!

Q: Why did the gum cross the road?
A: Because it was stuck to the chicken!

Q: What did the grape do when it got stepped on?
A: It let out a little wine!

Q: Why did the Turtle cross the road?
A: To get to the Shell station!

Q: What do you call a Fairy that doesn't take baths?
A: Stinkerbell!

Q: Why did the skeleton cross the road?
A: To get to the body shop!

Q: Why did the chicken cross the park?
A: To get to the other slide!

Q: What do you call a camel with three humps?
A: Humphrey!

Q: What is black, white and red?
A: A newspaper!

Q: What is the smelliest sport?
A: Ping Pong!

Q: What do you call a boomerang that doesn't come back?
A: A stick!

Q: Why did Donald Duck go to college?
A: He wanted to be a wise quacker!

Q: What do you get when you cross a snake and a kangaroo?
A: A jump rope!

Q: Why did the boy bring a ladder to school?
A: He wanted to see what High School was like!

Q: How do you make a tissue dance?
A: Put a little boogey in it!

Q: Why did the chicken cross the playground ?
A: To get to the other slide!

Q: Where do bees go to the bathroom?
A: At the BP station!

Q: Why does it get hot after a baseball game?
A: Because all the fans have left!

Q: What is black and white and white all over?
A: A scared skunk!

Q: Why did the cookie go to see the doctor?
A: He was feeling crummy!

Q: How do you catch a squirrel?
A: Climb a tree and act like a nut!

Q: How can you tell if a calendar is popular?
A: It has a lot of dates!

Q: What do pigs put on sore toes?
A: Oinkment!

Q: How do you stop a skunk from smelling?
A: Put a clothes peg on its nose!

Q: When is a car not a car?
A: When it turns into a garage!

Q: What do you get when you cross a cow with a rabbit?

A: Hare in your milk!

Q: What does a bee use to brush its hair?
A: A honeycomb!

Q: Why didn't the skeleton cross the road?
A: Because he didnt have the guts!

Q: What do you say to a skeleton before he eats?
A: Bone appetit!

Q: What do you say to a skeleton going on vacation?
A: Bone voyage!

Q: What fruit teases you a lot?
A: A ba na..na..na..na..na!

Put our differences aside

2011-06-26T17:38:00.002+08:00

Put our differences aside

I have to agree with Daphne Iking ... she has a point. Why do we need to learn to love our neighbours. I may not simply barge into my neighbour's house and asked what they're having for dinner, but at least I know who they are. I get invited for Raya, Deepavali, Chinese New Year, and actually we had an invitation from a neighbour who just moved in to the child's wedding, how surprising that was. Unfortunately, the wedding was near Christmas and by the time, I left for kampung to join my family for the holidays.

The idea of the 1Malaysia concept is good, but it's funny at the same time. I mean, we keep harping about the issue and the leaders are always reminding us how to live as one but why are they preaching so hard, why can't they just act as though nothing is wrong, they are pinpointing our weaknesses in public, why? And, with all due respect, the advertisements on our national radio is totally ridiculous!

Honestly, I do not need to be reminded every now and then about how to love my neighbours, how to accept others from different ethnics, I totally think it's all about narrowing the gap between the rich and poor, the rich will have to learn to go to a remote place via road connections and not take the copper, I mean you want to save time because you're "too busy", who isn't? It doesn't seem fair when sometimes we have to travel in the wee hours to get to the event area, just so that we won't be late for a function, and the VIP comes in in a copper and leaves the same way while we take the same route and rush to finish our stories.

So, please stop preaching things that you yourself may not be practising. Act, not just talk.

bravery or stupidity?

2011-06-17T12:44:00.002+08:00

i'm taken aback when i saw my assignment today...i'm supposed to cover about a prominent person's relative who is on a hunger strike ... and as he puts it "until I die!", drinking just water, to show his dissatisfaction against the government.

now, i just wonder whether that is a good idea? do you think the government would even care? so i'm very much intrigue to know what he has in mind ... will update later, for now, let me do some digging.

cheers.

are we that ignorant?

2011-06-14T15:57:00.003+08:00

Mayor of Kota Kinabalu Datuk Abidin Madingkir made a very good point today.

He said the authorities have always emphasised on the importance of creating awareness among the people about cleanliness. Why we should maintain cleanliness, not just at home, but also at public places.

The problem is, he said, the authorities have been harping on the same issue for the past 30 years. And yet they still want to "create awareness" among the people.

I believe people are very much aware of the situation, they know the dustbins are not decorations, they know the functions of the recycled bins, they know it is wrong to litter, motorists know they should not throw rubbish from their vehicles, and yet they are just too ignorant. It has become a habit. They just refuse to take a few steps walk to the dustbin to dispose their rubbish. And worst of all, they know that someone is paid to clean up the mess they made.

Even a small cigarette butt can cause much damage if not properly disposed.

We hate being called stupid and ignorant and yet we continue to act like one.

Honestly, it will not kill to dispose our own garbage. Lets do our bit to help clean the environment. Together, we can make this world a better place to live in.

man's best friend ... indeed!

2011-06-13T23:26:00.001+08:00

Businessman builds luxurious homes for dogs | BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News

wow...this is really something. talk about enjoying your wealth with your best friend ... this, i believe, beats it all.

while others may think it's pure insanity, some people believe it is an act of passion. lets just say some people have the luxury to build RM100k worth of house for their 14 pets ... i, on the other hand, can just hope to have that much money to get myself a house. i can't believe i'm saying this but those puppies are damn lucky to have this man as their best friend.

updating blog...

