Fatty's Fantasies

Durian Cake

noreply@blogger.com (A.Ung) — Mon, 02 May 2011 12:35:00 +0000

Baked a cake this afternoon. Haven't done anything like that in 25 years.

I must say the cake taste great! Especially for someone who have not baked for 25 years.

But my team included Jess and Rach, so it wasn't my effort alone.

In any case, the cake din rise enough. What did we do wrong? Not enough baking powder? Or was the tray too big?

What Happened?!?

noreply@blogger.com (A.Ung) — Mon, 02 May 2011 12:28:00 +0000

Image via CrunchBaseMany people have asked me what happened to me since August/September last year. I just disappeared from Facebook and the blogging scene.

Well, many things happened. But I just cannot share here as it's not anything worth sharing. It wasn't all bad and it wasn't all good. But they were experiences I went thru that kept me particularly busy, physically as well as mentally. So I was in no condition to blog.

In any case, I am back now - bigger and hopefully better? :-)

Look out for the new fatty and his fantasies..............

Latest Happenings.......

noreply@blogger.com (A.Ung) — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:44:00 +0000

Image by Michael McDonough via Flickr
It has been a while since I last updated. It's not that I was busy, but rather becoz I was feeling down and out.

I am starting to accept what I cannot control and I feel more ready to move on. Although I still feel lousy sometimes, but the feeling of total hopelessness is slowly fading by the day.

So what's the latest update?

On work, it's been pretty encouraging. I have been busy with brand building planning. Have also been teaching people on preparing and presenting monthly reports on powerpoint presentations, and how to keep presentations interesting so that the audience will not fall asleep. The results of my trainees have been very encouraging and the bosses gave very good comments.

I will be doing a bit of biz traveling in the early part of September. Going to Camerons to get to know the growers and also some training by invitation of the seed supplier. After coming back from Camerons, will be making a 5 day 4 night trip to Hong Kong for the Asiafruit Congress and Logistica. I will be looking forward to this trip, as I have not been to Hong Kong for some years now. The Logistica show would also be an eye-opener for me. I am also looking forward to the food safety talk scheduled in the Congress.

On a personal note, I am looking forward to meeting some of my old friends when I attend the Toastmasters dinner in Penang at the end of this month. I haven't visited my club in more than 10 years and for sure it will be fun meeting some of the old friends.

If time permits, I may also have tt with some of my old classmates in Penang.

Will keep you guys updated on the happenings.......

Then you still have hope

noreply@blogger.com (A.Ung) — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 14:37:00 +0000

Image via WikipediaIf you can look at the sunset and smile, and find beauty in the colours of a small flower, then you still have hope.

If you can find pleasure in the movement of a butterfly, and if the smile of a child can still warm your heart, then you still have hope.

If you can see the good in other people, and if the rain breaking on a roof top can still lull you to sleep, then you still have hope.

If the sight of a rainbow still makes you stop and stare in wonder, and if the soft fur of a favoured pet still feels pleasant under your fingertips, then you still have hope.

If you meet new people with a trace of excitement and optimism, and if you give people the benefit of the doubt, then you still have hope.

If you still offer your hand in friendship to others that have touched your life, and if receiving an unexpected card or letter still brings a pleasant surprise, then you still have hope.

If the suffering of others still fills you with pain and frustration, and if you refuse to let a friendship die, or accept that it must end, then you still have hope.

If you look forward to a time or place of quiet and reflection, and if you still watch love stories or want the endings to be happy, then you still have hope.

If you can look to the past and smile, and when faced with the bad, when told everything is futile, you can still look up and end the conversation with the phrase ... 'yes, but ....' Then you still have hope.

Hope is such a marvellous thing. It bends, it twists, it sometimes hides, but rarely does it break. It sustains us when nothing else can. It gives us reason to continue and courage to move ahead, when we tell ourselves we'd rather give in.

Hope puts a smile on our face when the heart cannot manage. Hope puts our feet on the path when our eyes cannot see it. Hope moves us to act when our souls are confused of the direction.

Hope is a wonderful thing, something to be cherished and nurtured and something that will refresh us in return. It can be found in each of us and it can bring light into the darkest of places. So never lose hope.

Author Unknown

Enduring The Moment

noreply@blogger.com (A.Ung) — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 08:09:00 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

Many years ago, I had a bad case of panic attack. All of a sudden, it hit me. I was scared and didn't know what to do. But somehow I got over it, I survived.

