13th September (evening)
Right after the consultation from the Pantai doctor, sis called UM to try and make an appointment with the ENT specialist, and was told that we can go see Professor Preba at 5pm, at the UM Specialist Centre (UMSC).
So after a trip to Ikea with my niece, we went back to her house. My sis and niece then accompanied me to see the Professor at UMSC. We reached there around 5:50pm, and registration was a breeze ! All I had to do was give them my MyKad, and they stuck it into the reader and got the information from the smart chip. Barely 1 minute.
After about 10 minutes, we were called to the Professor’s consultation room. He had the same diagnosis for me, but he advised me to do a MRI scan to determine the actual size and location of the tumour, and also FNAC (fine needle aspiration cytology), a sort of biopsy without actually having to “cut me up”, to determine whether it’s benign or malignant.
He also said that it will be a major operation, and that he will transfer me to the Government side for the operation instead of doing it under UMSC because the cost is lower, more doctors are on standby, and there will be many equipments and facilities available for them should they be required during my operation.
Seems that the tumour is growing up my head, and is now already at the base of the skull. And it is HUGE. Hey, no pain ma. How I know it's growing so big in there !??!!!
So I was to go back to UM on 18th September to do the FNAC and MRI, then on 26th September, I can collect the FNAC report when I go see the Professor again.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Malaysia International Fireworks Competition
Last Sunday (2nd September, 2007), sis took her family and both my mom and myself to Putrajaya International Convention Centre) to see the Grand Finale of the Fireworks competition held there.
My nieces bought the tickets for 9 person, each costing RM38.50, and also parking stickers for the 2 cars, each costing RM10. It was drizzling when we reach there around 8pm. After a visit to the loo, we went outside to the open area, where there were already hundreds of people waiting, some having their dinner there.
The food and drinks were a rip-off, because it was sold at such an expensive price ! My nieces started going around looking for chairs for all of us to sit. Almost all the chairs were already taken up, especially those nearest the open air balcony, where people actually sat in the drizzle with umbrellas, just to ensure they have a good view.
My nieces managed to secure 4 chairs, but there were 9 of us, so we had to look for more. Luckily, I managed to find another 4 chairs. Then we sat down and waited for the fireworks to begin. Mom was afraid that since we sat far away from the balcony, we won't be able to watch the fireworks. We assured her that fireworks are shot high into the sky, so wherever we sit, we should be able to see it clearly.
How wrong we were ! When the fireworks started at 10:30pm, we only HEARD them, but couldn't see anything ! Turns out, because the fireworks were fired from a low area, and with PICC situated on a hill, only those right at the balcony front can see the fireworks ! People began to stand up, and some even stood on their chairs, so the rest of us who are at the back were deprived of a good view.
We were still able to see SOME of the fireworks, when they were being shot higher into the sky. However, of the promised 30 minutes, I think we only saw about 10 minutes' worth of fireworks. Here are some of them, which I managed to capture.
My nieces bought the tickets for 9 person, each costing RM38.50, and also parking stickers for the 2 cars, each costing RM10. It was drizzling when we reach there around 8pm. After a visit to the loo, we went outside to the open area, where there were already hundreds of people waiting, some having their dinner there.
The food and drinks were a rip-off, because it was sold at such an expensive price ! My nieces started going around looking for chairs for all of us to sit. Almost all the chairs were already taken up, especially those nearest the open air balcony, where people actually sat in the drizzle with umbrellas, just to ensure they have a good view.
My nieces managed to secure 4 chairs, but there were 9 of us, so we had to look for more. Luckily, I managed to find another 4 chairs. Then we sat down and waited for the fireworks to begin. Mom was afraid that since we sat far away from the balcony, we won't be able to watch the fireworks. We assured her that fireworks are shot high into the sky, so wherever we sit, we should be able to see it clearly.
How wrong we were ! When the fireworks started at 10:30pm, we only HEARD them, but couldn't see anything ! Turns out, because the fireworks were fired from a low area, and with PICC situated on a hill, only those right at the balcony front can see the fireworks ! People began to stand up, and some even stood on their chairs, so the rest of us who are at the back were deprived of a good view.
We were still able to see SOME of the fireworks, when they were being shot higher into the sky. However, of the promised 30 minutes, I think we only saw about 10 minutes' worth of fireworks. Here are some of them, which I managed to capture.
After the fireworks, we waited around because everyone else were rushing towards the exit. So I went up to the balcony area and took a photo of the landscape below. It's really beautiful at night, and you can also see how high up we were, which is why we missed out on such a lot of the fireworks.
Those people below are at the main entrance of PICC. They probably had a better view of the fireworks than us !