2011-06-13T01:48:00.005+08:00

it took a friend to tell me that i should update my blog ... thanks for the reminder.

in the last two months or so, a lot happened.

my good friends, Haslin Gaffor and Jaswinder Kaur, got married. they finally ended their 13 years of courtship and are now officially Mr and Mrs Tat (as i love to call them). theirs is a real love story. and they chose May 29, 2011 to tie-the-knot, the same date Prince Harry and Kate said their "I Dos" ... Tat's and Jess' is the Royal Wedding of KK! wishing them all the best, and from their FB updates, they're happy being married couple, so sweet, i loike!

the month of May was also the month of celebration for the Kadazandusun and Murut. The whole month is dedicated to KDM's culture, not forgetting the 'singarung', 'siopon' and lots of aramai tii ... the same month i met several new friends, locals and abroad. and work, s

weet sweet work, i don't know whether i should feel lucky or otherwise, because this year, i was not assigned to cover the closing of the State Level Kaamatan Festival. i mean, it's nice to actually learn something new from visiting the local houses at KDCA but the heat would have killed me.

i also won a nice watch during a lucky draw session, it's still in the box, dunno when will i ever wear it ... i don't want it to get scratched (hehehehehehe).

which brings to the next subject...WEATHER! arrrrrrrrgghhhhhhhhhh...the weather is so unpredictable. the rain had disrupted my newly 'adopted' activity, nothing fancy, just healthy activity, something i have been wanting to do but no will power to pursue. when i finally had that much courage to do it, the rain have to come and spoil my plans hmmmmmmmmmmm...

the month of June ... hmmmmmmmm, the best part about the month of June was that J&C were here. who is J&C? they are the two little rugrats ... Jasmine and Cheryl, still the apples of my eyes, my two little nieces. my heart skipped when i saw them running towards the house, they are so cute, with the little blue and pink crocs, the way they call me "Ayie Che" (cause they used to hear their mother and my other sisters call me 'che', Chinese word for sister. during their stay here, they turned my room upside down, took all my stuffed animals (errrrrr, yes i still do have some toys in my room), jumped and rolled on my bed, played with anything within their reach. i actually miss how they would come to my room and wake me up with those little fingers. They went home to their parents on Friday, i miss them!

June has not ended yet. i'm just waiting for it to end as i prepare for July. something good is happening in July, i can't wait...!

p/s to my friend, i'll try and update my blog as often as i can...i now know i have a stalker (in a good way i hope) hahahahahahahaha ... take care!

always a sad goodbye

2011-05-26T15:09:00.003+08:00

Losing someone hurts, whether he or she is related to you, or whether he or she is related a person whom you know. a colleague of mine just lost her son, a boy who just turned three a day before he was mauled by a dog, dragged to a drain and left there in a pool of blood until he was found by one of his uncles.

He was rushed to the Ranau District Hospital, unconscious, given 38 stitches. He feel into coma, was warded at the hospital's Intensive Care Unit, and was told that he may suffer brain damage. He did not make it though despite all the help. God loves him more.

I know how the mother feels, her devastation of losing the younger of two siblings. All we can do is to support her and his soul with our prayers. I know she is strong, she has always appeared to me as one. She will go through the pain and she will bear the pain. The memory will, however, live.

anger. sad. smile.

2011-03-20T00:59:00.006+08:00

i don't know why, but i'm sad, angry and happy at the same time. weird? i'm confuse myself.

a lot happened in the last one week. my uncle passed away. the fight. the pain. the hatred.

and yet i smile when i think of the two little girls. they make me smile. how one of them hates being called agong. and the other keeps correcting me when i purposely calls her 'tamin' ... how they make you forget your anger just by smiling. indeed, they are the apples of our eyes. their voices are music to my ears, even when they are shouting. their cries. their laughter. their pronounciation. their mood swings.

Jasmine and Cheryl are such a bliss.

in short, no matter how angry or tired or sad one is, there will be one, may be millions, reason/s to make one forget those negative aura.

i found mine. it's just a matter of time when you find yours.

we love you Uncle

2011-03-16T12:25:00.013+08:00

Feb 2, 1944 - Mar 11, 2011

As we join millions mourning for the misfortune that befell our fellow friends in Japan, my family also mourned for the lost of the most amazing person in our lives. He was the nicest, friendliest, sweetest, strongest man I've ever known, he is my late uncle Philemon J Anthony, who we fondly refer to as Uncle July. He was an awesome person.

My tears started rolling down when I heard the bad news on March 11, 2011. at 4pm from my Sister Emmy. It was unbelievable. It was just few week earlier I met him at the QEH ward, we joked, we laughed, talk politics, he was himself. Then few days later, we found out that he was battling with lung cancer. It happened so fast, losing him, I didn't even get to say goodbye ... for awhile I thought he was cruel for leaving us without a word, it was a painful goodbye indeed. And to see him lying in a wooden coffin, welcoming us, in his house in Binaong, for the last time, I just burst into tears.