I remember it as a particularly tough time of my life.

Now, I am going through another tough patch in my life. And I found the poem that one of my sisters sent me particularly apt for my feeling. As I read it, I find that there are many questions which I would like answered but I dunno when the answers will come.

My heart is heavy, and though I try to endure what is happening now, I find the moment particularly dark. I try to remain calm and quiet but I feel the world crashing about me. Though I have no doubt that God still loves me, but everyone else seems to be tired of me. Even I, myself seem to be tired of myself.

When, o when will the darkness fade away? When will this feeling pass? How can I get back the feeling that nothing can defeat me? When will God break all the chains that are binding me tight in this darkness which seems to have enveloped me and trying to fill me with fear? The night has been around for so long, when o when is my morning coming? Where are you my dawn?

Discontent

noreply@blogger.com (A.Ung) — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 08:21:00 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

Discontent. It is indeed a very scary thing when discontent overflows. It's consequences are grief and misery.

I am certain that most of us are discontented in one way or another. If we are totally contented, progress would not be made. So a little discontent is probably good for progress.

However, when we are too discontented, we tend to focus too much on what we do not have instead of being thankful for what we have. And when we focus on what we don't have, or how things could be better, we start to think and scheme of ways to get what we want. And when we are too clouded by discontent, we are blinded and cannot see the error of our ways. That's when we lose any proper perspective of the situation at hand and over-reacts, often causing us to even lose what we have, rather than gain what we do not have. And when that happens, the situation becomes desperate and again we try harder, unknowingly making our problems even larger. This very quickly snowballs and at the end of it all, when we finally realize what we have done, it is often times too late, far too late to reverse the situation.

I realize that discontentment hurts others and hurts ourselves even more. And it also hurts our walk with the Lord. In future, I will have to be careful and nib discontentment in its bud, because when it spreads, it spreads like wildfire and it definitely ain't easy to control.

Rule your mind or it will rule you.
~Horace

Zong Zi or Better Known as Bak Chang to the Penangites

noreply@blogger.com (A.Ung) — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 01:46:00 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

I have never known the reason why chinese celebrate this bak chang festival once a year. I didn't even know it is related to the dragon boat festival - in fact, it is commemorating the same person.

But I love Bak Chang. So I decided to google the festival this year. The following is what I found on the website called Good News from China:-

Chinese culture has many, many festivals, commemorating some rather unusual events. Dragon Boat Festival is one such festival. This year, it fell on June 15. The main thing to do on this day is to eat zongzi, the glutinous rice dumpling, as it is translated into English, though I think that scarcely describes it.
In some places, they actually do have races of boats that are colorfully decorated with dragon designs, but I have never seen such a race. I have, however, eaten lots of zongzi. I was given several this year. You can buy them commercially and they are commonly eaten as a snack food, but at this time of year, you are likely to receive homemade ones. The rice is a glutinous rice and is very sticky. The rice may be white, as shown above, and it may have some red bean paste inside, though the ones you see here had nothing inside. Sometimes the rice is brown from a sauce and inside is a small chunk of ham. In any case, each one is wrapped in reed leaves and steamed, I suppose, for a long time. At first, I thought they were rather tasteless, but I have developed a taste for them now, and I like to eat them, though once a year is enough.
The origin of the zongzi is as strange as the food itself. It seems that there was a Chinese poet and official (Chinese officials in ancient times were always poets; that was the mark of an educated and capable person) named Qu Yuan (pronounced a little like "chew you ann.") He was an official in the kingdom of Chu, in about 340-278 BC, which was before China had been unified into a nation. China has a tradition of ministers who give advice to the king, or emperor, and Qu Yuan was such a minister. Qu Yuan advised the king of Chu to prepare for war because the state of Qin was poised to devour his state. But the king thought he was safe, since the emperor of Qin seemed to be focusing on other, weaker, states. But, eventually, Qin did attack Chu, and the Chu kingdom was defeated.
Qu Yuan was so distraught over this that he committed suicide by jumping into the Miluo River. His countrymen, upon learning of this tragedy, rushed to the scene in small boats and tried to find his body. They failed to find it, so they made the dumplings wrapped in reed leaves and threw them into the river so the fish would eat the dumplings and not Qu Yuan's body. Later, it became a ritual to eat the zongzi on the anniversary of Qu Yuan's death and to hold dragon boat races.

noreply@blogger.com (A.Ung) — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:28:00 +0000

Image by Darwin Bell via Flickr

The world is beautiful, but sometimes, in fact very often, our minds are so clouded that we cannot see it.

