In loving memory of my beloved wife

I had been using the yellow man as my primary contact since end of 2005. I had been rather satisfy with its connection in town and did not really matter too much till recently. The story began like this...

At the end of last year, as I wish to register having a subline with inter free calls. And so I subscribed the Digi150 plan and the subline with RM30 committed fees or something like that. My phone bills normally in range of above RM150 and so I believed it would a better choice. It was till after April, I seriously cut down my spending on phone calls/SMS thus making my monthly usage only at around RM80 and so I could be blindly paying the balance RM70 or so. Therefore I decided to have the call plan changed to Digi50 in month June.

Forget to add in details; the Digi is registered under my sis's name as my name was barred due to some little amount which I had not paid up since year 1998. I could still remember the old phone number which was a choice of Soo King, my wife. The number was 012 xxx3484 which carried the car plate number of her first car. I still remembered we were on bed side by side when the number was activated through a sms to a phone. At that time, the choice of number available only be known till activation later and would be informed through a sms. Soo King was smiling like a winner as this was her favorite number...

Coming back to the complaint...

And so I could not request to change the call plan as I am not the primary registration party. And so I got hold of my sis to make the request with a call to the customer service center. It was done fairly easy. Then my bill of July at RM150. OK perhaps the change would be reflected in the month of August and so I wait. I did not pay the July bill. Then come August bill of RM150 and now I grew frustrated as the connection was suspended. Then a lady speaking in Mandarin identified as billing department girl. I could still remember her rudeness. "...If you are not paying then we will cut your line..." OK I said in my heart as if I care as the service had been suspended. Then on August 30, I had a call to the service center asking why the plan change was not activated and the record shown request of changes was in the month of June and so I request them to file an investigation.The service center could not take my instruction as I was not the primary line holder. My sis called again filing a complaint and request to change plan again. And so I thought everything would be resolved. It was not till Sept 11 when I called again to the center....

I was informed that there wasn't any request to investigate and would require my sis to call in again. I was furious by now and so clearly instruct the agent to write down clearly of the complaint as a remark and the primary line holder will call in immediately to activate and officially demand for investigation. My sis called minutes later and I call again making sure the complaint was finally lodged. And now the answer was yes and I was informed that within 48 hours to hear a response from DIGI. A few hours later, I received a sms with claim the complaint was now under investigation.

It was monday, after 48 hours and I called to the center again at 5.35pm and asking why I was not contacted to get informed on the outcome. The agent said someone from billing will be calling me as there was a note in the system claiming to call customer on Sept 14. On hearing this, I said now was already off office hour, would I still expecting a call? The answer was really wonderful.... Billing department works 24 hours and normally they will contact customer at night and so not to disturb customer at office hour. He requested me to wait till 9pm. And so I waited. No call. I thus made a call on Tuesday 9/15 morning, asking why no one was bother to call or contact me explaining to me the outcome. I as customer seem like more keen to get to know what went wrong and keep calling while Digi does not bother to have initiative to contact the customer who is already in furious mode. I demand a call back at 2pm or else I swift to other telco. Minutes later, I had a call from billing department and I was chairing a meeting then I demanded them to call me after 2pm as what I had mentioned earlier.

It was only 2.34pm I received a call clarifying everything and reverted all overcharge and reconnect of the line. It was concluded as Digi mistake. But again, I still refused to pay the full amount without the overcharge. Digi had requested me to pay the total amount inclusive of overcharge. I refused as why do I need to pay for the total amount inclusive of overcharge as the mistake was not me. Why do I need to pay for the overcharge as I did not make the mistake. I refused and finally they agreed to deduct immediately and requesting me to pay RM155 instead of RM438. I agreed with one condition to re-connect the line immediately. And so they did. Now my digi is on line again but I will significantly reduce the usage. Why I need to pay for such a not understanding company. Digi, you are losing me.

This is the week before the Raya. Raya always meant another few days of rest for us. Normally we will visit a place or two during the festive season. We normally will go to KL taking advantage of no jam in the city and shop around.