I will miss his laughter, I will miss his smile, I will miss his voice, he was the best singer I've ever heard, I will miss his trademark "PENG-KA" as he gives a thumbs-up, addressing us as 'orang kampung', 'saudara', it didn't sound insulting at all ... i needed more time to know him better, I just needed more time to spend with him, I miss him a lot.

Although it was hard for us to let him go, I have a sense of relieve that he is no longer suffering. The Lord loves him more, He took his suffering away, both physically, mentally and emotionally ... Uncle Peng-ka is no longer suffering, he is resting in peace, hopefully.

There may be incidences before his final resting, and although we were all set to go all the way, fighting for his last wish, we soon realised that we should not stoop ourselves so low to their level. We love Uncle July so much to hurt him more. We let them win. We let them make that final decision for him, because we want the guilt to haunt them forever.

Uncle, I hope you will be placed with all the good people in heaven. You will be in our hearts, you will be remembered for as long as we live ...

when you know the joke's on you

2011-03-01T23:38:00.004+08:00

Sometimes, being nice is not good enough.

You may be the best of friends, the person one can count on, the person who is ever-willing to drop everything for the sake of friendship, the one who do not mind to look silly for someone you care ... and yet, you'll be the one who will end up in tears, heartache and alone.

Life is not fair. It ain't fair at all. But you put up a disguise and say everything is okay when you can actually hear your heart breaking inside. Your brain wants you to share your feelings but the heart says 'NO!'. So you bite your tongue and say that you're "ok", shedding truth to the saying "some things are better left unsaid".

So, continue putting your head up high and take a deep breath. Try hard and hide the pain from your eyes, go fake a smile, in time, you'll be the master of all disguises. You know that you can now lie to the world.

Govt says no to coal power plants in Sabah

2011-02-17T14:59:00.001+08:00

Govt says no to coal power plants in Sabah

Yipee!

Now, this is the best news for Sabahans all over. Not that we reject development, but we just love our environment more.

Congratulations to the Sabah Government, and thank you Datuk Seri PM for your concern.

:-D.

satisfied!

2011-02-16T11:25:00.003+08:00

Procrastination. I hate it but it's like a disease. We procrastinate a lot. May be it's a curse. May be?

But I'm a satisfied woman today. I've done things that i've procrastinated for so many times.

OK, it's my room. It was a jungle before, now it's a room again. It took me about three days to clean it all up. Too many unwanted garbage in there. Now all gone! My room is now my escape. It's the best place on earth.

And yesterday, my sister and I cleaned my parents room. I am so happy with the result. My parents will have a comfortable place to crash. I'm sure they'll love it. They deserve it. They've done everything for us and this is just our way to thank them.

OK this posting is not about bragging. It is just comes to show that if you put your heart and soul in something, you can truly do it. No matter how long it takes. It's just for self-satisfaction. Believe me, it would be such a relieve to get things done. I can now, finally, take a deep breath of relief ... phewwwwwwwwwwww!

Maulidur Rasul

2011-02-15T10:02:00.005+08:00

Today is the birth of Prophet Muhammad. It is celebrated by Muslim friends all over the world. As we join them in observing this holy day, it brings realisation to many of us how important it is to understand and respect other religion.

Religion is indeed beautiful, regardless what your belief is. Religion teaches us to do good things, to respect one another, to love another. Religion is all about teaching love to humankind, peace and no war. War is evil. But why is there war? Why are people so obsessed with power? There are just too many power greed people out there, it's not difficult to tell who they are. But then, there is just very little we can do. Too little, indeed. They are rich ... very rich, we can only dream to walk in their shoes. But do we really want to be them? Do you think they're happy even with zillions of cash in the bank and power just at their fingertips? I've seen happier poor people. That, to me, is a bliss.

Also religion teaches me to be happy with what I have, to be thankful, to be grateful. I may not be rich, but I have wonderful family and friends that makes me feel rich. I may not be debt-free, but I know I worked hard to get things in order. I may not have stress-free day, but I know I can count on loyal buddies to cheer me up, I have two beautiful nieces that brings smile to my face, that is irreplaceable. All these makes me a rich woman.

So, tell me, what makes you happy? Happy Maulidur Rasul to all ... may it brings us greater health and happiness. Cheers.

when love comes into question

2011-02-14T10:47:00.005+08:00

It's Monday but it is not any ordinary Monday, it's Monday the 14, February 14, Valentine's Day.

The past few days, there have been lots of critics about Valentine's Day, how some people associated it with vice activities, out of wedlock pregnancies, a day to commit sins, Christianity??? It is a secular observance, not a religious festival. It got me thinking though ... sin is committed every second of the day, there are a lot of vice going on out there, why restrict it to Valentine's Day? Why blame Valentine's Day?

Truly, I believe people who criticised Valentine's Day do not understand what the day is all about. It is a celebration of love. I am not saying that we do not celebrate love on any other day, but this is another special day where couples - husband and wife; boyfriend and girlfriend; parents and children - do that extra special thing to show ones love.

May be there are some quarters who took advantage of the day by making money out of it, but hey, they're smart enough to gain that extra cash. It is one day where women would not complain about getting chocolates because it's fattening, it's one day where women would be thrilled to see bouquet of flowers on her table as she walks into the office, well, we all love surprises ... I can't say the same for men though. I hear my male friends complaining the amount they have to spend for their Valentine, but they splurge anyway, because deep down inside, they love to see the twinkle in their partner's eyes.