Our life is a never-ending cycle of problems. If we are not careful, our problems can so overwhelm us that we can no longer see the beauty of life and the world around us.

At this moment, there is a cloud of ash blocking my every view of the beauty of this world. It was clearing up just a couple of weeks ago, but like a volcano, it had a second eruption.

I don't understand, and I no longer seek to understand why this is happening, or why things like these happen. I just wanna convince myself that the beauty is still around. It is just that, temporarily, I am unable to see it because of this cloud of ash.

Ladies & gentlemen, family & friends, I am fine. Some areas of my life are doing great. Some are so-so. Some are disturbing. And some are downright demoralizing. The disturbing areas can be settled with some amount of effort, after some unpleasant things are taken care of. The demoralizing areas, or rather area, is not impossible but unlikely, very unlikely to turn around.

I wanna watch Toy Story 3

noreply@blogger.com (A.Ung) — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 00:24:00 +0000

Image by TooMuchDew via Flickr

“I wanna watch Toy Story 3”

Who wouldn't? I can still remember my first Toy Story. It was so long ago, I believe I wasn't even married yet at that time. Though I cannot remember much of the storyline but I certainly do remember that I enjoyed the show.

Well, I am certain Toy Story 3 will be just as enjoyable. I mean, how can a movie full of lovable characters ever go wrong?!?

In fact, I am 'very' looking forward to see two new toys in this edition, namely Lots-O'-Huggin'-Bear..........

and SPARKS............

I have always loved cuddly bears, what more this one smells of strawberries. I am sure my daughter would love this one too. I really hope I'll be able to get tickets to this show so that I can be one of the first to watch with her.

Sparks will be one of my personal favourites. For a long time, I was a collector of Tin Toys and I am sure Sparks will bring back many warm memories.

I am definitely looking forward to this one, so see you guys there!!

The Week in Review

noreply@blogger.com (A.Ung) — Mon, 24 May 2010 01:01:00 +0000

Image by Northcountry Boy via Flickr

The week started off slowly with Sunday & Monday pretty much standard.

Then it started to get hectic on Tuesday. MCed the Avocado Seminar on Tuesday afternoon for the Aussie Government. Then immediately after the event, attended the Red Majesty Chef event organized by the MLA. By the time I got back home after the event, it was already past midnight. Though pretty tiring, I was glad to have gotten to know many new people and also it took my mine off my many pressing personal issues.

I had to wake up very early on Wednesday morning as I promised to travel to Penang with Wilson to visit Lim's office. Got up at 5.30am still half dazed. Sent Rachel off to school and then met up with Wilson to drive to Penang. Luckily he drove, so after chit-chatting with him for a while, I dozed-off.

We picked Lim up at his hotel on our way and we stopped over at Ipoh for the famous breakfast coffee and met up with one of Lim's customers in Ipoh, before resuming our way to Penang.

Upon arriving in Penang, we went straight to visit 2 of Lim's clients in Pulau Tikus, then to the wholesale market to meet up with another customer but unfortunately he was not around. So we went over to Lim's office and I was introduced to his staff.

Later we had dinner at Tao, again one of Lim's customers. The food was ok-la, much like Shogun in BU. Just that it was a served buffet so our butts had a good rest. After sending Lim back home after dinner, I thought of going for a couple of beers, but Wilson is totally unlike my previous colleague Soo - Wilson is really very goody two shoes, so we ended up chit-chatting over Soya Bean in Gurney.

We stayed at Eastin at RM285 thereabouts. It wasn't worth the money as the room was small. But I have no complains as I did not have to pay and also it was much, much, much better than the First World hotel I had stayed in a couple of weeks ago in Genting.

On Thursday, we went back to the wholesale market to help Lim close a sale with his biggest wholesale customer. And over time, we hope Lim can achieve his target of over a million ringgit a month in Penang. After that we visited Rasa Sayang and had a long chat with the Area Director who happened to be in Penang. He's actually based in Penang, but travel's quite a bit. And the best thing for him is he's taking one whole bloody month off the watch the World Cup. What a privilege!

