Will we ever learn..

Do we really need something bad to happen to learn our lesson?A child was kidnapped last week while on the way back from a grocery store a block away from her house.She went because her father ask her to go!How can you as an adult ask a 6 or 7 year old child to go out alone to do chores like going to a grocery store?A few years ago this nation was shocked when a child was kidnapped and later believe to be murdered while going out,ALONE to a night market near her house.Yet there are still parents who believe it is alright for their child to go to a grocery store,or to the playground NEAR their house,ALONE.

It is because of our mentality.We always believe it will happen to someone else but not us.Aren't we that someone else?When an accident happen,we say it is because the driver is careless,or because the driver is speeding yet we ourselves are sometimes careless,we also speed yet we believe we will never get involve in an accident.When we read in the news a lady driver handbag was snatch,we say she was careless yet there are lots of lady driver who put their handbag right there on the passenger seat while driving.Ladies,snatch thief can snatch your handbag while you are busy talking on your mobile while entering or exiting your car,yet when you go around especially at parking lots,it is a common scene.If it is just your handbag they are targeting,what if it is your car or you yourself?

Isn't it too late to regret things that has already happen?It can be avoided if we are more careful,more observant of our surrounding.Money lost can be replace,but a life lost?

Plan To Fail If You Fail To Plan..

No matter what you want to do,it is better to plan it properly.Even things that is properly planned sometimes faces problems and difficulties.While we are in school,every year we will be given the timetable,so we can plan ahead on which book to bring on that particular day,and when to do our homework.Planning can also become a career to some,wedding planners,production planners and etc.

If you want to start a business,make sure you make a proper planning before you start.To be successful in business is not just about having a good product or competitive pricing,you need a good business plan.I work as a Freelance Business Consultant,my job requires me to help setup a new business or help a business overcome its problems.Setting up a new business is easier because I can start from scratch and I can give ideas and propose what is best for the business,prepare a business plan as a guide.Helping a business overcome a problem is much more complicated because the business is already running,you have to deal with the owner,the management,the employee,the culture and lots of other things,the biggest of all is the EGO.

I don't want to go into details of making a proper plan or how to develop your business plan,this is not what this blog is about,but just want to share something that happen in this last few weeks of November,regarding 2 restaurant business in 2 different part of my country.

1st restaurant is an open area with a factory size floor area specializing in grill seafood with about 30 to 40 tables and can cater to about 120 to 150 customers at one time.The problem is,the management must have forgot to take into consideration the time it needs to prepare the seafood and how long to cook it because most customer have to wait for about 40 to 60 minutes for their food to arrived,especially the grilled ones.The food is quite good because the recipe is different from other restaurant that offered grilled seafood,but customer will be turn away by the long waiting time,and another problem is customer getting different orders.The waiters tend to mixed up customers orders.

Second restaurant is a normal restaurant specializing in Beryiani.Here the food is average,the problem is with the service.I ordered Iced Tea and the waiter asked hot or cold?I don't know whether to laugh or to be mad,so I just say politely,cold of course.Then the drinks came and he send me a Hot Tea,so I said,I ordered Iced Tea,he replied,I have already told the guy who prepare the drinks the customer ordered Iced Tea!yet he still bring the Hot Tea.I cannot blame the waiter for being stupid but I put the blame on the owner for not training the staff properly especially the front-line staff like waiter/waitress and cashiers,who will engaged with customers in delivering their duties.

Most restaurant owners here put more emphasis on the outlook of their restaurant,and believe their food is as good as any other restaurant around if not better,but failed to plan properly on how to train their front-line employee because a bad service  will leave a bad taste no matter how good your food is.

Well Done Malaysians!!!

Not talking about our Malaysian athletes participating in the SEA Games though their performance and achievements do make us proud.I'm actually referring to Malaysian who have this enormous desire to be the best among the worst!

• The best in beating red lights,
• The best in making a minor road congestion into a major traffic jam,
• The best in making life miserable for emergency vehicle driver, 

Should I go on?We are moving towards becoming a developed nation,we want to be among the first to receive new technology,we consider ourselves tech savvy people,yet we act like uncivilized people when on the road.It is a sad thing of what we have become but a problem that is not unsolvable but needed collective effort from everybody.The law enforcer are there to enforce the law,but we ourselves must know and understand the law and do our very best to follow it,not just learn the law to get our driving licence.

Come on Malaysian..lets prove that Malaysia Boleh is not just a moniker but something that really drove us to achieve our goals,make our road safe by being a responsible person.. 

  

A Special Day

Birthday,Anniversary,Mothers Day,Fathers Day..a special day to celebrate a special occasion every year.Do we really need a special day to announce our love,our thoughts to people who are special to us?

When is the last time you tell your husband/wife or mother/father you love them?When is the last time you kiss your husband/wife or your mother/father?When is the last time you do something to show your appreciation to your husband/wife or mother/father?Their birthdays?Mothers Day?Fathers Day?Your Anniversary?Your Parents Anniversary?

