Finally Found The Time...

Its been nearly 3 months since my last post. Wow I cant believe its been that long. A lot has happen since then. Let me give you guys an update on happenings in my life, lets start with August.
Well it started as a quiet month, then suddenly erupted, as HP confirmed the acquisition of EDS (the company I’m working for). Well I know the feeling of being bought/out-sourced. Insecurity 'griped', as I did read of the job cuts when HP bought Compaq. Well, so far I’m still here. I was thinking of switching jobs but after considering the options(shift work), I decided to stay and see the developments in EDS,(now) an HP company. On the lighter side I went shopping (cant remember when was the last time I went shopping) for my Cousin sisters upcoming wedding in September.
In September the shopping continued as size is a problem for me especially for pants(length) or shoes . But just 1 week before the wedding, my car got broken into, I came out of the futsal court to find my rear passenger seat window smashed, back seat pulled down, and my company laptop along with my beloved Canon Camera gone L. Haih, there goes my plan to take loads of pictures for the wedding. Well, on the brighter side I got a new laptop, still miss my camera though. Well to start about the wedding, my sister(she’s my cousin sister but she is more like a sister to me then a cousin) married a Telegu guy named Kumar, nice guy, someone I wish she’d find as a husband (I got my wish J). This wedding was unique, it was a multi cultural wedding, it started a week before the Punjabi wedding, we had a Telegu wedding. I was chosen by my sister to become the “Mapalai Tholen”, which is a brother from the girls side who accompanies the groom, I did not know what to do, so did Kumar, we just followed what the priest said. The Telegu wedding went on without a glitch.
Finally the Punjabi wedding weekend came, my Uncle and family rented out a bungalow in Old Klang Road, “The Hideaway”, and the place fits the name, it was nicely tucked away in a quiet corner of a housing area. The bungalow was beautifully decorated. I wish I had my camera so that I can post some pictures along with the blog. Well a Punjabi wedding is like an on-going party, it started on a Thursday night, called the “Sangeet Night” (Singing night), where only ladies are allowed in the house, where they sing praises and also criticism to each other. While all the ladies are inside, the men gather outside at the Bar. The one thing that never runs out at a Punjabi wedding is Booze. Once the Sangeet is done, the Groom’s side arrives, and they are greeted by the sound of the Dhol (Punjabi drum). Then the party starts, not before dinner is served of course. I myself, drank and danced. In my drunkenness I managed to balance a glass on my head and dance, which of course I regretted doing the next day, when I sobered up. The following day was the “Mayan Ceremony”, Oil ceremony, where the bride is bathed with yogurt, tamarind and baby oil. It is said that is helps to bring out the beauty of a person. The yogurt, tamarind and oil is applied on the bride’s arms and face by her aunties and sisters while the brothers stand on four corners holding a red cloth high over her head. Once that is over, the bride goes for a well deserved shower. The next ceremony is the “Mitthay Chaul” which is sweet rice being fed between the bride and her sisters. That is followed by the Churi Ceremony, where the Father, Uncle’s and brothers put on the wedding bangle’s for the bride and she has to wear that for 60 days if I’m not mistaken. That ended the ceremonies for Friday, the rest of the day, we just rested.
As the sun rose over the OUG hill, I realised that the day had come, where my sister is getting married, a sense of sadness gripped upon me as I was getting ready. I just hugged Kiren when I saw her in the wedding outfit, she looked so beautiful, I was already holding my tears back. Well, I was given the task to drive the bride to the temple. We reached the temple and waited in the car for the groom to alight to the “Durbar Sahib” which is the Prayer floor. As the bride and groom are not suppose to see each before they enter the prayer floor. Once the groom alighted, I opened the door to let my sister out, that is my final task for now. We gathered at the entrance, Bride’s maid, which was my little cousin sister Manisha, led the way, followed by the bride and the four of her brothers. The wedding ceremony followed. Once it finished, we congratulated the Groom and his family. Lunched was served, but we the girl’s side were busy entertaining guest, passing out ladoo (traditional sweet) which is passed to guest as a sign of appreciation for attending the wedding. Once the bride and groom left, for their photo shoot, we rushed back to “the hideaway” to prepare for the “Thorna Ceremony” which is when the bride is “given” the blessing to leave her house with her husband. This is also known as the crying ceremony to many. Well as much as I held my tears back in the morning, I could not hold it much longer as I saw Kiren hugging everyone and crying, I hugged her and tears automatically followed. Once the bride and groom sat in the car, the girl’s side, especially the brothers will push the wedding car as if to say, go with happiness. It started to drizzle a little when we were about to push the car, I heard an old lady saying this is a very good sign, it’s a sign of happiness and prosperity. I just smiled.
The “Thorna Ceremony” is done. Most of us took a quick nap once the guest left, including me, as we still have a Boy’s side dinner to attend. Dinner was held in a Golf Club (cant remember the name) in Shah Alam. The dinner was a blast, the performances was great, and we danced till midnight. It was nearly 2am when we got home. Exhausted, I did not even mange to get out of my outfit and slept in it.
Well that marked the end of a wedding to remember, and my September. I took leave the next 2 days to recover from the exhaustion. Wow, I wrote a lot about the wedding huh? J. Well it was the highlight of the month.
Well in this month, I had like a post wedding dinner with Kiren, Kumar and Lin. Kiren birthday party was a blast at Waikiki’s PJ. We had fun meeting up with Kumar’s side of the family again and partying. But the events that I’ll remember October by is my first real date after more than a year. Wow, again, I cant believe myself it has been a year since I went on a date. And also the resignation of two of my direct reports, well now I have a hiring headache again and also, my life is going back to all work, as I have to cover for the two who left… haih…
Hopefully I get someone in by end of November, I’m not going to have a proper social life until then, as I’m on-call on weekends... Hopefully I can pull out some time to blog again soon..