We drove back to Penang after 5pm and stopped over for dinner at the famous duck soup. As we took our time at dinner, and we only managed to reach KL past 10pm and by the time I arrive home it was near 11pm.

Thought would take it easy on Friday, but was called up to Genting. And this time had to drive somemore. Used the Civic Hybrid - pretty cool, only 1.3 + 0.5 but performed better than my car.

Overall, a hectic week but it ended well and my spirits were somewhat lifted by the time the week ended. Let's hope things improve further.

For the week ahead, I am hoping to settle more personal issues so that my mind is freed up. My fingers are crossed that all will be smooth sailing.

Weight Loss - This damn thing has been eluding me for years!

noreply@blogger.com (A.Ung) — Tue, 18 May 2010 01:47:00 +0000

Image by ninahale via Flickr

I have said this so many times that I don't think there is anybody in this world who will believe me now. But I don't care. I am making this my primary goal for this year. I am going to lose weight and get back the shape I had when I was in my 20s.

I am now 98kgs. I want to get to 75kgs.....by the end of this year. Meaning to say that on 31st December 2010, when I get up on the weighing scale, I do not want to see any figure higher than 75kgs - lower ok, higher no way.

I know its gonna be a long hard road, but I am certain I will make it this time. I am already approaching 40 and certainly it is long overdue for me to put myself back in shape. But how the heck am I gonna achieve this?!?

The number one way is determination. Unless I am determined throughout, it is NOT gonna work. I have been laughed at, ridiculed and being written off as hopeless, where shape and looks are concerned. And I am bloody tired and pissed-off and must once and for all put a stop to this.

I need to lose 3.5kgs per month if I work the figures backwards. How am I gonna achieve this?

1. No more dinner for me from now till year end. (Unless the is an unavoidable event, and even then I must eat sensibly and carefully avoiding all fatty food while ensuring portion is kept to a minimum).

2. Lunch, I will eat normally so that life still has meaning (if you know what I mean).

3. Exercise, I must to something about this. What to do, I haven't decided yet but I will make it my priority to plan for this and come out with a solution by the end of this week.

I will also think of monthly rewards for myself whenever I achieve the 3.5kgs weight loss or more. And the rewards must NOT include food.

Enough said - it's time for action.

EOS

noreply@blogger.com (A.Ung) — Mon, 17 May 2010 01:21:00 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

It is the end of the season where EPL is concerned.

Thus many turned to the Thomas Cup.

And with the Thomas Cup over and done with, and none of the EPL teams in the Champions League, many of us are now awaiting the World Cup.

So what's my prediction?

In Group A, I pick France. Easy-la, they have always been one of the favourites. Surely they are the toughest in the group.

In Group B, I pick Argentina. Though the have had a terrible time in qualification, they nevertheless are the favourites, what with Lionel Messi and Carlos Tevez in the team. Nigeria and Korea may steal this one if they can rise to the occasion.

In Group C, my pick would be England. I just don't see how they can screw up in this group. They just need to watch out when playing USA.

In Group D, Germany would still be my pick though they will definitely have to beware of Ghana and Australia.

In Group E, Netherlands are the firm favourites. I don't think Denmark or Cameroon can upstage them, though Cameroon do seem to have pretty good players and have played spoilers in previous World Cups.

In Group F, though I don't think Italy can win the World Cup this time around, they are nevertheless still the firm favourites from this group.

Group G would be one of the most interesting. Brazil of course are the firm favourites. But please do not write-off Portugal and Ivory Coast. Kaka will be taking on Cristiano Ronaldo, and don't forget Drogba, Kalou, Toure - wow!

In Group H, I would pick Spain.

So who's gonna win the World Cup? I pick Brazil, but as usual will be cheering all the outsiders because I would like an outsider to win.

Review of The Week

noreply@blogger.com (A.Ung) — Sat, 15 May 2010 00:56:00 +0000

Image by Fadzly @ Shutterhack via Flickr

I shall start my review from last Sunday.

Was dem bloody down due to happenings last Saturday, which put a dampener to my outlook for almost the whole week. Much of the week was spent agonizing over issues already beyond my control. But although still reeling from the whole bloody episode, I have somewhat recovered partially.