Do you know when is your mother and father birthdays,and what year?For married couple,do you know your mother in law and father in law birthdays,and what year?

I try to be a good son to my parents.I wish I could do more,because I know no matter how much time I spend with them,no matter how much love I showed them,how much money I give them..it just won't be the same with the amount of time,money and love they showered you with while bringing you up until now.

When we were growing up,our parents will do their best to give everything to fulfill our needs.They bought toys for us to play with,prepare food for us to eat and they make sure we eat good food so we grow up healthy,sent us to school,universities.In short they attend to all our needs.Our parents never ask us to give back what they have given us,treat them how they treat us,but after growing up and we our self become adults,we should know how to repay them,but instead some of us forget or choose to forget.We prefer to do things that fulfill our needs and satisfaction.We seldom visit our parents,maybe distance is the reason but in this modern days of voice calls,video calls,can we give excuse of not calling our parents,at least once a week?

When we want something from our parents,we want them to give it to us then and there,but now,when our parents wanted something from us,which I am sure is not something that happen very often,do we do it or give it to them then and there too,or do we give excuse just to get away from it,or we still do it but on our own sweet time?From simple chores like do the laundry,take out the garbage,wash the dishes to can you send me to the clinic,can you take me to the bank,can you help me with the groceries..how often do we help our parents?To some of us,even when asked to do something we find it hard to do,being able to offer to do something for our parents is maybe out of the question!

Even a call to ask how they are can light up their day,just imagine how they would feel if you come to visit,take them out shopping,take them for dinner.Appreciate your parents because we are who we are today thanks to them.We never ask for their love but still they showered it upon us everyday,now it is our turn to return the favour.

Sharing..

I've been smoking since I'm 15..I'm 43 now..damn..I've been burning my lungs for more than half of my life..wonder how it looks?I'm clean now..I've quit for good end of 2009..promise my wife I'll quit before we tie the knot in 2010..wow..the power of love..

People say to quit is hard..you need support,especially from loved ones,friends,colleagues..some have to go through therapy,counselling,buy products to kick the addiction..1001 and reason for not quitting.Me..looking at my pack of cigarette,just say to my self..once I finish the last stick,that will be my last..forever..and that is what i did..I quit just like that..no one knows I quit,not my family,not my fiance,not my colleagues..not nobody..Just me making a promise to myself..

We are stronger than what we actually know..it is just the matter of having the faith and will to do it..We don't need people to tell us that we can do it,that we are strong enough to do it..We must tell our self we can do it,we are strong enough..if we can do that..nothing else matters..

The reason we still don't quit is because we keep on giving excuse for not quitting..if you want to quit..just do it..just like when you first start..nobody pushes you..so why need the push when you want to quit?

If you want to do something..do it because you really want to do it,do it for your self..don't do it for anybody else or for any other reason..because the pleasure of achieving what you really want to do is priceless..

One year already

Wow..how fast time past by..it has been a year since my last post.Lots of things happen during the past year.I quit my job in August,got a new job but it only lasted a week,now I'm jobless again..doesn't look to good but I am as confident as ever :)

This will be an important year because I'm ending my bachelor day next month,on the 26th February 2010 to be exact!Congratulations to me!The lucky girl is non other than the love of my life whom I've known for 8 years,Bushra Tajuddin.One may wonder how someone who is jobless but still manage to get married right?It got nothing to do with luck,but with persistent,trust and above all confidence that Allah will always bless your good intention.

We chartered our own course of life,we choose what we want to do,what we want to achieve in life,but we don't and we never know what the future holds.

We start this new year with sad news of things happening in Haiti,there will be more disaster and tragedy throughout the year but hopefully this will be a better year than 2009,be it in economy,health and life as a whole.

A New Year..A New Start

Actually it all started in December last year.Praise to Allah I finally manage to get a permanent job and of all the companies I  have applied to,went for interview,I ended up in a technology based company,to be more precise,a Microsoft Certified Gold Partner.Imagine that,someone who have been out of a job for quite a long time,have very minimum knowledge about technology,at least from my job managing my own company I do  know about IT,but we mainly do hardware.... to be able to work in a technology based company!

Never give up trying and praying..that is what I've been doing,and I thank Allah for this opportunity,for his blessing.Now I have to work hard to prove that I can deliver,have to learn a lot of things along the way.I remember reading somewhere,What you can think of,you can achieve..and I certainly agree.Why?Because if we can think or imagine about something,it is within our reach and capabilities,it is just up to us to try and achieve it.

I started of as a business development executive,that is what I apply for,and that is the position I was offered.But after the first month I realized that I can give much more,at least I thought and believe I can.So after a discussion with my boss,actually it was more a heart to heart talk,he agreed on what I propose.On 2nd January I was officially appointed as the Operation Manager.I have to go through a 3 month probation period,yet only after my first month I've been promoted!That is why I'm saying,if you can think of something,and try to achieve it,you can actually do it.