Last year, the kids and I were at Penang but this year still have not finalized the venue of a short rest yet. Perhaps will go to Cameron for some natural cooling trip. After the holiday, the kids will have extended day off for a week and I believed I will miss them for being staying with their grand mother side.

What is the true meaning of life with getting up, work, eat then sleep and everyday seem repeating similar rhythm with occasionally adding one of two extra tasks. I really thinking for some change of life with resigning from present job if I do not need to worry for cash. I believed I will not be able to retire any time sooner unless I strike the jackpot. This is always the poor man dream for striking jackpot.

Without realizing the date, it is soon approaching another of the mid autumn festival. I do not plan to buy any more lantern and I should believed those of you bought would be still in good shape for the kids.

Every year lantern festival will surely reminded me of our sit together at front of the house with a teapot of chinese tea, a few moon cakes, a few lit candles and lantern on the night of 8/15 (Lunar Calendar)

I yet to know how will I spend the night but definitely I believed the kids will be around. Perhaps I will tell them some of our stories if they would like to listen.

It was another day. There seem to be nothing special about the day except it had been 1 year later. The feeling would be normally calm except I allowed emotion to overtake. I could easily skip to touch my heart avoiding burst of emotion. But I knew I could bring back all memory if I need to. They are here with me all the times.

I had mentioned to the elder about the date of the departure and he seem remember it well although he could be hiding his emotion as he normally did. The elder nowadays started to talk and somehow gaining some weight. Soo King would always teased him as calling him little fatty as she would call me Mr. Fatty and so being his son, the elder would be little fatty. Soo King, yes, he is growing up taller and stronger.

Please bless him with all you can and I knew you would with us every times. For the last 2 weeks which meant the month of spirit, I believed I could sense you were with us sometimes. I did not witness any strange sighting but I did feel something. And I truly hope it was you. I really hope your visit if it was your visit really meant you just would like to have a look on us but not as a message to me for being managing the past 365 days badly.

Dear, if there is anything wrong, I will realize and I will correct. After all, you are the only one perhaps could see all my thoughts being good or bad. I will try to be better to the family. I promise again.

There will be no prayer, no burning etc. But I just wish to spend a short moment with you later beside you. Thankyou for being my dearest wife and present me with our two greatest sons.

You are forever in our memory! I miss you and love you forever.

It is fast approaching to the date. An date in which I believed I could have myself from being indulged in memories. I would want to flash back some memories which we had been together...

We had an apartment in Penang. It was our little home, second of the purchase. The first one was located in BM which we sold off before we commenced living in. I had the apartment purchased at 2nd floor and you were rather satisfied with the little hut as it had a knock-off 2nd bedroom to form a larger master room. I had stayed in the apartment in mid of 2001 before you joined moving in with the elder in 2002. It was the first time of our family to be united in an apartment. There were always laughters and joy at the small hut. One being the elder reached the curtain and opened up to say "it is already morning, let go to the zoo..." We had promised him to bring him to visit the nearby mini zoo with the morning arrive. On hearing this, we could just spring up to prepare ourselves for the trip although it was really still early approximate 7am.

We also had first cooking at the apartment and have the dinner taken on the coffee table and we sat as if the Japanese with squatted finishing the dinner. I did not remember if it was tasty but I remembered you were smiling when we had the dinner. There was also an occasion when during one of our activities, we broke the other coffee table and we could just laughing.

On every Sunday, you would wake up early, while myself and the elder still in blanket. You were actually going to the nearby wet market to grab the fresh vege and served us breakfast. When we finished the breakfast, we would just drive off to the Gurney or Komtar for shopping. We would never fail to go out on every weekend.

These were just some simple yet happiest moment of togetherness. I believed only those experienced loss will know and understand the simplest yet warmest moment of togetherness. I am still missing you, my dear wife, Soo King and I love you!

It is now after 361 days after your departure. I could not really remember how I had walked so far and hold on to the lost. It was still just like yesterday whenever I flash back memories. When approaching to the month of September, my emotion became more easily provoke and I always find myself missing something.