While my personal life was going through a forced restructuring, what happened in the world of sports? Chelsea made me proud to be a fan by demolishing Wigan 8-0. And it looks like we may just make the double tonight. Keep your fingers crossed ya, supporters?

In the badminton scene, Malaysia as usual let us down. But it is something which I had already expected. Similar to my personal life, I would recommend a major restructuring, with emphasis on strategies and planning for the future.

And what happened in the work scene? Pretty much boring but with the positive view that things should get a little bit more exciting in the coming weeks ahead.

Immediately ahead is the Avocado training seminar coming up on Tuesday at Berjaya University College and the Red Majesty event at the same venue, on the same day some more. After that a short trip to Penang, which looks boring but unavoidable. Only positive side of the trip is the possibility to get sometime of business to meet up with some ex-classmates of mine, to catch up on old times.

In the family scene much remains the same but Thank God Rachel is 80% recovered. The presence of my mother in town has definitely sped up her recovery. But I am sure it was at the expense of mental anguish for all 3 of us - my mum, my missus and myself. Thanks mum for being there in my hour of need for I do not know of anyone else in the world who would have suffered how you suffered for my sake.

Up ahead is Rachel's return to school next week and I hope she settles back in quickly. Having missed so many weeks of school, she seriously has a lot of catch up to do. Also coming up is the missus's birthday. We haven't been celebrating for many years due to many factors. Maybe we should go out for a good meal. Hope she appreciates the thought - but then again, that has about as much chance of happening as Wong Choon Han has of winning next years All-England.

Other issues on my mind, which I need to look into in the very near future are.........
1) my car - repair or sell immediately?
2) tuition centre
3) other stuff are too personal to mention in public.........

Ladies & gentlemen, enjoy the weekend! Until next week then...............

Sitting Back or Making Things Happen..........

noreply@blogger.com (A.Ung) — Fri, 14 May 2010 04:28:00 +0000

Image by Andres Rueda via Flickr

In life, you win some and you lose some.

When you win, of course everything's rosy-la.

The thing is, no one wants to lose. So what's your reaction when you lose? Some people sit back and sigh, some people fight back like a mad cow.

I have experienced both. I have fought back like a mad cow, especially early in my life but when I do that I got into even worse situations. So I learned early that I am a lousy fighter, and thus it is definitely NOT the way I can react successfully.

After that, I have always chosen to sit back and accept life and lament the fact that I always, always lose. I sigh and I get depressed, and every Tom, Dick, Harry, Lisa, Jane and Sally that I know begins to play Aunt Agony to comfort me. This has happened a number of times over the years. History keeps repeating itself. I feel down/depressed - Aunt Agony comforts me - I feel slightly better - I forget about all the lousy things - Bad things start to hit me again - I feel down/depressed. WTF!

So after this latest round of shit, I have decided that there has to be another way to react.

I cannot fight, yet I will not just sit down and let shit walk all over me. Then how?

I have decided that somehow, I will make things happen. I will not sit back and be ruthlessly defeated. I will plan and use strategies to ensure success. The fight will no longer be ugly and unplanned. It will be beautifully crafted and exquisitely implemented.

Having said all that, I still don't know la whether it will make things better. But I am certainly gonna try because I wanna win some back. In fact, I wanna win 'em all.

The Outcome is a Foregone Conclusion.......

noreply@blogger.com (A.Ung) — Thu, 13 May 2010 00:48:00 +0000

Image by davedehetre via Flickr

Malaysia won their tie against Denmark last night. And the fans now have renewed hope of Malaysia lifting the Thomas Cup.

My opinion? Malaysia won't be able to do it la. Come on, wake up guys. Lee Chong Wei is probably already peeing in his pants in anticipation of his match against Lin Dan. But having said that, it is Malaysia's best bet of winning a point here.

Koo & Tan seems to be doing quite well at the moment. And besides Lee Chong Wei, this pair is the only chance of Malaysia stealing a point. The other 3 ties will be a walk in the park for China.

The photo I put on this post looks nice. Similarly the thought of winning the Thomas Cup is sweet. And many of us will NOT give up hoping. And some of us will NOT give up trying. But sadly, just like some matters that are close to my heart, the outcome is a foregone conclusion.

As I Had Expected...........

noreply@blogger.com (A.Ung) — Wed, 12 May 2010 01:34:00 +0000

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

In life, many things are uncertain. The thing about uncertainty is that it is just so unfair.