As human,we seldom fault our self if something goes bad,but we always want to be credited if something good happen.Try to change,sometimes it is good to reflect and learn from the mistake we make.If we can't even admit to our mistake,how are we going to learn from it?

This my 2nd week in my 2nd month working in a new place,but there is so many thing that I have learn,and so many things that I want to do.I pray that I will be given the strength to fulfil all the task and responsibility given to me and at the same time manage to give something extra when and where necessary.

I used to read a lot about Internet Marketing and I still do,in IM,you will always hear the terms,You have to give first before you can ever get anything,and believe me,it is true.So try to give,rather than wait for someone to give you something.

Always believe,always try..never give up.I really thank Allah for what I have now.Other people went into 2009 with uncertainty,some lost their jobs,some lost their businesses,but I got a job,a good job with a good pay after going through a lot of hardship.Life is like a wheel,sometimes you are at the top,sometimes,out of the blue,you come tumbling down.Like what Forrest Gump said..Life is like a box of chocolate,you'll never know what you're goin' to get inside..

Happy New Year..may 2009 ends up brighter than what most people predict..it is just prediction,no one can really tell except ALLAH.

Why Men Are Never Depressed.

Men Are Just Happier People :-

Your last name stays put.

The garage is all yours.

Wedding plans take care of themselves. Chocolate is just another snack.

You can never be pregnant.

Car mechanics tell you the truth.

The world is your urinal.

You never have to drive to another petrol station restroom because this one is just too icky..

You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.

Same work, more pay.

Wrinkles add character.

People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them.

New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.

One mood all the time.

Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat..

You know stuff about tanks and engines. A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase.

You can open all your own jars.

You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.

Your underwear is £4.95 for a three-pack.

Three pairs of shoes are more than enough. You never have strap problems in public.

You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.

Everything on your face stays its original colour.

The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.

You only have to shave your face and neck.

You can play with toys all your life.

One wallet and one pair of shoes -- one colour for all seasons.

You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.

You can 'do' your nails with a pocket knife.

You have freedom of choice concerning growing a moustache.

You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.

No wonder men are happier.

Send this to the women who can handle it and to the men who will enjoy reading it

Just Something To Share..

Just something I want to share to put a smile on my readers face just like it did when I open my email.

Have a good weekend.

A Time To Reflect.

It has been a week since my last post.I've been busy with some personal things and reflecting on life,on what I have achieve with this blog,what people say about it,about my other blogs.

To all those out there who thinks my English is bad,well,I'm so sorry.This is the best that I can do and I'm trying each time to improve it.I'm from Malaysia,a country in South East Asia where English is taught as a second language.I speak in Malay since I start to talk,because that is my native language.But I start to learn English when I was about 5 or 6,I keep on asking my dad about this and that,until he decided for me to learn it myself.He gave me an English newspaper and bought me a dictionary,and he teach me how to use it.That is how I learn English.By the time I started school,when I was 7,I can read and spell in English.I live in the rural area,in a Palm Oil Plantation,the nearest town is about 18 miles from our house.I didn't go to kindergarten,but I still do well in school,especially English.

We move to another Palm Oil Plantation in another state when I'm in standard 4(10 years old),and we live there until I'm 20.During my secondary school years,I improve my English by speaking to tourist who came to my place,because the town I live in is the last town before they all went to the famous Taman Negara(National Park).The either came by bus or train,and then continue the journey by bus to the place where they will get on a boat ride up the river to the National Park.I normally hang-out at the bus stand and will ask them where they came from,will they be staying over night before continuing their journey.This really help a lot,with my English,and my confidence.It is never easy to start a conversation with strangers,especially people from foreign countries.

I know my grammar is not very good,but I remember what Seth Godin said,you are not writing to get an A in an exam,nor you are writing about English Literature..you are writing about things that you like,that you want to share with others..Just write it the way you can as long people can understand it!If you don't know who Seth Godin is,he is the bald guy who wrote a few well known books,especially about Internet Marketing and he is the one who created Squidoo.People refer him as the guru of all guru's.

I want to share my view,my thought,that's all..What is the point of writing a post almost like a journal,but people cannot relate to it,or only a few people can appreciate it.What about those who wrote using all those foul language,or writing with certain slang?

People do things in ways that they are comfortable with,not everyone will like it,but certain people do.If my blog is not to your liking,if you find it not up to the mark,not up to your expectation,then just leave and find something that you like.There a are a lot of different blogs out there,we cannot blame them if it is not to our liking,they didn't start a blog to please everybody,but they know some people will appreciate it.I've seen so many blogs that I don't like,but I never comment about it,I just leave it be,they have the right to be here,to create their blog,and they can do whatever they want with it.There are adult blogs,gay and lesbian blogs,Scientology blogs,atheist blogs,blogs that say bad things about Islam..I've seen it all,but never say anything because it is their right to do and write about it.