It was sometimes yesterday I had further agitation after the movie "District 9" The movie suddenly reminded me of the lost when the alien was making a rose...There was certainly other elements in the movie that made me depress. My emotion was really disturbed and I cried at home. I missed you!

The feeling was quickly overtaking and I indulged in grieve for a while before I regain control. Then after, I chose to go to town for a walk to divert the attention of the emotion. I spent the night at hometown hoping having the kids around would grant me some relief. And it did!

Today, I went to the cemetery for the pre-prayer session and in the same time had the kids to visit you after not doing so for so long. It was, however an unhappy event thus making me felt so sorry for you, my dear! I had registered a prayer session for you but only to find out today that they indeed had left out your name. This is really ridiculous but there was nothing I could do.

I could have checked earlier. But I did not.

This occasion really depressed me further. I am sorry!

I am really sorry! For today, For past! For all!

It had been at least 5 days that I have the influenza like illness (sore throat, fever, flu, running nose, fatique) and the medication did not seem to fully cure the ILI. It helped to subside a little but not fully recover. It was only today after sufferring for 5 days I decided to have the H1N1 throat swab test.

I arrived early at the center at 9 plus and there was already a few of others waiting for the doctor. It was only around 10 am then I finally examined by the doctor. I told the doctor I could suffer with H1N1 and he agreed in which he had my blood sample and throat swab for lab test. I was then left home after another boost injection. The fever and the heat had made me sleepy and so I slept till 2pm.

Upon wake up, I was still worry and I started to read all about the H1N1. I could not help but to think abit negative. I prayed to God and wish to have your blessing to escape from this infection. I was only worry about how about the two little kids. Extended hours of sleep really have made my back aching and muscle strain. But this was the least I can do as I did not seem to have any motive and interests for any others. I grabbed the phone thinking to call the kids but at this hour, they would have slept and I did not want to wake them up.

I waited with worries but the phone just did not ring informing me the results. It was until at 7.45pm which I decided to call the center for results. But the response was that they did not know how to interpret but everything seem ok as there was no doctor around. I decided to visit the center and had the report myself.

First page is my blood test results. Everything within the nominal.

Second page is the influenza A & B antigen test results. I quickly ran down the report but observed these following which made my heart sank.

2) cross reaction : 1) influenza A strains (All are positive)

subtype of H1N1 : 5 strains

subtype of H2N2 : 3 strains

subtype of H3N2 : 7 strains

2) influenza B strains (all are positive for 9 strains)

Oh my god, I was tested positive as it written as ALL ARE POSITIVE.

My mind was blank immediately for awhile. How could this be???

It was only when I re-read the report then I found I had made a mistake in reading it.

It declared Influenza A Antigen and B Antigen NEGATIVE.

I quickly rang my mom informing her as I know she will be worrying me as much as I do. I will re-visit the center again seeking further confirmation from the doctor but the report had tested me NEGATIVE for H1N1

When i arrived after the trip to KL, I was already exhausted with fever and flu. The throat was flaming painful. Immediately, I went for a hot shower for some relief and soaked with water. I always believed water is the nature of curing. The condition improved after the shower as I could regain some strength. I knew it would be for a while before the illness took charge. And so I had myself a quick dinner and swallowed the hated medications.

I wrapped myself inside the blanket and thinking of many many things. The first thing came to my mind was to give a call to both kids who are with their grandparent. I said I love them and the elder one smartly asked me to take care and rest more. I could hear the voice of the little one and it was rather a cute little voice. Kids, I love you.

I turned on my macbook and start typing out all my belongings in draft and submit it as a will if there was anything to happen to me. In fact, I had little to leave for the kids but I do believed all of these should be well cover up to their uni-life. I sent this to a most trusted friend of mine.

Now, here I am still with flu and fatigue. I would fight the intrusion of disease. After all, I still have an incomplete mission to be fulfilled.

