Its over

Finally I have completed my training. Manage to spend some time with the family over the weekend. My old friend Wengho dropped by on Monday with his son Brian. Brought the kids to the pool despite slight drizzle. The kids had a good time.

What a splash!





Yuejing and Brian


Yueyang

Tough time

WOW, its been months since I posted anything. Been so engrossed with my training, I lost track of time! Anyway, a small update. My third child will arrive end of MAY or early JUNE 08, Yippie! Siva became a dad in November. I have to aquire more space because of my third child. Hopefully I can start updating more often in weeks to come. I have join Facebook as well. Haha.

Selamat Hari Raya

Selamat Hari Raya to all muslim in Malaysia and outer space. I manage to visit an old friend Shaharin today. He is well and was with his wife. Found out that my other classmate Sivarajah is going to be a father soon. Congratulation to him. The rest of the gang were busy. Amin suppose to show up later at Shaharin's house, BoonKheng is busy and Wengho is flying.

Status QUO

I am doing ground school again for the next one month or two. My toasted Honda prelude's engine will have to wait a little while longer to be repaired.

Toasted

Bad day for me. My Honda prelude's engine is toasted. Somebody I paid to do an engine change few months ago did not reinstall the radiator hose back correctly. The day before yesterday while driving to Subang on Elite highway, the hose come off completely. I did not have any chance to slow down fast enough to save the engine. Now the car towed back to my empty house in Kajang awaiting my decision whether to replace the engine or repair it. Sigh! I have always wanted to try overhauling an engine myself, so I guess the opportunity present itself.

Murphy's Law

Few days ago after return from work, I got a phone call from the shipping Company advising me that my car from kuching has arrived. I was so happy looking forward to reuniting with my car. Waited for my wife to come back before we set off to pick up the car. On the way back to Seremban after picking up the car, the car started missfiring. Just after Sepang, the car stopped. Wrong time, wrong place. It was late already, so I decided to just the leave the car there and go back to rescue it the next day during daylight. Well, so much for a happy ending. Hopefully the car can be restored to its former beauty.

Practice Makes Perfect

Just got back from London yesterday night. Well, I am still suffering from jet lag that I hope I can overcome in coming weeks. I do feel much better in term of my preparation and performance during this flight. Hopefully I can maintain it. My training is over now, looking forward for more line flying. Yippie!

subtle deteriotion

One can never know how bad an event or situation can affect ones life. 11 months has gone by, I thought I could keep my good old self in shape physically and mentally. Its seem like mentally I am affected. Not that I noticed at all but slowly but surely I lost the competitive edge. I am losing part of the drive that makes me hungry for success. Going thru two aircraft conversion with interuption along the way wasnt helping at all. I only manage to log less than 50hours of flying in the last 12months as oppose to the normal 850 factorised hours. Must push myself really hard now.

Taste bud

I grew up pampered with good old homecook food, everything from Bachang to cheese cake to mooncake. All my aunties and my mum loves cooking. I used to bring food to school for my meal during recess time. All this has pampered my tastebud. Nowaday, whenever I buy food from outside, I get disappointed. For example, if I buy vegetable Pau I would compare it to my grandma's homemade. I hardly/never bought any mooncake from the store before. With all my auntie, grandma and mum growing old, I have to adapt. I have to learn to acquire the taste of mass produced food. The only way I can overcome it is by teaching my wife to cook! Guess I better learn it myself. Ah, the good old days! By the way, its Bachang month. Yippee!

Age

Normally one can hide ones age with make ups and clothing but one cannot lie to the body that it is still young. I gave my body the break it needed by opting for the F50 fleet which means no flying over the night. Last Thursday, I flew to London. Thats flying thru the night plus crossing a 7hrs difference in time zone. After a 24hrs rest, I flew back to Kuala Lumpur, again crossing a 7hrs difference in time zone. While in london, I felt tired at 5pm because its 12pm in Malaysia. My body is struggling to catch up with the time zone, before it reaches London time, I am on the way back to Malaysia. Back home in Malaysia, I sleep thru the day, waking up in the evening. Today, my body is still feeling the jet lag. I used to be able to recover within a day or less but till now, I still feel lethargic. Guess age is a big factor here, recovery rate slows down with age.

Lost Touch

You never know how much you lost touch with reality until you are back at work. This trip to London is really an eye opener for me. I haven't been flying for the past 11 month. So imagine the culture shock I have going to London. Never knew I would forget so much and lost so much working skill in 11 month. Very steep learning curve trying to regain the lost skill and knowledge. Feels like a novice again. Busy busy days ahead for me.