So for those who took that extra effort to make the day special for you and your Valentine, I congratulate you. You let no one influence you, besides, we're supposed to spread love, not war!

Peace and have a wonderful Valentine's Day.

love...

2011-02-13T12:42:00.005+08:00

*Sedetik Lebih*

Setiap nafas yang dihembus,
Setiap degupan jantung,
Aku selalu memikirkanmu...

Dalam sedar dibuai angan,
Dalam tidur dan khayalan,
Aku selalu memikirkanmu...

Ternyata ku perlukan cinta,
Dari dirimu sayang,
Barulah terasa,
Ku bernyawa...

Kasihku …
Ku amat mencintai kamu,
Kerana kau beri erti hidup,
Ku kan terus mencinta,
Sedetik lebih selepas selamanya...

Di kala penuh ketakutan,
Dengan badai kehidupan,
Ku bersyukur adanya kamu...

Biarlah kehilangan semua,
Yang dimiliki di dunia,
Asal masih adanya kamu...

Ternyata ku perlukan cinta,
Dari dirimu sayang,
Barulah terasa,
Ku bernyawa...

I would have posted Anuar Zain himself but his video clip was not the full version, poor thing, but this guy's voice is not bad at all ...

anyway, the reason behind posting this song is that it has beautiful words, how one can't live without love. it is somewhat true, no one can live without love. we love to love and be loved. love is such a wonderful feeling.

so why does some people hate love? is it because they have never been loved, have never felt love, never been in love?

i'm very sure they have. there are a lot of love out there, it's up to us to spread the message ... lets love and be loved, do not be afraid to love and be loved, because we all deserve it. love each day, love your parents, sisters, brothers, husband, wife, children, friends, boyfriends, girlfriends ... everywhere you look, there is love, so why deny it?

Happy Valentine's all :-).

will i ever smile again

2011-02-12T22:56:00.003+08:00

it's been awhile since i smile at myself. it's been awhile since i smile looking at myself in the mirror. it has been awhile since i feel proud of myself.

someone just woke me up, not from my sleep, but to realise why i should love myself.

i must say, my body has not been pampered for a long long time, it felt ancient since i last had a good massage, and being a plus-size does not help at all. i lost all confidence, insecurity creeps in everytime i take a shower, everytime i try something on, everytime i go out shopping for new cloths. i envy those people who feel comfortable with themselves, size doesn't matter, they just feel good. i just wish i have their guts.

but, of course, i have no one to blame but myself. may be i should learn to love myself more, may be i should listen to my body more, may be i should learn what it needs more, may be i should not be too worried, may be i should not bother what other people think, may be i should learn to be myself more ... all those MAY BEs are killing me, slowly, inside.

this year i hope to make a change, i want me to feel good, i want to learn to love me, i want to make me happy ... i guess it is not that difficult to do.

i'll just take one step at a time, and when it happens, i, may be, will have my smile back.

Energy: Nuke power plants should hold no fear for us

2010-06-21T18:18:00.000+08:00

Energy: Nuke power plants should hold no fear for us

WHAT, they think we're stupidkah???

2010-06-21T18:04:00.002+08:00

a friend of mine just SMSed and told me about an idiotic person who wrote a report that when the sea water temperature rises four degree celcius, it would destroy the plankton, BUT not the fishes???

come on lah, use your common sense, if you destroy the plankton, what are the fishes gonna eat? those are their source of food ... the report writer can't be that stupid to think that people do not know this basic knowledge.

with regards to the coal fired plant project, obviously the government has long decided that it is on even before the EIA report is out, so stop pretending, drop the act, because, honestly, i know where my votes are going in the next election ...

Reflection ...

2010-06-21T09:16:00.003+08:00

I often reflect my past to evaluate the present life i'm in, and often, i believe there are a lot of things that i could have done better to make life meaningful.

but i cannot carry on regretting over things that could have been or should have been, right? past is past, it's the present that counts ... so i'm picking every bit and pieces of little achievements i've salvaged, and try, as hard as i can, to re-paint it and become a more beautiful picture ... the result may not be perfect, but at least i'm always smiling ... and for now, i'll rest with it, until i find the perfect ending.

SJA, just at the click of your finger

2010-06-20T12:02:00.002+08:00

hey friends,

for those who wish to know what the media people are doing, visit

http://sabahjournalistsassociation.blogspot.com/

for updates.

we're also on facebook, just search for Persatuan Wartawan Sabah and click to add as friend, thanks for your continuous support :-).

when to call it quits...

2010-02-05T23:34:00.002+08:00

mentally and physically tired, whole body aches...

that's exactly how i feel at this very moment.

after that bad tonsil and high fever on Christmas and New Year's Day, i thought it was the end of a very bad ending for 2009, but i spoke to soon ... just two weeks ago, the symptoms returned, my throat sore and my body was feeling awkward ... well yeah, tonsil made a come back.

it was so bad that i slept in between my stories ... i'm just thankful i have the nicest chief reporter, he just lets me sleep. i'm sure he was angry to see me taking those long hours nap on my desk but he understood that i wasn't actually feeling well.

wanted to take MC but it was kinda a busy week, and suddenly a colleague fell sick, i guess she needed the break more than me ...

luckily i took a few days off this weekend, i'll be meeting my two precious nieces and that's the best medicine ever, i've packed my stuff and we're driving up to Keningau tomorrow, woohoo, can't wait to have the girls in my arms!!!

so i'm calling it quit early tonight, because i just can't wait for tomorrow... :-).

take it easy ...