I'm sorry if my English is bad,but I've seen blogs from certain countries that are worse,but I never criticized and ridicule them,maybe they want to do it like all of us but they lack the knowledge,so why not give them a chance,give them a break.There are translation tools,but would it be the same?I've tried using it on some blogs that are written not in English,and find the article a bit odd.It has lost the originality.

The blogosphere is open for everyone,some will last long,some will just fade away.Just let them be.Who knows mine will be here longer than the one that have a perfect English but boring post.

Are We Being Responsible?

I'm not much into politics,but I do follow things that happen around the world.The political scenario in my country have turn for the worst.I thought the last election in March was the biggest thing to happen,but now there are new things unfolding,sadly,it is more about personal attacks rather than a political issue.

What I like to focus about is not one regarding the attacks being made,just read the newspaper or see the news and you will know what is happening.My concern are about bloggers.Bloggers are free to express what is on their mind.My country are not like China where you can be caught and imprisoned for writing certain things about the government,about freedom.We always hear people talking about freedom of speech,but what is actually freedom of speech?

Does freedom of speech mean we can say anything,or for bloggers to write whatever we want to write,even if it is not the truth?Can we write something like calling name to a certain leaders,writing about their families,wife,children?Do we know the truth that give us the right to write something about it or we just write merely on something that we hear,something that was told to us?

They say the media in my country,the newspaper and television are being control by the government,so the stories are pro-government,but they still got licensed to publish their own newspaper and distribute it.No bloggers have ever been caught and send to prison for what they wrote.Doesn't this mean you are free to express yourself?

To what extend do we exercise our right to freely express ourselves?To write something that we doesn't even know the truth behind it can be considered slanderous.Yes..we can be famous because we write about something that other people only dare to talk about while having coffee in some laid back coffeshop among very close acquaintance.People will wait for our latest posting to know what is the latest "news",but is it the truth or just hearsay?

We have responsibility,to ourselves,to our country and our religion.Do we want to be known as the one who created chaos in this little and peaceful country?Do we want to be known as the one who instigate the people to go against the government?Are we writing our blog for our own satisfaction or do we get paid to do it by somebody else?

We can be heroes,we can be champion,but let it be because we do something right,not because we spread rumours,because we spread slander.Be a real champion,fight for the people,not for certain individual who use who ever they can to achieve their dreams.

Shiny,Happy People And Breaking Records.

Happy people or breaking records first..

Lets see about an interesting record breaking feat first.I guess most of you know what Mozilla want to achieve when they launch the latest version of FireFox browser,FireFox 3.It was launch on June 17 with Mozilla aiming to get 5 million people downloading it within 24 hours of the launch.They did manage to get it,the actual figure when the 24 hours is up is at 8,002,530!What a marketing strategy isn't it.Now after 2 weeks,the number is well over 28 million and Mozilla has published this map below showing the penetration of FireFox 3.Congratulation FireFox.



According to the US government-funded World Values Survey,a survey done regularly by a global network of social scientist,Denmark is the happiest country in the world with its democracy,social equity and peaceful atmosphere while Zimbabwe,torn by political and social strife,is the least happy while United States,the world's richest nation ranks 16th.

The survey found that overall the world is getting happier and it found increase happiness from 1981 to 2007 in 45 of the 52 countries analyzed.Ronald Inglehart,a political scientist at the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research who directed the study said he believe there is a strong correlation between peace and happiness and also between democracy and happiness.

Denmark might not be the richest country but it is prosperous.Among other countries that rank high in the survey are Puerto Rico,Colombia,Northern Ireland,Iceland,the Netherlands,Canada and Sweden.Though the United States is not the happiest country but from a global perspective it looks good said Inglehart.The US is not only prosperous,it also ranks relatively high in gender equality,tolerance of ethnic and social diversity and has a high level of political freedom.(Source:Reuters)

I wonder if my country is included in the survey,if it does,where it ended,over to the top or more towards the end.Most of the people in my country are not happy before the General Election in early March,so the ruling government suffer defeats but still manage to keep on ruling,now the fuel price is up by 41%,they become more unhappy,then there is this conspiracy theory going on,one person who was next in-line to become the Prime Minister back in 1998 was surprisingly caught and charged with sodomy,but now he is trying to be the Prime Minister again,and another sodomy case was reported against him.Would the government be so stupid to come up with the same conspiracy,and I doubt the first time it happened it was a conspiracy.The person in turn accused the current Deputy Prime Minister of his involvement in this conspiracy and in a murder case that is still on trial.

I'm bored with all this political drama,in politic,you can say and do whatever you want,but it is all about you wanted to be where you want to be,it is not about the people or the party you represent.Like this guy,you are supposed to be the Prime Minister,but for a sodomy case,you went to jail instead,so now,10 years later,you are out,and you have lots of people backing you up,are you fighting for them or just to fulfill your ambition of becoming the Prime Minister?Even the party that has his wife as the leader was formed with the initial intention to fight for his release back then and now it is the fight to make him the Prime Minister.