My Mini Holiday…

It’s been awhile since my last post, yours truly has been busy as a bee. Work has been taking a big chunk out of me. I was really exhausted until the extend I used to ask myself when I wake up, do I really need to go work today. It was bad, working 12 hrs, working weekends. I was running low, until the extend, I decided, I cant take anymore of 12 hrs work each day, I needed a mini holiday… And I took one, been missing Penang a lot, its actually been like 3 years since I actually had more than a day visit to the island, so I decided, why not visit old friends, relive those care free semester start college days.
Flew there last weekend and had the time of my life, food was great as always. Nasi Kandar in Rafi and Shauban, reminded me why I don’t eat nasi kandar in KL at all. The Nasi Kandar in KL sucks big time, the closest I have got to Penang food was not in a nasi kandar shop but in a byrani shop in Taman Tun. I also had a visit to Gurney Drive’s (its beside gurney plaza) hawker stalls, where I use to have my dinner during the 3 years I was in Penang. Also managed to have lunch in the small Thai restaurant opposite Sheraton Hotel where I took my best budz Kelvin, Reena and Khairul when we went on our day trip to Penang. Each time I ate, I stuffed myself. Im on a diet now.
Meeting up with all my old mates was great, me and Dennis had great time playing Battlefield and Counter Strike. We used to do that a lot after classes a few years back. Had drinks with Lucas Ah Bai and a few others. Mange to catch up with them, most of them work in different ends of the island and don’t meet often, so it was a good opportunity for all.
I was able to let loose and let go of all the stress work and life brings. For the 4 days, I was in Penang, I felt free as a bird. Doing as I like, with no care of time, it felt good.
I would suggest a mini holiday to everyone, revisit the place that you miss. Hometown, the town/city you studied, a holiday location you really liked, just take a few days off work, and go. Life is too short to live in constant stress. Break free and enjoy life for abit!

Home

Dont we all love and miss our hometowns? Especially now when we are far away from home, i wrote the poem below, when i missed Taiping the most.

Home is where i long to be,
A serene place up north,
Where life goes slow and easy,
Friends stop by,
Spend more than a minute to say hi,
A cozy small town,
That bears peace as its naming crown,
A small town up in the hills,
Thats the place where i call home,
Taiping.




Thanks to reena for asking me to post this. :)

Random Acts Of Heroic Love

Love inspires. It does wonders even when someone is facing a difficult patch in life in this case, losing someone you love, someone you want to spend a lifetime with. Most of us have never been through this and most of us never will, at least not at a young age (We should thank God for that). Losing someone you love is unbearable as I found out in Danny Scheinmann’s novel : Random Acts Of Heroic Love, which comprises of two stories with a real twist. I feel it is one of the best novels I have read so far. Especially like the the way Leo Deakin looses his girl friend in the first story and the way he never could get her off his thoughts, was exceptional for me. I felt myself living the character while I was turning the pages of the novel, feeling Leo’s pain, his despair, his love for Eleni. I was not sure whether it is an interesting story or not when I started reading it, but from the end of the first page I was hooked and now when I finished it, I am not having any regrets. The second story is about Moritz Daniecki who fights with the opposing conditions in the prison of Russians and travel by foot for nearly 3 years just to meet Lotte the love of his life. I was also not expecting so many twists in the story which gave me wonderful surprises at times.
Random Acts Of Heroic Love is a must read, its full of real life struggle and inspiration. I cant wait for Danny Scheinmann’s next release. Do check his websit out www.dannyscheinmann.com

United: Kings Of Europe

Follow...Follow...Follow... Man Utd's going to Moscow..!