KUL - LHR

I am flying to London tonight. Its been 3years since I last flew there. So many things have changed. The procedure and entry requirement all have been updated. I wonder if I would feel like a stranger in a very familiar place. Well, atleast the pound sterling is still so expensive. Lets hope the weather going to be pleasant there, its summer time. There will be plenty of britney spears look a like at Hyde Park sun bathing.

Badminton

Since school days, I have always enjoy playing badminton with my schoolmates. After moving to Seremban, I manage to rekindle the passion for the game. Ever since I join the clubhouse near my house, I've been playing almost every alternate day sometimes even everyday. Unfortunately, age is catching up with me, gone are the days where I can still feel my arm and leg after three game in a row.

Penny wise, Pound foolish?

Last Monday I bought a brand new lawn mower. I figure if I pay someone to mow the lawn in 2years time it would cost the same as a brand new lawn mower. Since I have no idea whats the normal cut height is, I just assume the height that I like. Boy am I wrong, the grass is struggling to regrow now and I am left with big patches yellow and dying grass. So, is it penny wise pound foolish? Lets give the grass another week and see if I really mess up the lawn.

Semester Break

Oh boy, the school holiday is here once again. My wife is looking forward for this break. Its also time to do spring cleaning in the house. Didnt have plans to go anywhere yet, but will decide on the go I guess. Spending some times back in Kajang however is a sure thing. Hopefully can catch up with some old friends as well.

Another one?

Many years ago during one of my annual Chinese New Year gathering with my ex school mates, my dear friend Keatlim asked me when I am going to have a kid since I have been married for a year. I told him I am not ready yet citing a lot of reasons and he gave me one very interesting and mind changing reply. The jist of what he trying to tell me is, I may be now planning everything base on sure strike rate but what if few years down the road when I am ready to have a kid but my body or my wife's body is not? What if we cant concieved? What about things that you have no control over it? Well, I changed my mind from that moment and allow faith to take its course. Now I have two kids already, should I allow what faith has in for plan for me to go on and have another one or two more?

People Mover

Well, finally I have reached the junction where I have to decide whether I want to take the plunge to buy a MPV or continue to drive two car whenever there is a family outing. You see, I am very particular about my kids sitting on their booster seat with a seat belt on. At the moment my family have outgrown my Toyota Corolla. So, its either I remove the booster seats so that my parent can come along when we go out or we drives two car whenever we go out. I am trying to teach my kids about safety and instill good habits of putting on seatbelt whenever we travel in the car. Ah, choices! We are always being subjected to this type dilemma.

God's Gift

I have just visited my cousin sister who gave birth to a baby boy named the same name as my son! Well, the baby had jaundice and they were in and out of the hospital for weeks. I guess my cousin was not prepared for the challenged to take care of a baby. She looks tired but probably happy and proud. The baby have birth mark on both eye lids which the doctor says may go away once the boy reach one year old. I do pray it does. This makes me wonder, people says the newborn is God's gift to a parent. But why are there conditions attached. Some people give birth to perfectly healthy baby but some are not. Some baby are born with defects that will affect them for the rest of their life? How do we explain that? Is it something we do in the past(that might caught up with us)? Is it Gods way to teach us about life? I wonder?

Being A Father

When I was young and growing up, I always thought I would be able to to do a much better job as a father than my own father. I am a tinker man, so I presume I just followed the good habits that my father has, discard the not very good habits, add in some of my own good habits(atleast I thought is good) and I'll be a very good father. Unfortunately, things are not that easy. I have that bad temper that my father has but I am unable to control it as well as my father! I am unable to devote the amount of time to kids as I would like to due to my poor time management. So here I am, despite knowing the pitfall of all those bad habit and behaviour, I ended up practising it. I find myself looking at the mirror and see the monster that I am. Why is it so hard to be a father? Probably I approach fatherhood the wrong way. Sigh!

Gardening results

Over the last few months, I have tried planting flowers and plants too. Some of the roses are from Cameron Highland and the others are from my Aunt's. The rest of the plants are from donors including my parents, aunts and neighbours. Hopefully I can grow a bigger garden by year end. Of course this hobby is a JV with my wife lar. This is my first trying my hand in gardening.


OMG! The roses are blooming! I am so happy!


This is work in progress, will expand it.

Muffin anyone?

During my long break from work, I actually tried baking. Well, turn out to be ok.(Self praised) Not much effort needed actually, its premix. Just add water, eggs and soften butter. Pre heat the oven, then oven bake it for approx 20 to 25 min.

Add water, eggs and melt butter


After mixing it, its ready for oven


oven bake for 20 to 25 minutes


Done!