I'm happy with my life but things like this is very disturbing for the future of this country and especially to the people.It is not the time to fight for position or what,now is the time to recover the economy,to bring back stability and to provide a better living for us citizen,so we can all be happy :-)

At Last....After 44 years.

Yes..that is how long Spain had waited to get their hands on the European Championship.They won it last in 1964,they went to the finals in 1984,but lost to France.Last night,they achieve their dreams,and ended the long frustrating wait after beating Germany 1-0 in an entertaining game with Fernando Torres providing the much needed goal to send them and their country on a wild celebration.

They deserve the win.They play such a wonderful and intricate passing game,defence splitting passes and they also defended very well.They outplay,outclass and outpace the Germans in the finals and maintain their 100% record in the tournament.Torres rightfully won the Man Of The Match award and Xavi won the Player Of The Tournament award.

I got my prediction right,although Spain won by a solitary goal,but they can easily won it by 2-0 or 3-0 if not for the goal post and Lehmann great goalkeeping ability even at 38.This will be the last post about football..for now and enjoy some great photos from the finals.

Hey..My Prediction Is Right.

Well..the dust of Euro 2008 semi-finals have already settled,and as what I have predict,the finals tomorrow,or more likely in the early Monday morning here will be Germany vs Spain.

Germany barely make it in the semis against Turkey,but this time it is the German turn to break Turkey's heart in the very last minute of the game,through a goal by Philip Lahm to end the game in Germany's favour,3-2.Turkey took the game to the Germans and deservingly took the lead in the first half,but it lasted only 4 minutes,in a sweeping move by the Germans,Lucas Podolski sent a cross from the left,and Bastian Schweinsteiger was there to guide the ball into the net.The Germans took the lead in the second half,Rustu made a bad judgement of the flight of the ball,allowing Miroslav Klose to get to the ball first and head into the gaping gol mouth.Turkey known for their never say die attitude fight back and got the much needed equaliser 6 minute later and everybody was thinking it will go to extra time,but Lahm have other ideas,he collect a pass inside Turkey penalty area and slammed it in for Germany decisive goal.

The Spain-Russia game is much more anticipated by fans all over because it is between two free flowing attacking teams and with talented players from both side.All eyes are on Andrei Arshavin because since his introduction into the Russian team starting with the game against Sweden,the Russian have a been a different one from the one that lost to Spain 4-1 in their first group game.The game was rain soaked right from the start,but both team do live to the fans expectation with the game going from end to end,with both team trying to make the breakthrough.Spain was dealt a big blow when David Villa,the tournament top scorer with 4 goals,and the only one who manage a hattrick which he did against Russia has to be taken off because of injury,on came Cesc Fabregas,the young midfielder who played for Arsenal,so Spain have to play with one lone striker,Fernando Torres and back-up by 5 midfield man,4 supporting attack,and one as a holding midfield,especially to neutralise the threat of Arshavin.

Many may have thought that Russia will take advantage of the change of formation and personnel to the Sanish side,but it wasn't to be,instead it was Spain who got the lead just 5 minutes after the restart,their two midfielder,Xavi and Iniesta,team-mates at Barcelona combining well for Xavi to score.The Russian was suppose to pick themself up and get the equaliser,but it was the Spaniard who dominate the game and later got two more goals,securing the place for their first European Championship finals in 24 years.They will be hoping to win it to add to the last Championship they have ever won back in 1964.


Many people look at Germany as the favourite to win the title this year,because they have won it 3 times before,they have the experience of big games,but football is sometimes a funny game,it is not about statistic or history,it is all about how the team perform on that day.The Spanish are a young team,but they have the right mentality,just look at how they did it against Italy in the quarter.I've written in my earlier post,if Spain can beat Italy,I think they have a big chance of going all the way and bring the trophy back to Spain.I will go for Spain winning it this time,maybe 3-0.

Some Valuable Experience.

I have a problem with my kitchen sink since yesterday,I don't know whether it is clogged or what,but the water just won't go through,filling the sink basin.I called my landlord so he came this morning with some chemical that is use to clear clogged pipe.It didn't work,he gave the number of a plumber he knew,ask me to give him a call,and later deduct the bills from this month rent.I don't have any problem with that,only I have on me just a few dollars to get to the end of the month,and I know how plumber in my place charge for their work.

I know how they charge because I use to help my friend who is a plumber while I was in my hometown.The charge is 4 to 5 times than it should be,simply because the work look difficult and messy,but actually very simple if you know how.So using my experience,I do it myself and everything is OK now,except for all the water on my kitchen floor!I manage to do it without replacing any part and using what I have available in my house.

What makes people willing to pay high for it?It surely is messy,you will get all wet sometimes,if it is clean water than it is still OK,but if it is not?The charge will be higher for toilet jobs!Charge will be higher too if the pipe is in the wall or floor,and if there are things that need to be replace,the pipe,the connector,elbow joint.You can easily get 3 days pay just for 1 job!

