My new toys

After a long hiatus (have been very busy after retirement), I think I just have to update this blog as I think it is an important event in our life! Believe it or not, we bought a low end smartphone. Nothing to sing about as compared to those having a thousand ringgit iPhone 6, etc, this is just a humble RedMi 1S 8GB costing just over RM400 from Lazada. The idea is to be able to access Wifi and I think Maxis or whoever will probably be disappointed if I tell them that I have no intention to purchase their "packages" yet unless there is a very good reason for me to do so. Everything need to be cost justified before subscribing or buying.

 So, this is the phone, so called smartphone!

And these are the well used phones we currently use... we called this sweating the asset! Actually the HP is a smartphone from the yesteryear!

In addition to smartphone, we also bought some cubes from China. The two younger boys wanted to challenge each other!

Mangoes and mangoes

In Miri, many households have mangoes. For some reason, mangoes grow very well in the soil here. This year, we have quite a few mangoes, although I wish I could have more.

 Due to the size of the tree, we normally wait for the mangoes to drop. Also, there are so many leaves that we can't even see where are the mangoes. So, if we let the mangoes drop from the tree, ...

 ... the fruits are always badly bruised. With fruits like this, we don't even dare to give them away! Anyway, how do you cut mangoes and gui nin (local mango)? You notice that I cut it along the seed...

 ... and then use a spoon to scoop out the soft flesh, No mess and clean. Literally untouched by hand...

 ... and the cut is clean. But remember to use a spoon that is rather flat and thin. Ok, the ugly part of this mango business is the pests! Birds and rats loves them. I would say that they ate to their fill and the remainder is left for the human....

 ... this is common sight. A real pity! Whatever, God always provide enough. This year will be a bumper crop...

... Literally hundreds of them drop off and there are a lot more on the tree. Forgot to mention that the tree has lots of fire ant and therefore it is not practical for me to climb the tree. Beside, it is also dangerous to climb this tree.

A Merry Christmas to you all

We wish everyone a merry and blessed Christmas and a happy new year. May you be blessed throughout 2012!

Don't forget to drop in at the church to celebrate the birth of Christ on Christmas day.

He baked his first cheese tart

After observing and helping Janice making cheese tart, Timothy finally got his hand on baking the first successful cheese tart. They tasted good and unfortunately, I cannot eat many as they are simply too rich!

Well done, Timothy. I am happy that he enjoyed baking and now I can relax and enjoy whatever they bake.

Anything for sale...

We caught a very cute looking rhino beetle that other day. This fellow is double horned and according to Ah Jon, he thought that the single horn type is more rare. But whatever...

... Joshua thinks that anything is saleable and it all depend on salesmanship! He told us that he will sell this beetle for RM5! I thought that he was joking as no one will be interested in a beetle, what more for RM5! So, on Monday morning he packed it in a box and brought it to school. He not only sold it for RM5 he also got a deal to be the keeper for RM1 a day!
So, is there a better salesman out there who can beat him? He is not even 13. I think his next target is to catch nice grasshopper, which he think should be able to sell for 50 cents!

My new toy

ok, my new toy is not a new camera or photographic equipment but rather a trimmer set. I have been cutting my children hair for a long time and decided that I need to be able to do thing faster...

... So, this new set of Remington trimmer should do the job. It is super sharp and can cut down trimming time by half. However, being a first timer in using this tool, the cut is nowhere near to perfect. In another month time, I have two more guinea pigs to sharpen my skill.
I found that it is very good for cutting people with thick hair.

Good bye, rabbit

It was many months ago when I noticed that our rabbit did not gain weight even though he ate none stop! However, he had been eating normally until two weeks ago when he suddenly became very weak and could not even stand on his four feet. 

I knew something serious was happening to him. Over the last four days, he lost his appetite and ate very little. Yesterday, he hardly ate anything. But he remain high in spirit. This morning, we found him dead...
We already started to miss him...
... every time I see his empty cage.
Sad... I don't think we are going to keep another rabbit. Good bye rabbit!

feng shui 風水 Geomancy

I checked google translation and found that feng shui is translated to 風水 but not geomancy! So, are they the same thing? Anyway, that is not my concern.
Speaking very generally as they were sayings from my late parents:

1. Do not block the front of your house, especially your main entrance, it must be clear. 
2. Road must not "point" straight into the main entrance of the house; 
3. Pointed roof or whatever is not good; 
4. Kitchen must not face the entrance of another house; 
5. Main entrance must not point to a road leading to another house; 
6. Don't give away your own cooking utensils; etc... 