2009-10-08T15:04:00.002+08:00

i was watching tv this morning and was so amazed at all the new inventions, latest vacuum cleaner, latest washing machine, latest microwave and bla bla bla ...

no doubt inventions are good but i realise it made human lazier, we're getting too lazy to stand up and change the channels because there's remote control, we're just too lazy to pound everything from onions to garlic to chillies to serai to anything because there's man-made blenders, we're just too lazy to do laundry today because tomorrow the washing machine can do the job for us, we're just to start cooking from scratch because the stores have packed ingredients, thanks to Maggi and other companies who made cooking easy

as much i thank to all the genius people who came up with the inventions, i feel bad to all of us for becoming too lazy to even move (that explains my body weight haha), but jokes aside, these inventions have made life easier and people lazier ... where am i getting at? ... i guess we can allow ourselves to enjoy the inventions but we mustn't be too lazy, so lets kick some butts... :-).

tHe CloSuRe...

2009-06-15T04:28:00.004+08:00

it's been two months since i last jotted, and many things happened during my absence here - both good and bad

my sorta 10-years relationship ended through an SMS, just as simple as that, dunno whether i should thank the IT for this super-canggih way of breaking-up or otherwise ... but i guess i saw it coming. so i supposedly needed time to destress, to gain my strength back and realise that it was meant to be ... life must go on!

funny thing though, i didn't cry ... is that normal? ok i lied, i cried a little, during my drive home from work on that eventful day, but that was it ... i didn't shed a tear after that, strange?!?...

apart from that black spot in my life, everything else is, suprisingly well.

i get to witness a close friend tying-the-knot. i also got the opportunity to learn that i have really caring, understanding, supporting, good friends out there, who shared my laughters and tears, who held me up when i feel everthing else is tumbling down, they raised me up in my downs ... thanks guys!

ok, no mushy mushy stuff here.

i also went on a fully-paid vacation to Macau, thanks to the Macau Government, had so much fun there ... and best of all, i get to shop in Zhuhai, China, the best place to shop, got myself some good stuff ... and of course for family members. this is the best part of my job, getting free trips but of course, we still have to produce stories at the end of the day.

this time around, i get to spend more time with my nieces ... they're just adorable! Jasmine is now running and baby Cheryl can't stand her walker, she just needs to get out. Their smiles are addictive, jus can't get enough of 'em...

overall, i will live my life to the fullest, will i ever find love again? yes, i will, i have and i intend to keep it buried in my heart for the rest of my life

the not so Good Friday

2009-04-10T21:30:00.002+08:00

it's a Holy-day, i know, it's a time too reflect my wrongdoings and so on ... but something bad happened to me today...

i lost my phones ... cell phones ... again!

the cellphones were charging when i left them, when i woke up this morning, there were gone! I thought i had misplaced the phones and put 'em in my bag, but i thought wrong! they were gone...including all my contacts and pictures of my nieces, the most valuable things in my phones.

the culprit, or culprits, used a long stick to fish out the phones from my house, how come i did not see that coming, especially when i've writen stories about it, i guessed i got careless, stupid of me!!!

on a Good Friday morning, i lost my two cell phones ... so the Holy-day was not a good day for me ... but I just wish that the lost would bring something good for me ...

well, for my friends out there, please send me your contacts, i appreciate that a lot

the little ones

2009-01-17T01:12:00.006+08:00

my reasons to balik kampung

and below, i present to you the latest bundle of joy, Cheryl Nadia Wong, borned on december 24, 2008, 3.18kg

and of course, above is the other apple of the eyes, Jasmine Natasha Wong, now 15-months-old

my pledges

2009-01-10T13:18:00.003+08:00

AS usual, i always make new resolutions for the new year, and often i fail to achieve them.

so last new year's eve, i made a difference, i did not make any ... i just thought life is so much simpler that way, i'm not tied down to promises i made for myself, it's just tiring

but, having said that, i did make some new-not-so-difficult pledges, it's just to amuse me i guess, to keep my feet on the ground

so things i must do are:-
- read at least several books i've been buying the last few years but never got the chance to read
- keep up with my diet regime
- save some money
- spend more time with my family

that's it (i guess), not too difficult...so, what's yours?

WRAP UP FOR 2008...

2009-01-10T13:13:00.005+08:00

This may came a little bit late, but it's still not that late ... so here it goes

TIME TO REFLECT 2008, WHAT DID I DO LAST YEAR?
- tried new things, met new people, make more money, made new friends (hopefully no enemies…), spent more time with families and friends
Stayed single almost the whole year?
- yeap. almost. may be
Done something you’ve regretted?
- yeap, plenty
Lost someone?
- kinda, may be yes, can't recall any
Cut class?
- what class??? mmmmmmmmmm, OMG, I think I forgot to write one story, ok two stories, actually more than that hehehe
Were involved in something you’ll never forget?
- yeap!
Visited a different country?
- nay, I wish I did
Cooked a gross meal?
- u lost me
Lost something important to you?
- i hope not, can't think of anything hmmmmmmmmm
Got a gift you adore?
- YES, definitely, I love it
Dyed your hair?
- after the funky blond, I think I’ll never dye my hair again, at least not that soon
Came close to losing your life?
- yeah, almost, fell asleep while driving but nothing major (and I was NOT drunk), tired ja la, but I hope it’ll never happen again, touchwood
Went to a party?
- honestly, hardly, except for birthdays and weddings, nothing to shout about
Read a great book?
- I tried but failed
Saw one of your favorite bands/artists live?
- nope