My life have not been easy,so I learn to do many odd jobs just to sustain myself.I sell cakes my mother made by setting a table by the roadside,I run a stall with a friend selling food,then later become a cook when his friend ask for help when he open up a restaurant,I made the drinks too sometimes.Then I got my break and manage to get a good job as an executive in a computer company,until I manage to set up my own company,but then I ran out of luck so I have to struggle again,this is when I help my plumbing friend,I can also do some electrical work,sometimes I help my contractor friends build house or do paint jobs..This is all good experience because it will be useful to you one day,like what happen to me today.

Rich people can always pay people to do jobs for them,even the simplest of task they can afford to pay someone else to do it,but me,I learn to do lots of things,so during times like this,all that experience sure come in handy.If I have some money,I want to start my own cafe,I will design the interior my self,I know the material so I can look and buy it from the best deal I can get,and I can ask some of my friend to help me with all the construction,plumbing and electrical jobs.Hope my dream will one day come true..Maybe I'll name it The Bloggers Cafe.

Football...Again?

I love football and can't stop talking about it,well for now since Euro 2008 is still on going with tomorrow and the day after will be the semi-finals stage with the finals on Monday,until then,still something about football here.When the English Premier League starts in August then I will become football mad again..

The quarter-final stage have ended,4 teams will fight for the two finals spot,while all the 4 losers will be heading home,or already home by now,getting all those needed rest before the new league season starts again all over Europe.For those who have impressed,even though in the losing team,many clubs will be scrambling to get their service for the new season.

The semi-final is between Germany and Turkey tomorrow and Spain again meeting Russia the next day.Some interesting fact about this 4 teams.Only Spain are the group winner,Germany,Turkey and Russia are all the runners up from their respective group.Two teams who have some what find their magic at the very right moment,and two teams with luck certainly seems to be on their side.Let see some interesting photo of the quarter-finals before we look at those 4 teams.

The back from the dead team.
Germany.
Starts their campaign in a great fashion by beating Poland,but against Croatia they just can't find their earlier rhythm and lost 2-1,to make things worst,they lost one player because of a red card,Bastian Schweinsteiger.They went into their last game against co-host Austria knowing only a win will get them through,but still they seem to be lacking it,until their captain,Michael Ballack fires them ahead with a thunderous freekick,and they hang on to win and go through to the next stage.Against tournament favourite,Portugal they found back their normal flowing game,and most of it because Bastian Schweinsteiger are back,and what a fitting comeback because he score the first goal and then setup the next 2 for Klose and Ballack.

Russia.
A very bad start when they were beaten by Spain 4-1,then struggle to beat Greece 1-0.Just like the Germans,they need to win their last game to go through and it is against Sweden,the difference is,in this game they welcome back their playmaker,Andrei Arshavin who miss the 2 opening match because of suspension(He was red carded in Russia last qualifying match against Andorra)and what Sweden saw was a different Russian team from the one that lost to Spain and struggle to beat Greece.They move fast with great and fluid passing,making the old guard in the Swedish team look like little boys,Russia win 2-0 but the way they play it could have easily been a 5 or 6 goal margin win.Then come Holland in the quarter,the team with almost the same style of play,but the Russian shows that they are more superior,and they have a slight advantage for having a Dutch as their coach,Guus Hiddink who was labeled a traitor because he mastermind the exit of his birth country.

The Football God on their side team.
Turkey.
I really think this title suits Turkey more compare to Spain because nothing can describe how they reach this stage.No one give them a chance of even finishing as the top two from their group.They lost their first game 2-0 to Portugal,trailing Switzerland 1-0 in their second game,but come back strongly in the 2nd half to win 2-1,trail the Czech Republic 2-0 with 25 minutes to go in their last do-or-die game,but still won it 3-2 to qualify for the quarter,play a drab match against Croatia that goes into extra-time,and Croatia score the all important goal with 1 minute left of on the clock,but..again,straight from the kick-off,a long ball is send in and..yes..you guess it right..Turkey score to bring it to the dreaded penalty shoot-out and they won it after Croatia fail to convert and Rustu made an important save.I don't know how they will fare against Germany in the semis because they lost so many players through injuries and suspension that they might have to use their reserve goalkeeper as an outfield player!

Spain.
The only group winner who manage to go through.Very impressive in their group games with a 100% record,but have some very strange luck when it comes to playing in big tournament.They have never beaten Italy in any World Cup or European Championship match,they have lost all of their last 3 quarter-finals match in World Cup or Euro over the last 22 years through penalty shoot-out,and all those quarter-finals are played on,you guess what..June 22nd,the same exact date when they play Italy,but this time luck is with them,they came out winners by beating Italy 4-2 in the shoot-out.

Who will go to the finals,your guess is as good as mine,in football,anything can happen.Odds are against Turkey because of the limited players they have,but even though when odds are against them,they still make it through.Spain will meet Russia again,but this time a different Russia because they have their talismanic playmaker,Andrei Arshavin and Guus Hiddink is the coach for South Korea when Spain lost to them in the 2002 World Cup.My pick..Spain vs Germany.