You see, normally when you expect good things to happen, more often than not they go wrong. But when you expect bad things to happen, I would say that 99.999999% of the time they turn out just the way you had expected them to.

Just look at yesterday's Malaysia vs Japan Thomas Cup tie. If you had read my posting of a few days ago, I had already said that our Malaysian team this year would flop. Though I very much want them to win but nevertheless I expected that they would falter. And sure enough, they showed me exactly what I had expected - so early in the competition somemore.

If it was not because I was already feeling down with my own problems, the failure of the team would have dampened my spirits somewhat.

Similarly yesterday I had to contact someone but before I had even attempted to contact, I had already expected that it would not turn out well. Sure enough, it turned out badly.

In contrast, last Saturday, I had expected things to turn out well. But it certainly didn't happen that way.

But whatever it is, I have decided to stop these negative thoughts going around in my head and just move on. It's probably going to be difficult not to think of my problems because they will most certainly haunt me continuously. But haunt me or not, I have no choice as I cannot control what is not in my hands.

“Why Smartphones can be Dumbphones”

noreply@blogger.com (A.Ung) — Tue, 11 May 2010 00:41:00 +0000

Image via CrunchBase

Ladies & Gentlemen, don't let your Smartphones become Dumbphones!

Many of us smart alecs buy our Smartphone gizmos because we wanna be seen as cool. But sometimes the opposite happens. Just like my friend, Ah Gong, who bought his iPhone but only use it to send sms to his girlfriend, Ah Sui.

So I said to Ah Gong, "Hello Bro, send sms and stupid handphone also can la. Show me-lah how to surf the net with it-lah."

Ah Gong replied, "Tauke, I dunno-lah how to surf net with my iPhone coz I heard its very mahal-lah."

That's how some people turn their Smartphones into Dumbphones!! So people if you don't wanna be like Ah Gong, listen to my answer to him and quickly act smart!

My reply to Ah Gong, "Ah Gong, when you have problems with handphone, alway go check out Digi. Digi always got SMART solution for us handphone users wan. Now go check out the DG Smart Plan and make sure you subscribe to it. It will instantly make change you into Ah Gau."

So people, you wanna be Ah Gong with others or you wanna be Ah Gau with DG Smart Plan? You decide!

Sentimental People

noreply@blogger.com (A.Ung) — Mon, 10 May 2010 02:27:00 +0000

Image by swissrolli via Flickr

Dictionary.com defines sentimental as "expressive of or appealing to sentiment, esp. the tender emotions and feelings, as love, pity, or nostalgia".

I think I am a particularly sentimental person. And I think it is a curse.

Being a sentimental person, everything hurts you deeply. Being a sentimental person means that you remember more of the little things - things which most people would never remember.

When things go wrong, it is hard for me to focus. I get overly emotional. It doesn't matter what the issue is, but the issue will consume me entirely. And it is even worse when you are a man, because being a man means you shouldn't show emotion. You can go to a group of your girlfriends and have a good cry over it.

I admire some people who seem not to have a care in the world. Nothing affects them. These people can keep control of their feelings so well that you feel they are unreal. I am sure you have met these kind of a person. I would like to learn from them. I would like not to feel sad even when I lose. I would like to not feel disappointed even when I have to give up certain things. I would like not to feel hopeless even when no one cares.

On many occasions I have felt pity on others. On some of those occasions I go out of my way to help those people. And on most of those occasions, there's not a word of thanks but sometimes there's even a stab in the back. It is in those times, when I feel another pity - self-pity. Can I get rid of this feeling of pity?

Now tell me, ain't all these emotions a curse? When you don't have emotion, you don't feel. When you don't feel, you don't reflect - you don't have feelings of nostalgia.

Is there a course for these kind of things. I course that teaches you how to be a man - or rather how to be a robot? So that you no longer feel sentimental about things and people. If there is please let me know, because I desperately wanna enrol. Because I do not want to falter in times of trouble.

PRO 24:10  If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength!

Amber Chia Pregnant

noreply@blogger.com (A.Ung) — Sat, 08 May 2010 00:56:00 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

Read this in The Star online this morning.

It was reported that she found out about the pregnancy straight after the wedding.

I think no-la. Where got so gam wan.

More likely she found out before the wedding, that's why so rush got married!

What do you think?