2008: FRIENDS AND ENEMIES
Did you meet any new friends this year?
- a lot
Did you dislike anyone?
- I don’t dislike people, I think they dislike me (haha) but there must be a very good and valid reason for me to dislike people, then again, dislike is so much better than hate…but I hope I don’t dislike anyone
Did you grow apart from anyone?
- yeah. i knew somehow it would end, i just didn't know that it would hurt that much, but i guess it's part and parcel of life, it's like a transition, life is superly unpredictable, right?
Do you have any regrets when it comes to your friendships?
- yeah, I just wish that things could be different, I love my friends and their ships too (haha), but I wish things were different

2008: YOUR BIRTHDAY!
Did you have a cake?
- nope…just lots of wishes
Did you get any presents?
- I don’t think so…sad

2008: ALL ABOUT YOU
Did you change at all this year?
- may be I did, I don’t know, ooooo ya, I did lose some of the KGs, so that’s totally an achievement, and i think i'm more mature (kinda)
Did you change your style?
- I stopped changing my style since time immemorial, since I realise that I should be saving than buying new cloths (ya right, I don’t see my $$$ multiplying either hehe)
Were you in school?
- nope, but I did send my mom to her school (for the record, she’s a teacher, not student)
Did you have a job?
- yup and is still loving it!
Did you drive?
- of course
Did you own a car?
- yes, I did
Did anyone close to you give birth?
- yesssssss…my sister Emmy Jane just gave birth to her second daughter Cheryl Nadia Wong on Dec 24, soooooo cute
Did you go on any vacations?
- no, except if balik kampung counts hehe
would you change anything about yourself now?
- this should not be asked at all. everyone wants to change something to make them better. less of a worrier, slimmer, healthier me, and more money, and in my case, probably kinder

2008: WRAP UP:
Was 2008 a good year?
- it’s definitely a turning point for me, I realised that there are so many opportunities out there, it’s just up to us to grab it, keep trying till u get it
- To wrap 2008…I’d say… : “full of drama!”
Do you think 2009 will top 2008?
- I hope so! There’s too many to achieve, too many to mention but I hope the new year brings a new start, wanna restructure, reinvent my life for the good of myself and my family, and yes my friends

(questions: courtesy of eurekabone – check the links)

a new beginning ...

2009-01-05T20:12:00.002+08:00

a new beginning...

something that i do not know how to begin.

i think i cannot begin something without reflecting the past, there are a lot to reflect, a lot to remember, a lot of mistakes to think about, a lot of uncertainties which have yet to be answered, a lot of sadness to ponder, a lot of fun times to cherish...

my 2008 was full of drama. as usual, the year began slowly, too slow actually, and yeah, too many memories to think about. but nothing beats december, i love the end of it ... indeed december was a good end for me and my family.

the first is our latest bundle of joy, my niece Cheryl Nadia Wong who was borned on December 24 at 4.45am, she looked like her now 14-months-old sister Jasmine Natasha, sebiji betul. i'll post their pix soon.

the other celebration was the welcoming of another new member into the family, my brother-in-law Lowrance Taisih, who tied-the-know with my second sister, Marianne Pamela, on December 30.

now, that's what i call double celebration. it was a good ending for 2008 and i'm wishing many more fun time this year and the years ahead ... i'm wishing everyone a good year ahead too, may God Bless us all always...AMEN.

Sabah...ooo Sabah...

2008-11-23T03:16:00.002+08:00

SABAH politics - always an interesting subject to talk about. It can be dull, it can be funny, it can be interesting, and it can be very tense.

when Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee decided to pull out of the Barisan Nasional coalition on Sept 17, 2008, all eyes were on this Sabah-based political party, everyone wants to know whether this party, which has been under the BN wing for 14 years will divert their struggle to helping the Pakatan Rakyat. They already announced their no confidence vote against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi ... so the only logical thing would be to join the opposition's fray. But of course, YTL has his own plan.

so on Nov 22, 2008, when he launched the SAPP Centre Putatan at Putatan Square, he announced that the party would not join the Pakatan Rakyat, but admitted to meeting Parti Keadilan Rakyat de facto leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, over breakfast.

when asked, YTL just told the media that they discussed on fuel prices, global economic turmoil, illegal immigrants and peace mission in Mindanao.

He shared DS DI's view that the Petroleum Agreement 1974 should be reviewed. "Why not, even the Federal Constitution is amended, so what's wrong with reviewing the oil royalty," he said.

YTL further commented: "Although the Chief Minister has announced that the State Government will not review the oil royalty, for us, it is not the end of the story ... we will fight to bring fairness for the people of Sabah."

The former Chief Minister also stressed that they will not join Pakatan Rakyat, simply because they do no want to refer or report to any other political parties outside Sabah, stressing that it defeats the whole purpose of having State autnomy, especially when the State is quite capable of making its own decision, managing its own financial ... after all, State autonomy is included in SAPP's eight points.

honestly, SAPP's struggle is noble. But time will tell on whether the party will remain firm with its stand. He said that com geneal elections, SAPP will be constructive and innovative with their relationshp with Pakatan Rakyat.