Of Football And Politics.

Euro 2008 are nearing the end,3 teams have qualified for the semi's,with one more team will be decided today between Spain and World Champions,Italy.The winner of this game will meet Russia,with Germany and Turkey contesting for a place in the finals.Heartbreak for Croatia who lost to Turkey on penalty shootout,and The Netherlands who play great attacking football in the group stage to beat Italy,France and Romania,only to lose to Russia,missing yet again another chance of winning a major tournament.Portugal,another tournament favourite have to bow out after losing to Germany 3-2 in the first of the 4 quarterfinals match.

Right after his team lost to Germany,Cristiano Ronaldo made another statement that suggest he wanted to move to Real Madrid for the new season from Manchester United,which does not goes down well with Man U boss,Sir Alex Ferguson,and Man U have made a statement saying that the winger is not for sale,and he still have 4 years more out of his 5 years contract with United.He is currently on a 120,000 pound a week wages,but with the reputation of scoring 42 goals for United in all game last season,plus winning the Barclays Premier League and The Champions League,he will surely want and increase to it,and Real are reported willing to pay United 50million euros or even up to 80million euros with a player or two going United way just to get this star player.Real are looking to start their "Galacticos" era again if they really insist on wanting Ronaldo.They started this trend when they bought the likes of Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane with record breaking transfer fees but still fail in finding real success.We just have to wait and see in this coming weeks where Ronaldo will be next season.

When a team fails,the blame will fall upon the coach,like what happen to France,finalist in the last World Cup,but fail to win a single game in Euro,and only manage to score 1 goal in their 3 group games.All are calling for Raymond Domenech to be sacked,even players and former players are joining in by saying that he made some bad decision resulting in France failure.This is football,you win,people will heap all the praise on you,but when you lose,these same people will be the first to criticized,asking for your replacement.The political scene here in my country is not much different,when the Prime Minister first took office,and face his first election,the ruling party have a very good win,everybody says that he is a good Prime Minister,he has done a good job since taking over from the old one,yet,4 years later,on March 2008,the ruling party suffer one of their worst defeat in election,but still manage to rule this country,everybody is asking him to step down,even the former Prime Minister who pick him as his successor ask him to resign,saying he made a mistake in choosing him!Tomorrow there will be a no-confidence motion table against him in the Parliament,but I don't think it will materialized.It is just like football,the coach are the one to blame,in politics,since he is the party leader,he is the one they blame for the party failure.Football and politic require team effort,work as a team,and you will be strong,you will achieve your target,but if there is bickering within,one or two person with personal agenda,it will create unbalance in the team,making it weak,and fail to perform accordingly,because each team member have their own responsibility,and they have to support each other.

Blaming someone,forcing them to resign,is a stop gap measure,it won't solve the problem,and there is no guarantee that the new person can bring changes,or make the team perform.It is up to each person in the team to give full support to the leader,and the leader have to listen to what the members have to say,this will not create a perfect system,but at least it will create harmony,and all action taken is based upon collective ideas and agreement,not one made by one person.

Politics are like football,and football suffers when people start politicking it.

How To Make A Woman Happy.

This is what my girlfriend mail to me the other day which I like to share with all of you.I don't know the source,because it was forwarded to my girlfriend,and she forwarded it to me.

How to Make a Woman Happy.

It's not difficult to make a woman happy. A man only needs to be:

1. a friend
2. a companion
3. a lover
4. a brother
5. a father
6. a master
7. a chef
8. an electrician
9. a carpenter
10. a plumber
11. a mechanic
12. a decorator
13. a stylist
14. a sexologist
15. a gynecologist
16. a psychologist
17. a pest exterminator
18. a psychiatrist
19. a healer
20. a good listener
21. an organizer
22. a good father
23. very clean
24. sympathetic
25. athletic
26. warm
27. attentive
28. gallant
29. intelligent
30. funny
31. creative
32. tender
33. strong
34. understanding
35. tolerant
36. prudent
37. ambitious
38. capable
39. courageous
40. determined
41. true
42. dependable
43. passionate
44.. compassionate

WITHOUT FORGETTING TO:

45. give her compliments regularly
46. love shopping
47. be honest
48.. be very rich
49. not stress her out
50. not look at other girls

AND AT THE SAME TIME, YOU MUST ALSO:

51. give her lots of attention, but expect little yourself
52. give her lots of time, especially time for herself
53. give her lots of space, never worrying about where she goes

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT:

54. Never to forget:
* birthdays
* anniversaries
* arrangements she makes

HOW TO MAKE A MAN HAPPY

1. Show up naked
2. Bring food

We Are Getting Worse.