Back to work

After more than 8 months of ground time, my company finally decides that I have to go back to work. Hence the quiet blog for almost a month. I have been under going recurrent training for the past three weeks. I will try and keep this blog going.

F1 weekend

First time in years I finally manage to watch the race live from the grandstand. For many years I been watching it from the hill stand(cheaper mah). The experience is slightly different. By the end of the race, I was having neck pain from chasing the car accelerating from the last corner thru the main straight. I am so much closer to the car and the sound of the F1 engine was fantastic. For those who watch F1, too bad Ferrari lost the first corner and hence the race. Lets hope they will recover and win the WDC and WCC(yes, I am a Ferrari fan). I find that the circuit is not maintained well. There is sign of ageing and poor maintainance even on the grandstand. I hope Bernie Ecclestone do not pull the plug on Malaysia Grandprix because if he does, we Malaysian will lose the chance the watch F1 live with cheaper tickets. Although the ticket is cheap, the food and beverages is not. A set of hotdog, dessert and drink cost RM25. A can of beer is RM 16 and a can of softdrink is RM5. I guess if the fans are willing to pay RM410 for a F1 Tee shirt, what is RM25?

Avid Ferrari fans...


The Bendera Girls


Felipe Massa lining up on the grid


Few minutes before race starts


During the race, Kimi is chasing Hamilton


Podium champagne spray(sorry poor pic)

Watering the lawn

Its been 8 months since I last go to work hence the title. I have been watering my lawn for months.Yes, Thats what I have been doing. My neighbour, my children's teachers, my parents and almost all my close friends and relatives are worried. They kept asking when am I going back to work. I dont know really, I am still getting paid basic salary but my company is not interested in giving me something to do?!

The plus point that I can see is that I get to send and pick up my kids to and from school since Jan07. I get to see them grow up. I have also taken over the house job ie I am now a house husband. I cook, clean the house, get the kids ready for school and wait for my wife to come back from work. I learn to plant flowers and appreciate plants. I lead a healthier life too, get to exercise almost everyday. Life is full of UPs and DOWNs. What people perceived as DOWN can be UP for me. I have learned to look at everything in a positive way. Nothing is impossible in life and its only impossible when we want it to be.

Days out at Sepang F1 Circuit

All the F1 teams(actually one team didnt show up) came to Sepang for a three days test which was further extended to four days total. The Sepang F1 Track was open to the public. Public get to view the team testing from the grandstand. Wohoo! I brought the whole family there to let them experience the sights and sounds of a Formula1 car. I know I enjoyed it, hopefully my wife and kids does as well.

Super Aguri's pits


Getting an earful


Too fast for my camera


My colleagues and family came along


One for the family album

Till next year!

CNY Little Gathering

During this CNY, I have meet up with my ex colleagues who left Malaysia to join another company in the Middle East. These were my batchmates during my initial training with my current company. How time flies, as its been more than 10 years and the photo are our children. If things doesnt improves here, I might have to leave as well to join them in the sandpit.

Firefly?

Yesterday I had a meeting with my employer regarding a project called the FIREFLY. Unfortunately after two hours of Q and A, they have decided that I play no parts in the new project. What? After two hours! Now, I am back to nowhere and have to wait at home for further news from company. Another hurdle in my life I guess. Well, I guess I'll go scan more old photos then .

The real firefly.

Before hormones causes havoc

Ok, as requested by crazyhorsechief, picture below was taken 5 years earlier than the photo posted before hence the title. Not all ends up in the same class five years later, some went to other secondary school. I believe most are successful in life and whatever field they are working on.

My cute old schoolmates before puberty :P

CNY celebration

Every year I look forward to this auspicious celebration. It begins few days before(sometimes a month before) where we do spring cleaning and redecorate the house for a brand new year. On the eves of CNY, we have family reunion dinner. For my family, that follows a visit to the buddhist temple before returning home for the final countdown and the reception ceremony for the GOD of WEALTH. The first day of CNY, we the children wakes up early to greet our parent and serve them tea. The first outing of the day would be a visit to an old school mates house where most of my other old school mates will turn up as well. This year, it is more significant because I have not been working for almost six month in total. Part of me long for those school days where we are carefree. The thought of seeing my old friends and being able to chit chat with them can really melt away a lot of unhappiness, which it did. Unfortunately this year, the crowd is smaller albeit still significant for me.

These are my handsome old school mate :)

Transformers:Starscream

Starscream, a F15 Transformers from the Decepticon faction. The bad guy that everybody loves to hate. Dont know why, but I like the character. Started watching the Transformers cartoon in mid 1980s. Never left my mind, probably because I am still holding on to my childhood.