My Thoughts on The Thomas Cup 2010

noreply@blogger.com (A.Ung) — Fri, 07 May 2010 03:22:00 +0000

Image via Wikipedia

The newspapers over the last few days have been filled with reports of the coming Thomas & Uber Cup.

Much has been said about Malaysia chances of lifting the coveted trophy. The last time we lifted the cup being so many years ago in 1992 (when I was just 22 years old). Its indeed been a long time - 18 years to be exact.

Many fans, coaches and even past Malaysian badminton 'heroes' seem to think that we stand a good chance of winning it this time around, but I beg to differ. It's not that I don't support the team or don't want them to win, but I just don't think this group of players can do it.

Why?

Lee Chong Wei crumbles under pressure as has been proven so many times when he played Lin Dan in prestigious tournaments. If we reach the semi-final or final, it is very likely his nerves will defeat him. Also he has no fighting spirit - if he trails, he is unable to fight back.

As for the Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong combination, they are no longer the pair of yesteryear, when they won six tournaments in a row. They were a much feared combination back then and seemed invincible. But that is no longer the case. Although they are still the World No.1 but I remember more of them losing, then winning in recent times.

As for Wong Choon Han - please-la, he is 'over-the-hill' la as far as world-class badminton competition is concerned. I remember, there was a year when we also re-called Misbun Sidek (who by that time was already retired) to come back and play as third singles. It was a total flop. It would be better off to groom Choon Han as a coach.

I also cannot see the combination of Fairulzizuan-Zakri defeating any of the top badminton nation's second doubles pair. It would be better off to play a younger pair and groom them for later years, when we can make a more serious challenge for the title.

The worst is probably Hafiz. He went all the way downhill after winning the All-England crown many years ago and has never made his way back to the top, and it is unlikely that he ever will. I also don't see him as a team player and a fighter. So if it goes down the wire, don't count on him to deliver the crucial point.

I will still cheer for the Malaysian team - no doubts about that. I will still hope that they can really win to proof me wrong. But to count our team as the favourite? Please be realistic-la!

Goodbye Students!

noreply@blogger.com (A.Ung) — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 12:31:00 +0000

I will be giving up some of my home tuition students, to concentrate more on training.

I have already tutored some of them for many months now and it is naturally sad for me to be leaving them. Over the months I have gotten pretty close to some of them and it is with a heavy heart that I take my leave.

I hope that they will all do well in their studies.

The following are some of the students I will miss......

Vincent & Ethan - I know guys are in good hands as you have decided to come to my tuition centre. Will miss the home-cooked food at your place.

Ainul - As I have always said, you are a very smart girl but you need more practise, so please be more hardworking and don't give the tutor I have introduced to you a hard time!

Kavitha - You really need to improve your maths and though the replacement teacher I have chosen for you will be much stricter compared to me, I am sure you will one day come to appreciate the fact that you need a strict teacher to ensure you learn. Pls make sure you memorise your times-table.

Ethan (Std 5) - I hope you will accept Tony as my replacement as he is a very responsible teacher whom I am sure will be able to help you improve your BM.

Brian & Lucas - I also hope you guys will accept Tony for exactly the same reasons stated above.

Alif - I am glad I will still be seeing you on Tuesday nights as I believe we work well together and I am certain you will do well in your UPSR!

Amirul & Adriana - I will still be seeing you guys until further notice.

Nicholas, Shaun & Lydia - I am sorry I have to leave you guys when we've hardly had the chance to get to know each other.

Lee Re - I hope you have improved under the guidance of your uncle.

Book Review: The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel

noreply@blogger.com (A.Ung) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 15:19:00 +0000

Cover of The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel

I just finished reading The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel by Maureen Lindley this week.

I found it a pretty interesting read. At least it is of a girl who took life into her own hands, rather than blame everything on fate as in the Snow Flower book I read before.

Here's a review I found on Allen & Unwin:-

At the tender age of eight, Eastern Jewel peeps in fascination from behind a screen as her lusty father seduces a fourteen-year-old servant with bound feet. Peculiar feelings are aroused in the unruly girl, who by the end of her life will have spied professionally on politicians, members of the Shanghainese underworld and the last emperor Pu Yi himself, and lived out her sexual fantasies with men (and women) all over the Far East.