We left around 11:15pm, and reach my sis' house around 12:30pm. By the time I reach home, it was already 1am in the morning, and I was supposed to wake up at 6:30am for work. For the whole of that Monday, I was in a daze.
Monday, September 3, 2007
The Merdeka Eve Incident
My kucilek (aka my Kancil larr......) broke down on the eve of Merdeka, and guess where .....
Where else but the busy Seremban Highway, where it was bumper-to-bumper because everyone else wanted to "balik kampung" !
I was on my way home and caught in the jam when suddenly I heard a "poooooof !" and saw white mist coming out from under my car ! Coincidentally, there was a huge bus next to me, and initially I thought the noise and mist came from it, but after looking at it for several more seconds, I realized that it's not from the bus.
Then I started looking the indicators in my car and saw that the meter for the radiator was 5mm away from the "H" ! I immediately new something was very wrong and started frantically to look for a place where I can stop my car.
I had to go from being extreme right and cross 5 lanes to reach a little small curve in the road to stop, so that at least I don't distrupt the traffic too much. The meter needle JUST reached "H" when I stopped the car totally.
I opened up the hood, and found that there was no more water in the plastic tank thingy ! Luckily I still had 1/2 a bottle of water with me, so I poured it into the tank, and started calling my friends to ask what I should do. They advised me to wait it out, to let the engine cool down before starting up again.
So I sat there, locked in the car, watching traffic pass by while waiting for the engine to cool down. I saw that a trailer had also broke down about 50 metres in front of me. After about 30 minutes, I saw that the needle had gone down halfway, and thought to myself, it should be enough for me to make my journey home.
I fired up the engine, and started slowly driving again, but barely 300 metres, the needle went all the way up to "H" again ! I had no choice but to stop my car immediately, and since I was on the left, the cars / bikes behind me had to slowly file pass me on the right.
I waited for another 20 mins, and quickly started the engine so that I can move another 200 metres more because, there is a turnoff to the SMART office beside the river where I can park my car away from the traffic. I just made it in the nick of time, because the needle went from 10 mm to "H" all the way up to the MAX ! But at least I am now away from the main traffic.
I looked around for water that I can pour into the water tank, because one of my friends said that lots of water is needed. There was this fella on a motor-bike that was looking at the river and I asked him whether he had any water to spare. He gave me his 1.5 litre mineral water bottle, and I took it, and poured almost 3/4 into the plastic tank.
Then I waited for the engine to cool down. A bike with 2 fella stopped and claimed they were mechanics, and asked to check the engine. I told them that I already put in water, and was waiting for it to cool down.
After about 30 mins, I tried starting the engine again, and saw that the needle is still near "H", and saw small vapours of mists coming out of the engine. I immediately stopped again, and this time, I wondered whether something else was wrong.
Another guy on a bike stopped, and asked about the engine. This time, I got out of the car and said I think I don't have enough water. He told me that he suspects the connectors to the engine is bust because he said it's a frequent problem with Kancil cars. By that time it was already 7pm, and starting to get dark. He took a light and was fiddling with all the pipes connecting to the engine, and showed me one that was hanging loose !
No wonder I heard the "poof". It must have been the sound made when the connecter went bust. He gave me his number, and said that he can change it for me for RM30, but I lied and told him I already called Kurnia for help. He said if I don't want to wait, I can give him a call.
So I called my SOS number (aka my sister and bro-in-law lar....) and told them what happened. Sis helped me call Kurnia and arranged for a tow-truck to come rescue me. Sis gave me an address of the workshop where I'm supposed to send my car, which is near her house. I also noticed a Perdana that broke down about 50 metres from my car, but it was on the outer side of the turn-off, so it was distrupting traffic flow. Because of the traffic jam, I had to wait until 8:30pm for the truck to arrive.
The tow truck operator told me that Kancil always have problems with the "T" and "H" connectors, and that there were quite a number of cars that broke down that day, due to all the jams. True enough, during the journey, we passed by about 5 other cars that broke down ! Finally I reach Sg. Way, and my bro-in-law was waiting to guide us to the workshop. Once we reached there and parked the car, I followed him home and had dinner at sis' house.
Where else but the busy Seremban Highway, where it was bumper-to-bumper because everyone else wanted to "balik kampung" !
I was on my way home and caught in the jam when suddenly I heard a "poooooof !" and saw white mist coming out from under my car ! Coincidentally, there was a huge bus next to me, and initially I thought the noise and mist came from it, but after looking at it for several more seconds, I realized that it's not from the bus.
Then I started looking the indicators in my car and saw that the meter for the radiator was 5mm away from the "H" ! I immediately new something was very wrong and started frantically to look for a place where I can stop my car.