All this have to do with "wealth" and "fortune". Looking at ...

... this angle (from a house), it was envisaged that the good fortune might flow from one house to the other house (ie, if the saying is true)? So, to stop it, barrier must be built, eg, a tree could be planted (see picture above) or a wall could be built!
I know one thing for sure... talking across the fence is now not possible!
... Life is so interesting!

My UK Trip

I will place my photos on the facebook for my UK trip. Just click here.

 RBA Boeing 777-200

 I amuse myself in the long trip

Sunrise from the sky 

View from Stephanie's Apartment

Thanks to everyone

Many thanks to everyone who sent birthday messages to my facebook. For some, we have never met and for many, your messages reminded me of our friendship even though we seldom meet in person.

Here is a slice of virtual cake for you... again many thanks and may God bless you abundantly!

At last after all these years...

Time really flies. After five long years of studying, these three girls finally passed all their exams.

Stephanie did it last year and is now working as a FY1 (Foundation Year 1) doctor in Hudderfields and she will move on to FY2 at St' James Hospital in Leeds in August this year.
From the preliminary results Janice and Esther passed their exam this year. In fact, their final exam was only last week. These ang moh really do thing fast!
Esther and Janice will work as the FY1 doctors together in Hull in August.
Thanks for all your prayer. Praise the Lord! Amen!

After 30 long years ...

Time really flies! I have been working here for just under 30 years and was officially "retired" on 16 March 2011! Ok, retire from the job but probably I will do something else. I have many options:
1. Pursue my interest in photography
2. Open an IT shop offering services where my son Jon is an expert
3. Go into food processing
4. IT consultancy
5. Look for a job
I know that many will ask me to take it easy and enjoy life. Unfortunately, I can't do that. Life must go on and I have to make myself useful. In just two days after the so called retirement, I have flu already!

Everyone has something ...

After six weeks of holiday in Europe, Ah Jon finally returned last night. The two younger brothers were eagerly awaiting for his return because the sisters and Ah Jon promised goodies for them. The three sisters sponsored all the expenses for his brother to visit UK, Paris and Barcelona. After the trip, they are now quite broke!
The younger brothers actually provided a shopping list! Hearing that the baggage was 25kg, Timothy thought that we should empty one of the fridges to stored all the goodies!

The girls bought two duck feather pillows for 10 pounds. We have been thinking of buying such a pillow for a long time but can't get to buy them as they are too expensive here.

Joshua finally got his magic set after pestering the sisters for two years! ...

... the sisters also gave him a piggy bank to save his money as Joshua seems to enjoy spending every cent he has. Oh, Jos is still reading the manual on how to play the magic!

I think Timothy was so obsessed with this colour set that he talk about it everyday. He was trilled to see them!

ok.... instead of wasting their time on TV and computer, they now have this peculiar master puzzle to solve!

Being health conscious, they bought this small bag of pears for the mum! ...

... and this lot of goodies for the brothers.

They didn't forget about me. Knowing that I do a lot of cooking, they bought this gadget for me to handle hot plate, etc from the oven. This mitten can withstand up to 300 deg C.  At first I thought this is something for me to exercise my fingers.

... and finally this bag of jelly for the boys.
Thanks to all the sisters from everyone at home. You have all been very thoughtful and we like everything you all bought.

My Gall Bladder Stone

Just in case you don't know how stones in our body looks like, here is a sample of my gall bladder stone.

To my surprise, they are solid stone! I soaked them in water for a week and nothing change. When taken out through the key hole, they need to be crashed first.
Many people suggested that I should use natural method to expel them. I tried but didn't work. Now I realised that it is not easy to remove solid stones. Beside they are huge. And the bile duct is simply too small for any stone to pass through.

They were in Barcelona

Esther, Janice and Ah Jon went to Barcelona for holiday recently (2-6 Jan 2011). After seeing the photos, I think I also wanted to go.

In Barcelona outside of Sagrada

They have more sushi party! More pictures can be viewed here.

Christmas celebration in UK

When I was studying in UK some 35 years ago, Christmas means working to earn extra income. To the local people, it means a time for holidays and break from work. So, during Christmas, everywhere is closed.

... it is also a time for celebration and feasting! No wonder, my children in UK also celebrate.