The daughter of Prince Su's last concubine, Eastern Jewel is an intoxicating heroine - a feisty, rebellious woman who refuses to accept mutely the docile, subservient role that early twentieth-century Chinese society prescribes for her. Her thirst for excitement and controversy sees her banished as a child from her beloved mother's protection to live with distant relatives in Tokyo. She grows to adore vibrant Japan, but her insatiable appetites naturally lead her into trouble, and this time the punishment is harsher - a sojourn in bleak, freezing Mongolia and a forced marriage to a highly unsuitable husband. And all this before she is twenty, with the real dramas of her life still to come.

Eastern Jewel craves freedom and will not be pinned down by anyone, least of all a man. And yet, though she seeks out experiences unlike other women's, and influence beyond the reach of most men, there remains a gaping absence in her heart, a place haunted at night by troubling thoughts.

Seductive, racy and completely original, The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel is an eye-opening and gripping re-telling of the real life of a fascinating but contradictory woman, a heroine who battled to juggle her extraordinary public life with her private paper demons.

The next novel I would like to read is Taikor written by a local author. But it will probably have to wait until I finish my current read - The Lincoln Lawyer by Michael Conelly. I need a short break from asian authors!

My Mother - Part One

noreply@blogger.com (A.Ung) — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 14:54:00 +0000

Here's a little bit of my mother's history.

She was born in 1938. Her father was a millionaire from Alor Star, while her mother was from Penang.

My grandfather met my grandmother in Penang and gave birth to my mother in Penang. As my grandfather already had a wife in Alor Star, my mother, her elder sister (my 3rd Auntie) and her elder brother (my 4th Uncle) could not follow my grandfather back to Alor Star - initially.

However, when my grandfather later got a divorce from his 1st wife, my grandmother, my 3rd Auntie and my 4th Uncle was invited by my grandfather to his house in Alor Star. However, my mother was left behind as she was deemed too young to travel, and probably too much of a hassle to be taken care of if she had been brought back to Alor Star. So sad.

Well, she was left in the care of her grandmother (my great-grandmother). She became very close to her grandmother, living with her in Trang Road, Penang until she was 14 years old. I wonder how so many people could have stayed in that one tiny house in Trang Road? She stayed there with my great-grandmother, my grandmother's elder brother (Tua Koo Kong), his wife (Tua Kim Poh), their 7 children, my grandmother's sister and her 5 children (among them my Beng Ee and Aik Koo).

I understand that she went to stay in Alor Star for 2 years before coming back again to Penang to further her studies.

Next:
1) What happened to my great-grandmother's husband?
2) My Mother - Part Two

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noreply@blogger.com (A.Ung) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 12:04:00 +0000

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Snow Flower & The Secret Fan - Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (A.Ung) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 06:29:00 +0000

Cover of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan: A Novel

Just finished reading the above book a few days ago. "Snow Flower & The Secret Fan" by Lisa See.

I don't know why but I seem to be in the mood to read books about China lately. As I posted earlier, I read Chinese Cinderella and Falling Leaves last month. They probably fueled my desire for more "chinese" books.

Anyway the book started somewhat slowly. I had expected it to have moved faster as this book is fiction, unlike the 2 earlier books I read, which were true stories. However, it did get moving faster and faster and sorta fast-forwarded itself towards the end.

Here's a synopsis of the book which I found on Lisa See's website:-

A language kept a secret for a thousand years forms the backdrop for an unforgettable novel of two Chinese women whose friendship and love sustains them through their lives.

This absorbing novel – with a storyline unlike anything Lisa See has written before – takes place in 19th century China when girls had their feet bound, then spent the rest of their lives in seclusion with only a single window from which to see. Illiterate and isolated, they were not expected to think, be creative, or have emotions. But in one remote county, women developed their own secret code, nu shu – "women's writing" – the only gender-based written language to have been found in the world. Some girls were paired as "old-sames" in emotional matches that lasted throughout their lives. They painted letters on fans, embroidered messages on handkerchiefs, and composed stories, thereby reaching out of their windows to share their hopes, dreams, and accomplishments.

An old woman tells of her relationship with her "old-same," their arranged marriages, and the joys and tragedies of motherhood—until a terrible misunderstanding written on their secret fan threatens to tear them apart. With the detail and emotional resonance of Memoirs of a Geisha , Snow Flower and the Secret Fan delves into one of the most mysterious and treasured relationships of all time—female friendship.

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