This week, I received a small profit sharing bonus from the earlier investment. The investment had paid off within 6 months for 20% return. I would still consider a good start although I was aiming at least 30%. I hope the second half of the year and with the start recovery of economy will boost the total rate of return to 40%

I normally good in strategic planning or some said nonsense talk. But this year I am trying to capitalize through realizing to actual work out. There will be another small setup in September and perhaps some of my friends already heard of it. Yes, I am starting another business venture. This round into hobby. It is all about transformers. I had named the shop as TF Harbor. It will be a hobbyist home for Transformers!

Today is the birthday of the elder, for his 10th birthday. His little brother still down with sore throat infection and suffering with fever. And so we would not celebrate but I still brought him to the store have him chosen a little gift and bought his favorite pizza and chocolate cake.

We only have the candles blowing when the little one has regained some strength. Happy Birthday, Weiyang.

There was a little story I wished to tell you, son.. 10 years ago, on this day, you were given birth. We had not given you a name yet and we do not know if you were a boy or a girl as we did not have scanning done for genital identification. There was no pressure whether boy or girl. Your mother had the strength and courage to give birth although she had the heart illness. Your mother is a very great mother of all. I was not at your mother side when you are born. When I visited your mother the next morning, she indeed teased me of guessing if you are a boy or girl. I could still remember her smiling face when she told me you are a boy!

You are born in the General Hospital and the practice was that a new born baby would be fed with mother milk. Your mother did not produce sufficient milk to feed you and you were crying. The nurses insisted you to be fed on mother milk. But you were so greedy and your mother were worry as you were crying. Your mother cried as too worry about you for not being fed. We interrupted and chased the nurse away and calmed your mother. WeiYang, ever you are just born, your mother already worry and care for you. You must remember your mother. That is the reason why I push you to remember some important date. Particularly on your mother birthday and date of departure.

There was a second incident where your mother worry about you. A day later, you turned a bit yellowish and did not really take milk. Your mother immediately requested you to be attended to and had you specially checked. This had resulted you have a day separated from her but placed under special attention. I was staring at you when your grand father said you have red hairs and smiled non stop.

You were not separated from your mother ever since you are born. I know you have an extremely close knit with your mother and her departure sure had cut this link off from you and making you uncomfortable and lost. Your way of reaction was pretended not knowing and avoiding, but I know you.

Wei Yang, on this day, please remember your mother! A great mother.

The little one had requested to a toy to be purchased on his way back when we left the center. I replied that it was late and we would get it tomorrow. He silent but tears started to flow down and I insist on not buying and have them back to home. I had them resting at home while I went to the suspected H1N1 mall to shop for the porridge recipe. It was fortunate that I have a caring friend to attend to the kid at this moment.

On driving to the mall, I remembered the requests you had made in the morning before your departure. You had requested of two items, 1) soya bean curb 2) 100plus. I had the second complied not the first item as I was thinking to have that for you when you discharged from the ICU and it would be really critical for me to be around without driving elsewhere. I still felt terribly sorry for missing out this last request. And so I turned the car to the toy shop for the item the little one had been requesting. It costed RM79.90 for three transformers minicon. I just do not wish for another regret.

At return, the little one had fallen to sleep and his body was still with high temperature. His lips were flaming red and it was really pity for a kid to be in this stage. I placed the toys beside him while getting the medicine. I awaked him and telling him I had the toys for him and he would need to promise to take medicine for the recovery. He nodded and took the medicine. He grabbed the toys and hugged as his bolster. I believed I made a good decision and I hope you would agree so.

When we finished the porridge, the little had regained tips of his strength and started playing his new toys. I reminded him to get some rest and I promised him to be by his side all the while. And so he slept at our room with the toys beside. His temperature still at above 100F and all I could do was to cool his body with some damped clothes repeatedly. It was not a sleep for me till around 4am and I was awaken when the phone alarm sounded at 5.30am reminding for the next medication. The little always is a smart boy and he immediately swallowed the medication and returned to his sleep. I caught some rest till 8am.

SooKing, please bless the kids!

When we stepped off from the house, the kids informed me that one of the fish pots was broken. It fell off and broke. May be it was due to the heavy wind or due to knock-off by cats.