There are certain things that we have to pay to achieve something,but is it worth the price to pay?We live in a modern world,life is much easier today compared to 20 or 50 years ago.We can travel easily,we get all the latest news at our fingertip,we can reach anyone anywhere in the world when ever we want to,most of our daily task have become easier with the help of washing machine,microwave oven,vacuum cleaner,dish washer.We can relax and enjoy good movies,good music in the comfort of our living room and a lot of other things.Life is easy,but what have that turn us into?Did we become a better person?Do we or our next generation inherit the good trait that our parents,grandparents teach us?

I took the bus today to go to the city,but unfortunately,the bus that I took have a broken air conditioning system,so it was an uneasy journey for the passengers.The bus driver should check it first before he start his journey.One very unhappy passenger walk to the driver,and scold him,it almost started a fight,and to my surprise,that passenger works for the same bus company!He can tell the driver politely instead of yelling,or he can just get down and wait for another bus.

Bus drivers have some bad attitude too,they drive as though it was a car,weaving in and out,suddenly braking which at times almost got some passengers falling.They didn't stop to pick up people,how could they are driving so fast.They are being paid monthly salary,not by trip,so I don't understand why the rush.I doubt it that they are running on a tight schedule because they can relax at their stops and they certainly know what the traffic is like during certain times of the day.

I actually hate taking the bus,but I have no choice,I hate it because I have to wait sometimes for an hour for the bus,people don't know how to queue to board the bus,they sit in the bus like it was meant just for them,they give you that certain look if you want to sit next to them,they couldn't care less for the older,they even reserve a seat for their friends if they manage to board the bus first.We have a lot of foreigners working here,and most of the time,these people are the one who do this sort of things.I don't have anything against them working here,but you are in a different country,so try to follow the rules and the way of the local people instead of acting like it is your own place.

If you ever come to my country,especially in the city,try to avoid using the bus,use the monorail or LRT(Light Rail Transit) system instead,it is more convenient and efficient.I'm waiting for the LRT to extend their service to the area where I live,it will much more easy and convenient to travel then,even though it is a bit expensive.One more thing,avoid driving to if you can.The drivers here are mostly trainee stunt drivers or racing drivers wannabe!That is just the driving part,did I mention about the bike riders,motorcyclist?You will be amazed at how they ride their bike,especially dispatch or delivery riders,small bike,at full speed and zig zagging in and out of traffic!I sometimes feel like there is no meaning of all those traffic signs,traffic lights..they are always being ignored.Going into a one way street because it is a shortcut,beating red lights and speeding like you have a pregnant women in your car,changing lanes whenever you feel like it,without signaling,parking where you feel it is convenient to you,the best is right in front of the shop you want to go,even if it is blocking almost half of the road.

I can write about this and divide it into 4 parts and I'm still not done I think.These are the attitude of people in my place now.Inconsiderate,selfish.Most of them are educated,coming from a good family.Most Malaysian no matter if you are Malay,Chinese or Indian,we are brought up with manners,respect as the most important things.Yet when we grow up,we change,we lost all that value each time we get into our cars,each time we are among friends.I don't know why,but there is a certain Jekyll and Hyde character in most of us now.Is this the price that we are paying for the life that we have now?Is this what we are going to pass to our children?What kind of person are they going to be?

I love the old days..everything is at a much slower pace,everybody say Hi! to almost everybody,smiling at someone you see,always helpful,always respect each other,going out of our way just to help,just so other people will feel comfortable.We not only know our neighbours,but almost everyone living in the neighbourhood..

Not A Very Good Weekend.

A few things happen this weekend so it is not actually a very good weekend but I still enjoy it because I get to see my mom and I went out with my girlfriend.We don't do a lot of window shopping this week,instead she help me change the template of my other 2 blog.I must say that it is an experience for both of us,we make a lot of mistakes,things didn't really appear the way we wanted it to be and in the end we get frustrated,I get frustrated and somehow I hurt her in my frustration.When I reach home,freshen up,I called her and say I'm sorry for hurting her,if not for her,my blog template will still be the boring old one.

I went to see my mom the next day,my eldest sister also came because she wanted to see me to discuss about the catering business that she wanted to start.I can cook you know,that is why she wanted to see me.I have experience cooking for weddings,and here in Malaysia,Nasi Bryani(Bryani Rice) is the most popular dishes in Malay wedding.I can cook the whole dish,the rice,the Beef Bryani,the Dalca(curry) and Ayam Masak Merah(Chicken with sauce).It is a favourite dish here,not only during weddings and that is why my sister wanted to start her own catering business.I told her that I would love to help,but I have my own plans for now,I wanted to try my luck in either Saudi Arabia,Dubai or England.If all goes well,I plan to get married this year and go to either one of those 3 places with my wife,worked there for maybe 5 to 10 years and then come back,start our own business.I always wanted to open a cafe,serving Malay,Western and Chinese cuisine.I love to cook and I cook well too..I'm familiar with Malay,Western and Chinese food,not all,but a few,but I can learn because I like to try new recipes.

One of my relative got a stroke last Friday,I got a call informing me and asking for my help if I can try to heal him,do a special prayer for him.I did all that I can,but no one can be mightier than God,he passed away at about 11.50 am today..