"Whether we are going to oppose or support the Pakatan Rakyat in the next general elections, we will be contructive and innovative with our relationship of the coalition. One thing for sure, we will not jeoparise our mision to have political autonomy for Sabah, Sabahans and other political party in the State," he explained.

for now, all we can do is to sit back and watch ... it is going to be an interesting experience ahead, I am sure of that!

growing up

2008-11-11T01:11:00.002+08:00

MY niece, Jasmine Natasha Wong, just turned one on Oct 30. She is getting naughtier every day ... or is it smarter, whichever, she will still be our little angel. I just hope that she'll grow as a nice person, smart and witty ... inheriting all my good qualities (ahhhakksss *chuckle*).

My mom told me the other day about Jasmine, she tried poking milk in a box with a straw, and I was imagining her little fingers struggling to poke the box ... she must have learned it from her parents. Then when my brother-in-law's mom stopped her, she struggled and crawled under the bed, so the poor grandmother had to go under the bed to pull this little creature out. Bahaya ni, kici-kici sudah licik, next time jadi spy hehe

I think I had a good childhood too. I used to climb trees, reading good books up on one of the branches, and later fall asleep (I still wonder how I manage to stay steady and did not fall), cycling with friends around kampung (growing up, I don't really have many girl friends, so I guess that explains my tomboyish attitude), I have my fair share of getting my parents pissed at me, my mom used to chase me around the house, and I normally beat her by hiding under the house, she can't catch me there hehehehehe ... jahat ooo if i think now, the pain I put her through, but yeah, wouldn't you run if you see rice cooker cable in her hands, sakit bah tu kena pukul, gila, siapalah mau mengaku kena pukul, suicide bah tu...

Looking back, my childhood was different from my sisters, but my parents were good at educating us, all equal. The difference with my time was the society, it was more peaceful then, but may be because I was not polluted with all this political agenda and complicated problems, all was just fine.

During my sisters' time, I was already in my upper secondary (it's eight years gap between me and my second sister), so the age difference was huge. I was more mature, so instead of getting scoldings from two adults, my younger siblings got more scoldings and get bullied by me (I have the power to bully and scold MUAHAHAHAHAHA) ... so the upbringing is different. I love being bossy to my younger siblings, and came this term in my family: "Don't pass orders" ... because I always pass orders to my younger siblings, bah kaki bully kan hehe

The point is, living as one big happy family is great, so, treasure the relationship well, don't ever let it slip away, love each other with great joy

By the way, Happy Belated Birthday Jasmine

November wind ...

2008-11-09T23:03:00.003+08:00

IT'S 46 days to Christmas ... i think, and already i'm excited. It'll be a great December for me this year, there'll be a wedding (my second sister, Marianne Pamela) and may be, a little newcomer (Emmy Jane's second baby) in the family.

My parents, of course, are extremely happy, it's double bonus for them, a new son-in-law and a baby ... funny how life changed in just within 11 months. I thought it would be a terrible year but everything turned out to be good, my life is so full of joy and laughter ... and I have to thank my family, and yes...friends who have always been there in my ups and downs.

However, i'm keeping my fingers crossed, I hope the sun will continue to shine on us all and guide us to better life ahead ...

Life...

2008-10-26T19:58:00.004+08:00

THERE are all kinds of lives in the world. It builds one's character. It makes life interesting. It makes the world go round.

The difference make people think, believe and want different things, they want to achieve different goals, they have different motives, and makes one face his or her problem differently.

I have come to term that my family may not be the best in the world, but we are what we are. My sisters and I are not the same, may be because of the age, the sense of responsibility, the interest.

(Little background here - I am the eldest of four girls. My father, Barnabas Sokial, is an ex-public relations officer and was attached to the Sabah Police Headquarters in Kepayan and my mom, Litty Jomboh Anthony, is a teacher with Sekolah Kebangsaan Kepayan. The second daughter in the family, Marianne Pamela, is attached to Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd, the third, Emmy Jane, is a policewoman in Keningau, while the youngest of us all, Stephanie Laura, is still studying)

This time around, we are blessed with the additional people in our family. My brother-in-laws Martin and Lowrance, my niece Jasmine Natasha and soon another Little Angel will come along. It makes the days merrier.

Honestly, it is not easy to be the eldest in the family, it's a lot of responsibilities, but it's not a burden at all. I'm prepared for anything. It's a lifetime 'contract'. I made a promise to my parents that I will take good care of my younger siblings and that is a promise I will treasure...even if it means sacrificing myself.

Well, I guess that's life. Although I'm not born into a perfect family, but this is my irreplacable family. I will not trade the very important people i.e my family, my life, or even my burden with anything.

appreciate and be appreciated

2008-10-18T00:54:00.003+08:00

I appreciate shapes. I appreciate colours. I appreciate sounds. I appreciate silence. I appreciate life.

Often we refuse to listen. Often we refuse to look. Often we refuse to speak. Often we take things for granted. Often we believe in something unbelievable, something impossible, something unacceptable.

Sometimes we forget to reflect. Sometimes we forget to look at our past. Sometimes we forget to look at ourselves.