Later in the afternoon at 1 plus, the little one suddenly complaints of fever and recorded rather high fever of 102F. At this age, this temperature would be consider quite high. I had him swallow the fever reducing medication but his condition did not improve thus alarm me to have emergency at the nearby premium health care medical center. We re-visited the same center but of course I would not expect to see the night shift on duty doctor. The center still practices the same approach -> registration first before any attention to the patient. It was somehow faster as all it needs were fill up the particulars for the medical examination sheet and log book. Within 5 minutes, we were attended to and the doctor said the little one has viral infection at throat thus caused the sudden fever. I mentioned the little one was hospitalized once at the center and so the doc recommended to have his pediatric to examine the little one. I complied and was informed that the pediatric was off and just drove off the center. He would return and attend to the little one upon return and had requested us to stay on. I felt relief as it would be better to have pediatric opinion. And so we waited.

The wait took 1 and half hour and it was fortunate that the little one had his earlier medication and the medication effect is running inside his antibody and so he was playing and joking with us. I approached the nurse a few times seeking why the little one was not attended to and we would leave if we would not being attended to any time sooner. And so, the nurse conveyed the message. We were called at the next minute. The doctor was not inside the consultation room and he came later after the little one took the seat.

I observed that he was not the little one's pediatric but told myself as long as pediatric would be ok. Nevertheless, this was not the case. It turned out to be another complaint. Written below would be what almost the conversion took place. He started in Cantonese and I replied in English...

Dr. L : "What is wrong with the kid? Before we begin, I would like to say that it is ok for me that you change the doctor. We do not block you from doing so? Now do you want the kid to be examined?"

On hearing this, I had my fire on...

KM : "If we do not want the kid to be attended to, why do we request and wait for you for one and half hour?"

Dr. L : "You do not need to wait and it is ok to change doctor" He pulled down his mask and I believed he was agitated by my repeated request of his attention and demand for immediate attention or else we would leave.

KM : " We had here waited for 1 and half hour and if we do not want the kid to be attended to, do we and will we wait here. You should not raise this as issue but to immediately attend to the kid"

Dr. L : "Do you know that I will off at 3pm? There are emergency and I was attending to another..."

I was really on my furious on hearing this.

KM : "The center called you and you informed us that you will be back soon to take the case. You had us waiting here for one and half hour. If you do not want to take the case, just inform the person who called you. Even if you regretted to be returned to the center, why not just have a ring to the center and informed us not to wait. Yes, we understand there are emergencies and we are here with emergency as well. I had requested you to return. You should had attended to us upon return or inform us there is emergency."

KM : " You do not have us informed and I requested you to be back. You could not be upon return and after one and half hour then only tell us to consider to change doctor! You just simply do not have the etiquette of a doctor"

Dr. L : " I do not think I would like to see you and the kid as there is no rapport..."

I was virtually yelling now. KM : " what type of doctor you are and you just do not have the etiquette of a doctor. What would you do if this is to be happened on your son and you are asking for help. Think if your family member involved in an accident and had been waited for help, but only hours later informed to consider to change to get some other help. You are not a doctor."

Dr. L : " I think now we should examine the kid"

KM : " Please do and this is what we are here for"

This ended another furious encounter with DOCTOR

Anyone who have heard this will be on my side as how could this doc made such mistakes

1) you can consider change doc and I am ok

2) I am off at 3pm

3) I will not accept you as patient as there is no rapport...

Consider a situation as below...

A police officer is just off duty and there is a killing going on at front. Can this officer claimed he has off duty and so it is not his responsibility to save the victim or to stop the crime. The off duty police does not like the victim and so refuse to stop the crime. No, it is not just the duty but it is an responsibility and expectation of a police.

If you do not have the heart, please quit and stop calling yourself doctor. Shame on you! Dr. L

I will reserve my right to have legal action on you as you have suggested refuse service as doctor when you are attending to a patient.

Why the doctor nowadays do not deserve to be respected?