I was overjoyed, jumping like an insane man, when Van Der Sar saved Anelka’s penalty. Again I wished I was at the Luzhniki Staduim to witness The Great Manchester United lift the Champions League Cup for the 3rd time. Watching it on the tube was not enough. I’m going to start saving to watch a final, wether it be the FA Cup, League Cup or the Champions League. I’m definitely going to be there, hopefully I can do it by the end of next season. It’s a must for a United fan to sing, drink, and cheer while watching their team from the tier in a Cup Final or in Old Trafford. All I can do for now is rejoice and sing , we are champion, champions of Europe!

Champions!!

Manchester United have clinched the BPL title again! A great feeling swept over me when i saw Ronaldo slot in the penalty and when Giggs gave a nice low drive to beat Chris Kirkland, to win Man Utd the League title and to mark his record equalling appearance. At the final whistle, i saw Sir Alex jumping in joy, that was a sight to see.
Such a memorable day, i was overjoyed as i watched the whole team celebrate the title, i had only one wish in my heart at that moment, which was to be at the JJB stadium to celebrate with the fans and team, but alas here i am sitting in front of the tube.
As much as they celebrated the team knows, the job was half done. One more win is needed to sign off another great season. Man Utd vs Chelsea, the Champions League Final in Moscow. I'll definately be sacrificing my sleep for that match.

The Stamford Bridge Hiccup

Being in the contendment of the treble before Portsmouth stripped Manchester United fan of another memorable treble. Then the double beckoned, a win over Liverpool, a win over Arsenal meant that Man Utd needed a win in Stamford Bridge to wrap up the BPL title and work on the Champions Leauge. Sir Alex decided to start without Ronaldo and Tevez. Nani, Anderson and Fletcher started instead. Chelsea pushed into top gear from the start, with Drogba, Kalou and Joe Cole leading the attack. Man Utd defended well enough to escape conceding a goal for 45 minutes but just as the announcement came for stoppage time, Ballack hit a well placed header into the left of Van Der Sar's post from a nice pass crafted by Drogba.
The second half begin like the first half did with Chelsea did the early running, but this time Man Utd did arrange attacks as they pushed for an equalizer, and it did come as Ricardo Carlvalho's blunder gave Wayne Rooney a perfect one on one chance and the English striker did manage to put this one into the goal, unlike many other one on one's he had this season. But this match was far from over. Chelsea was determind to get another goal to bring them level on points with Man Utd, and they eventually did as the linesman gifted a undeserved penalty againts Carrick as he tried to block Essien's cross into the box. The English FA should review the gray area in the ball to hand decisions in the modern game today. Ballack took the responsibility of the penalty and converted it, to the joy of the Blue fans that packed Stamford Bridge. The fight for the BPL title carries on.

Gunners gunned down

Title deciding match number 1. Manchester United Vs Arsenal. Arsenal are hoping to keep their title dreams alive by beating Manchester United at Old Trafford, but Old Trafford is Manchester United's fortress, only a hand full of teams will be able to steal points from United at home. The starting line-up suggested that it would be a full attacking match, but when the match started it was Arsenal with the most attacks with United trying to get a momentum for attacks. First Adebayor's run was halted by Rio Ferdinand on the edge of the area and Fabregas hit a powerful drive just over Van Der Sar's post from a ball that was gifted by Wes Brown. United's first crack at goal was Cristiano Ronaldo's free kick which hit the wall.Ferdinand was again called upon to block an Adebayor effort and another attempt from Gilberto was stopped when the second of two Arsenal corners in quick succession was punched less than convincingly by Edwin van der Sar. The Dutchman did better on the deck when Adebayor next threatened, diving to his right to hold a low shot.

With all Arsenal attacks, United manage to hit them on the break, when Ronaldo beat Song on the byline and pulled the ball back to Rooney who was 3-4 yards out but Rooney shot was saved by Lehmann's legs. There was a couple of missed hits from Arsenal with Adebayor and Gilberto missing. It was open season for shooting, with Arsenal’s lack of accuracy perhaps the saving grace for some generous defending on United’s part. Even when Adebayor’s albeit tame shot was on target after being put through by Hleb, van der Sar claimed it. It was a nervous second for United's Stretford End when they saw Adebayor through, but thankfully Van Der Sar saved it.