I had to go from being extreme right and cross 5 lanes to reach a little small curve in the road to stop, so that at least I don't distrupt the traffic too much. The meter needle JUST reached "H" when I stopped the car totally.
I opened up the hood, and found that there was no more water in the plastic tank thingy ! Luckily I still had 1/2 a bottle of water with me, so I poured it into the tank, and started calling my friends to ask what I should do. They advised me to wait it out, to let the engine cool down before starting up again.
So I sat there, locked in the car, watching traffic pass by while waiting for the engine to cool down. I saw that a trailer had also broke down about 50 metres in front of me. After about 30 minutes, I saw that the needle had gone down halfway, and thought to myself, it should be enough for me to make my journey home.
I fired up the engine, and started slowly driving again, but barely 300 metres, the needle went all the way up to "H" again ! I had no choice but to stop my car immediately, and since I was on the left, the cars / bikes behind me had to slowly file pass me on the right.
I waited for another 20 mins, and quickly started the engine so that I can move another 200 metres more because, there is a turnoff to the SMART office beside the river where I can park my car away from the traffic. I just made it in the nick of time, because the needle went from 10 mm to "H" all the way up to the MAX ! But at least I am now away from the main traffic.
I looked around for water that I can pour into the water tank, because one of my friends said that lots of water is needed. There was this fella on a motor-bike that was looking at the river and I asked him whether he had any water to spare. He gave me his 1.5 litre mineral water bottle, and I took it, and poured almost 3/4 into the plastic tank.
Then I waited for the engine to cool down. A bike with 2 fella stopped and claimed they were mechanics, and asked to check the engine. I told them that I already put in water, and was waiting for it to cool down.
After about 30 mins, I tried starting the engine again, and saw that the needle is still near "H", and saw small vapours of mists coming out of the engine. I immediately stopped again, and this time, I wondered whether something else was wrong.
Another guy on a bike stopped, and asked about the engine. This time, I got out of the car and said I think I don't have enough water. He told me that he suspects the connectors to the engine is bust because he said it's a frequent problem with Kancil cars. By that time it was already 7pm, and starting to get dark. He took a light and was fiddling with all the pipes connecting to the engine, and showed me one that was hanging loose !
No wonder I heard the "poof". It must have been the sound made when the connecter went bust. He gave me his number, and said that he can change it for me for RM30, but I lied and told him I already called Kurnia for help. He said if I don't want to wait, I can give him a call.
So I called my SOS number (aka my sister and bro-in-law lar....) and told them what happened. Sis helped me call Kurnia and arranged for a tow-truck to come rescue me. Sis gave me an address of the workshop where I'm supposed to send my car, which is near her house. I also noticed a Perdana that broke down about 50 metres from my car, but it was on the outer side of the turn-off, so it was distrupting traffic flow. Because of the traffic jam, I had to wait until 8:30pm for the truck to arrive.
The tow truck operator told me that Kancil always have problems with the "T" and "H" connectors, and that there were quite a number of cars that broke down that day, due to all the jams. True enough, during the journey, we passed by about 5 other cars that broke down ! Finally I reach Sg. Way, and my bro-in-law was waiting to guide us to the workshop. Once we reached there and parked the car, I followed him home and had dinner at sis' house.
My poor kucilek being released by the tow truck
Then I drove my niece's car back home. Even though it was Merdeka day, the workshop was opened and I had my car fixed. I was lucky I stopped fast, because I was told, if I had forced the car to continue on and the engine died, I will have to change a whole new engine ! As it is now, all I had to do was just to change the connectors.
Phew ! I shudder to think what the cost would have been like if I had to change the engine !Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Malacca Trip on 23rd August 2007
Went on a one-day trip to Malacca with Ange and Evelyn, to accompany Ange while she goes for an interview there and also for a "jalan-jalan cari makan" kinda trip.
Her interview was at 10am, so I had to leave my house around 6:30am in the morning so that I can reach her house by 7am. On working days, I normally wake up around 6:45am, but for this, I had to wake up at 5:30am !
We left her house around 7am, and reach Malacca around 9:30am. We took her new Proton Wira Aeroback for the journey. She was early for the interview, and she was also still hesitant about it, coz she already had a job that was supposed to start work on 3rd Sept at F&S, but this was a pharmaceutical company (XSP), so she was also interested in the job.
She was dropped off at the factory gates 9:45am, then I drove her car around to see where Evelyn and I can go. We drove around aimlessly for about 20 minutes before we stopped and shared a "Penang Har Mee" at a shop. It was ok lar.... not too bad, but nothing to shout about either. The aunty helper was a real blurr sotong. First she gave us the wrong bowl, then she sent our bowl of mee to the table next to us ! So blurr !