The so called fine dining was unheard of during my time. But now, they are doing it every now and then. To see more photos, click here.

Old thing new use

At one time, many people had aquarium  at home. If they are like myself, this hobby didn't last for too long as it was very frustrating and not as easy as it seem. However, if one is successful in keeping those fish, it can be very rewarding. I think the major failure is the "know how". The people selling pet fish concentrate on selling but not on education. So soon, the hobby dies and so is their business.

Anyway, I found a good use to the old aquarium. I fill it up with some soil, add water, got some lily and "planted" them in there. After a few days, I bought some of the cheapest fish I could find and put them in. Then my son went to the monsoon drain and brought back more tiny fries. Add the two together and today, this little aquarium is full of fishes.
Little maintenance is required, no pump, no filtration, hardly any food is given as I think I have created a natural eco system for them to survive. I found that my dogs also drink from the tank and I topped it up all the time with rain water.

Ah Jon and Snow

This year the snow came early in Europe. So Ah Jon is lucky to see and feel snow so early.

He said that it was soft like ice on cendol. Actually, snow is far softer and cleaner. In fact snow is form from pure water.

My Experience with Gall Stone

(Some gross looking photos at the end.)
Many people asked me how I came to know about my gall bladder stone. Well, it was found during a medical checkup and the doctor did an ultrasound scan on my abdomen. He told me that I had big stones in my gall bladder.
The news shocked me because I felt no pain or any abnormality. Not satisfied, I went to another doctor for a confirmation and he said the same. So what were my options to get the stones out? I read about flushing the stone out naturally. I consulted the doctors and they all said that the natural method will not work and surgery is the only way. They also explained that when they scanned the patient who claimed that the stones were excreted, they found the stones were still there. The doctor explained to me why the natural method would not work because the bile duct is too small and whatever taken orally does not pass through the bile duct. When I went to KL, I asked the doctor there again. He told me that one guy tried for a year and it didn't work. (To be fair to those who wanted to try the natural method, please do go ahead. However, after trying, do go back to the doctor to have it scanned to ensure that the stones are no more there.)
Ok, my fate was sealed...operation was needed.
I had to go through a battery of tests before I could be operated on... blood test, ECG, chest x-ray, ultrasound of the lower abdomen. I was also asked a standard set of questions. I need to be hospitalised the night before the operation.
At about 8:00AM, 1st Dec 2010, I was asked to put on one of those clothing with opening along the back. A drip was attached to me. Then I needed to lie on the “trolley” to be pushed to the operation theater. I was given an injection at the door to the operation theater and was told that I would feel “blur”. When I was pushed in, I saw the lights above me. I couldn’t remember anything after that until I woke up at 1:00PM. The nurses came very often to offer me pain killer and took my pulse and blood pressure. The lowest pulse rate was 50 upon awakening and this increased gradually. Blood pressure was also very low at the beginning. At one point, the nurse couldn’t even find my pulse!
I was later told by doctor in Miri that I was given an injection to relax my muscles. No wonder I was told that a tube would be put through my mouth to help me breathe during the procedure. The whole operation took only 35 minutes.
The large stones need to be crushed before it could be removed through the small incision on my belly button.
Thanks God that everything went through smoothly. It happened so fast that I didn’t even had time to inform anyone about the timing of the operation. Four keyholes, two about 5mm and one each about 10mm and 15mm were made on me for this procedure. I was told that due to the size of the stones, a major incison would have been made to remove the stone at other hospitals.

The gall bladder which was filled with stones.

Gall bladder duct was clipped and then snipped. I now have 4 tiny clips in my body.

Process of removing the gall bladder which was attached to the liver by membrane and fat. A burning tool was used to remove the tissues (circle) and you can even see the "white sparking flame" at the hook.

From the video, I now know one thing... I have too much visceral fat which can cause the blocking of my artery leading to heart attack. I need to do exercise from now on.

Footnote: I have no idea why I have gall stone. However, I knew of a few cases, coincidence or not, all of us took calcium suppliment when we were young. Gall stone can be formed from calcium or cholesterol deposit.

They Pampered Him!

Stephanie, my second daughter, bought another huge fresh salmon to make all these...

... to welcome Ah Jon's visit to Leeds during the weekend. They invited 11 lucky friends over to feast on the sushi meal.

See the amount of sushi she made!
Ah Jon seems to enjoy this pampering and attention.