I am not sure when is the start of the "ghost festive" according to Chinese. I began seeing some old ladies burning at roadside and so I believed it could be the arrival of the festive. I normally do not feel anything at all at this season. And not too this year and all of following. But I do worry only one thing. Would you be bullied? But if according to the calculation, your path is heavenly path and so should not have such annoyance disturbance by those "hungry ghost" And so if there were, I believed with your kind hearted, they will be still impressed and be friended. If there is anything wrong, pls let me know.

Yesterday, I received a call from Hong Leong bank following up the last complaint I had made through email to the headquarter through investor relationship. They offered apology and assure appropriate manner will be taken to ensure continuous good customer service. How sincere and how effective it would, I did not know but I did know the consumers must have the courage to stand on their rights instead of blindly mislead by individual. Why I said so... my mother and my friend was in the bank next day, and amazingly the teller (another girl) did not even ask for the IC till my friend asked why this round did not need the IC? She claimed that she was going to ask for it and recognized we were the complaint the day before. I guess the complaint had been made known. And they could not see that officer and according to them, she was away for training. Perhaps for customer service and etiquette training I guess.

I must be a bad person to some as making so fussy complaint. I could be being unreasonable, but the phone conversion still could not just cut off without ending. She could just said "... sorry, I believed you are on fire and this conversion is not going anywhere, so why not I call you back half an hour later after I checked with upper management on other alternatives and pls bear with us on this inconvenience" On hearing this, what else could I say?

Handling customers is an art!

Weeks ago, I received a letter from HLB claiming that I have an inactive joint account. It was a joint account with my mother. The last transaction was dated back last July 2008. And so it had been more than 1 year without any activity. So I have a friend helping me to deposit RM10 to the account but was being refused as require either one of the joint holder IC to re-activitate the account.

I found this puzzling as it was never mentioned in the letter that it must be self presented with identification and I could not know why deposit money require IC verification. Apparently, I called my friend and requested to have to talk to the teller directly. And so she replied me that this is policy. And so I request her to pass the call to her next level for the policy verification. Again, she claimed that this is policy and began raising her voice. I was upset and so I am demanding a printed or photostat of the clause of the policy. She refused impolitely and raising her voice asking who and where is the other account holder. I said she is my mother and where is she has nothing to do with her and just help me to understand what is the issue here as I as the customer would like to read myself that there is this policy of require the account holder to activate the account and presence himself. Even it cannot be done over the phone or with my signature or any authorization or power of authorization. I found this is really ridiculous as I can sell off a property and inherit a wealth with just the power of authorization with conscent of the owner without the need of the presence of the sole person. Why I am the account holder with my authorization and power of authorization cannot re-activate the account or worse make a deposit? I repeatedly demand for the policy and I believed I annoyed her thus she threw off the phone and refuse to talk to me. The bank which is a servicing company refuse to service its customer and refuse to talk to me. I have my friend asked for her name and she refused to inform about her name. I repeated requested my friend to have her on the phone as she had act improfesionally by throwing tantrum to the customer.

Bank, please remember, I make deposit to you and it is my money and it is my money. How can you refuse to talk to the customer. I could be stubborn but please make me understand and convince me no matter how bad the situation could be.

I was really frustrated and so made a direct call to her manager reporting this complaint about the ill manner of his staff on treating customer and I informed him that i have been with Hong Leong Bank for at least a decade or so and although I may not have million Ringgit with the bank, I am definitely pulling out all my fund from it. I do not need to have the money to you and I am sure there will be other welcoming me although I just have a couple of thousand.

Shame on you, Hong Leong Bank. And this lady, Ms Yip, you never know who you are dealing with and I am writing to the HLB corp for a complaint. I had been in this town for longer than you and you are well known of ill treating your customer. You will have a lesson learn.

Woke up in the morning receiving a not very happy SMS. It claimed there was confirmed case in one of the local mall at its food court. I did not know how true is this type of SMS as it could spread like wild fire. I decided not to circulate and will end at me. It would not require an unnecessary panic for the local.

For me, I would still have the same precautions. The kids would have orange flavor cord liver oil and vitamin C. Whenever they are out, they will be wearing masks. It would however, require constant reminder to the elder as his character is "tak apa" and so always would forget washing hands.