After that, we went into Giant to while the time away. We left Giant around 11:30am and went back to XSP to see if Ange is done with the interview. We sat outside for another 30 mins and even finished a packet of chips, but she hasn't called us. So I decided to drive to Bintang for a walk.
Finally, around 12:30pm, she called us to say we can go fetch her now. We went back to the factory (only 5 minutes drive away) and fetch her, then went into town to look for food.
She parked the car near Public Bank and went looking for the char siew rice that her friend recommended. Unfortunately, we were a bit late, and the char siew were already finished. So we walked around Jonker Street to look for some place to eat.
We passed by this oldest temple in Malacca and stopped for some photos.
We went into this quaint little restaurant that serves some pretty cute blended juices and ordered lasagna and spaghetti. See these drinks ? Look nice leh.............. Taste ? Yucks. I think the shop don't believe in sugar, so tasted yucky. Their lasagne was okay, but the spaghetti had a weird taste. Ange said they put too much vinegar.
Her interview was at 10am, so I had to leave my house around 6:30am in the morning so that I can reach her house by 7am. On working days, I normally wake up around 6:45am, but for this, I had to wake up at 5:30am !
We left her house around 7am, and reach Malacca around 9:30am. We took her new Proton Wira Aeroback for the journey. She was early for the interview, and she was also still hesitant about it, coz she already had a job that was supposed to start work on 3rd Sept at F&S, but this was a pharmaceutical company (XSP), so she was also interested in the job.
She was dropped off at the factory gates 9:45am, then I drove her car around to see where Evelyn and I can go. We drove around aimlessly for about 20 minutes before we stopped and shared a "Penang Har Mee" at a shop. It was ok lar.... not too bad, but nothing to shout about either. The aunty helper was a real blurr sotong. First she gave us the wrong bowl, then she sent our bowl of mee to the table next to us ! So blurr !
After that, we went into Giant to while the time away. We left Giant around 11:30am and went back to XSP to see if Ange is done with the interview. We sat outside for another 30 mins and even finished a packet of chips, but she hasn't called us. So I decided to drive to Bintang for a walk.
Finally, around 12:30pm, she called us to say we can go fetch her now. We went back to the factory (only 5 minutes drive away) and fetch her, then went into town to look for food.
She parked the car near Public Bank and went looking for the char siew rice that her friend recommended. Unfortunately, we were a bit late, and the char siew were already finished. So we walked around Jonker Street to look for some place to eat.
We passed by this oldest temple in Malacca and stopped for some photos.
We went into this quaint little restaurant that serves some pretty cute blended juices and ordered lasagna and spaghetti. See these drinks ? Look nice leh.............. Taste ? Yucks. I think the shop don't believe in sugar, so tasted yucky. Their lasagne was okay, but the spaghetti had a weird taste. Ange said they put too much vinegar.
After the so-so lunch, we spent some time at the shops, and I bought some rather nice buttery pineapple tarts. Yummy ! Expensive though, small container, but RM14.50 each ! Then I saw this colourful shop, and took a picture of it.
Finally, we proceed towards the Stadhuys building and took some photos of it. We also went into the church next to the building for a look-around.
When we came out from the church, we saw this fella happily snoozing in his trishaw. Haha. Must have been a slow day. Then an Indian man approached us, and talked to us in fluent Cantonese, asking to take a ride in his trishaw. We politely declined, but was awed that he can speak such fluent Cantonese.
See the bus stand there. I wonder what's the difference between the Red 5 and Blue 5 bus.
Finally, we passed by this majestic church on our way back to the car after a nice bowl of cendol by the river.
Thus concludes our one-day Malacca trip.
Missed the Blood Moon !
Today (28th August 2007) was supposed to have a full lunar eclipse, also known as Blood Moon because the moon will turn a dark red colour. Unfortunately, I totally forgot about it, and only remembered around 12:30am ! It was already over by then. I'll have to read about it in the papers. Sigh.................
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Simpsons - The Movie
Went to watch this show today, and it was a darn funny show ! It reallllly made fun of EVERYTHING. The only thing I feel is that it shouldn't be rated "U" because it's not really that suitable for kids, what with two burly cops kissing, and having Bart skateboarding naked around town !
But then again, that's what makes The Simpsons such a hit both with kids and adults alike. Homer is his usual selfish self, until he met the "Boob Lady". Hahaha...
Go watch the show, you won't regret it.
But then again, that's what makes The Simpsons such a hit both with kids and adults alike. Homer is his usual selfish self, until he met the "Boob Lady". Hahaha...
Go watch the show, you won't regret it.
Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows
Well, I still can't blog about the book, because SOMEONE has NOT read it yet, and had already threatened to KILL me if I reveal anything about the book. Not gonna say much, except that H***** died at the very beginning...... hehehe.
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