Most of the time we demand appreciation. We want to be appreciated, and blame it to "human nature". But do you know how to appreciate. Do you actually stop and smell the roses, or any flowers, plants for that matter? Do you actually listen to the birds chirping in the morning? Do you understand why people think differently? Do you know why people are so obssessed with something that they refuse to accept other things?

I, honestly, can be very critical. I critic almost everything, cloths, shoes, bags, hair, nails, underwear ... it becomes an addiction. I often tell friends that it is an art, an art of observation, scrutinising every detail ... I get the kicks of looking at people's flaws, but I always forget to look at myself, I should ask myself: "am I perfect?"

But, of course, as fast as we could run, we cannot hide from the fact that we all like to look, listen and speak. May be criticising people is a way of appreciating them. They have made their point that their weirdness would draw attention, that's an achievement to their effort. I am sure, we made someone's day.

For one to be appreciated, one must first appreciate. Appreciation is earned ... just like respect. So the next time you see something nice, spare some time to appreciate it. Tell the one you love and your loved ones how much you love them. Thank your parents for their sacrifices and contribution, do it now while you still can ... I just did!

i'm happy, but...

2008-09-14T03:17:00.000+08:00

THIS is not another broken-hearted story. Well, ok, a little bit. Nothing sensitive. Nothing earth-shattering, just gladness that Chelsea actually won, beating Manchester City 3-1 ... no words can explain how happy I am at this very moment. It is just sad that the referee had to give John Terry a red card (stupid o kan!!!) ... and yes, I watched the game, and still up at this hour, nothing wrong mah for girls to watch football, lagipun i'm off today (Sunday).
It's also sad that MU lost to Liverpool 2-1 (yes, I watched the game too!), but Liverpool was playing amazingly. MU was just too ... how can I put this ... lazy? slow? over confident?
Can't wait for next week's match lah, it'll be so much fun ... except the fact that John Terry will not be around ... sedihnya!!!
Actually, another reason why I watched the two matches was to get my mind off the ISA issue used against a fellow journalist in Penang. It's such a 'black day for the media'. We, media friends from Sabah, staged a silent protest, some wore black t-shirts/shirts as requested, but all tied yellow ribbon on either the hand or bag or camera. We, reporters, have to stick together, in bad (not bed) or good. We have no one to turn too except to each other, so the phrase ' a friend in need, is a friend indeed' is aptly used in this sense.
Gee...I wonder how I got from football to this heart-breaking issue? Guess once a reporter, will always be a reporter, can't hide our feelings and the urge to write something controversial? exciting? news worthy? ... with the ISA watching us, I do not think there is freedom of speech anymore, so I guess 'they' all should also stop calling/preach for fair reporting, there is none already, we're force to write all good, and nothing but good stuff.
Unless you have a different opinion lah ... (would I get arrested for writting all this here?)

2008-09-02T15:33:00.000+08:00

my goodness, it's September, a month passed by without me realising it (except the day I turned a year older ... damn), it's ok, growing old gracefully (ya ya ya bla bla bla). I know I need to type something here but i'm blur right now, may be i'll come back later when i'm thinking straight (apa tidak, curi-curi use office internet, balik rumah no thrill bah pakai internet hehe)

just a thought ...

2008-07-11T23:30:00.000+08:00

I was told that if you pray hard, your wish will come true. I prayed (although not that hard) and yes, some of my dreams have came true. If I prayed harder, I believe God will answer all my prayers.

Life, in short, is simple. What makes it complicated? Well, I must say we ourselves make life difficult. We like the impossible and somehow it's too impossible that it's impossible to achieve (unless probably you are Tom Cruise and acting in Mission Impossible. I never like the movie, Tom Cruise looks stupid in that character!!!), but then again, that only happens in the movies, reality, not all mission is possible.

For one to reach one's goal/s, one will have to work hard (apart from praying), nothing comes easy nowadays, nothing comes for free. No pain, no gain ... of course, this is an overused phrase, but it's true. After 14 years in journalism, I realise that my work had taught me to be the person I am today, I am stronger, wiser and more mature. I have no regrets. I now can look back and be happy, I may not be the best journalist around, but I have improved a lot over the years.

But I could not do it without my mentor, my former Chief Editor during my Borneo Mail time, George Kanavathi, my current chief reporter Ripin Mintow at Borneo Post, and of course, my colleagues. My BIG, no no no HUGE is the word, thank you to them. Their guidance and patience had given me the inspiration to move forward, pushing me through the odds, making the impossibles possisble ... and ooooo my seniors, thank you, thank you and thank you ...

Honestly, there are goals to achieve and until then, I will not stop from trying.

new here ...

2008-07-10T23:35:00.000+08:00

as much as I hate to admit, this blog thingy is kinda new to me ... not that I don't know its existence but I, kinda, enjoy reading other people's blogs, may be because they can think of better things to write, or may be because their blogs are more interesting.

Lets put this simple, honestly, I do not know what to write, talk or discuss in this blog, may be someone out there who happens to come across my blog could contribute interesting issues for us to write or discuss.

I even surprised myself to even come up with this blog ... mmmmmmm ... funny huh??? But may be this is just another avenue for me to write something from nothing, does that make sense? But that's reality ... I am writing something base on nothing, well until I actually find something fun, interesting and worth writing, i'll come back to this blog. Until then, I still welcome anyone who wish to drop a few words and offer ideas