In the second half the awaited goals came. Arsenal was the first to struck, Adebayor met van Persie’s left-wing cross to give Arsenal the lead from close range. It appeared at first glance to be a clean header but TV replays suggested the ball went in off the striker's arm. United was fast to respond when Ronaldo hit a penalty 6 minutes later after Gallas's hand ball in the box. The celebration roar was deafening. Sir Alex made a double substitution, on came Tevez and Anderson to replace Park and Scholes. Both of them contributed to the game immediately, Anderson was scythed down which earned Adebayor a yellow card and Tevez had a bullet of a shot that just went past the post, if it would have hit the back of the net what a goal it would have been.

United nearly embarrassed themselfs, twice, once by Brown when he deflected Clichy's effort on to the post and the second was from Ferdinand who has Van Der Sar to thank for the safe he made. But these near embarrassments were all forgotten when Hargreaves struct a beautiful free kick to put United .

Arsenal tried in vain to keep their title hopes alive when they brought on Bendtner who had one header saved by Van Der Sar and another that hit the post. But Manchester United held on the lead to collect all 3 points and to end Arsenal's title dreams.

And it was a great news on the following day when Wigan held Chelsea to a 1-1 draw, with Hasselbaink scoring in injury time to secure a point for Wigan and to give Manchester United a 5 point gap. Next big match Chelsea vs Manchester United.

ManUtd playing like champions again

Nothing is more sweet to a Manchester United Fan than winning a derby match or beating Liverpool. Well for this year ManUtd did not manage to beat ManCity, which is a piercing pain to the heart of everyone associated with the club, fans, players and staff alike. Especially when it was the Anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster. I remember that match clearly, when the second goal went it, I felt the piercing pain. I asked, why this year, why today. A sad day indeed.
But being a supporter for United all my life and knowing Fergie’s hair drying techniques, I know they were bound to rebound. And then it came, the demolition of Arsenal. That was a sweet victory. But not as sweet as beating the “Magpies” 5-1, United away fans were cheering, “there’s only one United” all through the second half.
Then came the Super Sunday matches ManUtd Vs Liverpool and Arsenal Vs Chelsea. It was said it is one of the title deciding matches, with ManUtd leading the table by 3 points. Chelsea were also within a shout. It was all to play for. The first match was played at Old Trafford, the home of the Champions. Manchester United were the superior team in the 1st half, but with a string a chances put to waste. I was hoping that it was not going to be one of those days which has clouded United’s campaign this year And when Wesley Brown finally nodded in the opening goal, I blew a sigh of relive.
In a big game like this there is always controversy, the first spark was the mistimed tackle by Jamie Carragher on Wayne Rooney. Rooney professionally stayed on his feet only to shoot but it was saved by the lively Pepe Reina. Second was Javier Mascherano’s booking for the silly foul on Paul Scholes. Next to be booked was Fernando Torres for dissent, and then came the Argentinean questioning the referee, when by right Liverpool’s skipper Steven Gerrard was the right person to question the referee as the team captain. Mascherano was given his marching orders by referee Steve Bennett. For me the referee did not spoil the game, Mascherano did, by acting the way he did. But it seem a lot of football fans back Mascherano. I don’t see the logic in that. Rooney acted the same was a few seasons ago and got a caution by the referee, so did Fletcher, even Drogba got it last season if I remember correctly. So for me the referee was spot on with the second yellow.
Liverpool came out from the same as the were in the 1st half. What they should have done was push United, but they just lay back and defended, damage control I think. But that backfired, Cristiano Ronaldo rose from a Nani’s corner to head home. 2 minutes after that Nani grabbed a beautiful self worked goal, when he cut inside and lashed a unstoppable shot, to leave Reina rooted and United off to a memorable win in front of a home crowd of 76000.

Meanwhile the Gunners got gunned down by Chelsea, eventhough they scored first through Sagna. Drogba scored a brace and pushed Chelsea up to the 2nd spot 5 points below Manchester United. Next potential title deciding matches ManUtd Vs Arsenal and Chelsea Vs ManUtd.

A blogger at last..

After putting it on hold for a long time, i have decided to start up my own blog rather than always reading my best bud'z blogs. Hopefully i can find the time to update my blog with interesting things or events that happens in my daily life(i have a gut feeling that it is going to be alot about football) . Well im drafting one now, hopefully it gets posted by tomorrow.