This afternoon, I will need to have an inspection on a shoplot to determine if I will start another mini start up of an trading haven for Transformers fans. Probes and responses seem to be good as there are always demands for collectors series and obsoleted transformers. Hmmm but with this start up, I believed I would lose the weekend with the kids unless I am bringing them to be guardians of the shop or let them playing with the precious figures.

Btw, the name has been pre-decided as TF Harbor, although the kids want it to be named as Maxtron.

Everything seem ok but I picked up the elder half an hour later due to the inspection. It was indeed great that he did not complain but just asked how and when would the shop be ready.

I planned to have the kids at the polo ground for some evening exercise but when I opened my eyes, it was already 7pm. We could just have the dinner at a nearby restaurant. My apology kids, I had made another empty promise. I promised them to take them to have the morning walk at the nearby hill in the next morning. I hope I could ready accomplish this promise, although it would be always tiring to be awaken in the early morning. After dinner, we were indeed at the mall where it was rumored with H1N1. I did not how true it was again, but I did observe the numbers of shoppers had been greatly and significantly reduced. Even almost all store keepers had their masks on. May be it was just pre-cautious. May be it was just approaching to the shop closing. May be!

We went home after I bought another bottle of vit-C. Btw, the little one will be having his dance performance on Sunday 4pm. Pls be with us as this would be his first stage performance. I knew the little one will be able to have a great show to us.

At 11am, I was browsing the old photo at Picasa. Those were the photo which we were having the vacation at Washington DC. It was in April with the Sakura blossom session. We flied to New York before we took a bus for a journey of 4 hours to Washington DC.

I still remembered at the journey, the bus had no air conditioning and indeed had to open up the air ventilation at the roof of the bus. It was not a pleasant trip at all. I could still recall some of the fake memory of the routes and scenery along the trip. There was also an incident. We were lining up at the Central Bus Station to get on the bus, but were disturbed by a group of youngster (of three perhaps) where they were trying to ask for some money from us. We did not bother them but they kept insisting till a nice old lady and man start to intervene asking them to be off. The elders indeed tried to shield us from getting disturbed by them. We felt so touching as they "protected" us like their family. I could remember the front lady also demanding them to get lost and had some argument with them. Along this, we could only remain silence but the elderly encouraged us to talk to them instead of bothering the three disturbing youngsters. And so, with the protection, we got on to the bus and set off to Washington. Thank you!

At arrival to the Washington, a friend of mine found himself with some infection at leg which require some attention and immediately docked to the nearby hospital and could not join us in the wandering around. He missed all the nice scenery of Washington DC and the Sakura blossom.

We had the walk around to the park but I could not remember the way of return. And thus causing you have to walk almost the whole of the Washington DC city. We lost about 2 hours and I had the little one with me while you were holding the elder hand to walk. You were still fit for this excersize but now I felt so sorry for having you to walk for so long. We should indeed have a cab and return to hotel within 15 minutes. But I remembered you saying, if the kids were not crying and complaining, you would like to walk with me.

The phrase still in my memory. I would like to walk again. You will with me right!

Kids, your mother is a tough lady and she is a great mother. She is!

For the past several nights, I started to re-experience waking up or mind wake up in the midth of the night. After the wake up, it is always difficult to get back to sleep as the mind will wander wildly for imagination, past memories, what if or blank. It is making me to be a bit exhausted upon actual physical wake up at 6.40am. I could need some sleeping aids perhaps. May be, I could have some cough medication before the sleep... LOL since I do not access to sleeping pill yet. Although I do have some stock as they were the leftover from you, but I still dare not consuming it as I always afraid overslept till missing the school for the kids!

This morning, I start feeling some heat at my body and the lips also cracked due to internal burning. I always believed drinking more water will help as this is always my remedy to mild fever. I am also afraid of the H1N1 attack and such I started to swallow a teaspoon-ful of cord liver oil. The kids are consuming daily a teaspoon-full of cord liver oil and Vit-C to boost the antibody

There was somehow, I still felt crippled as the elder is now in a rather bad habit. He did not flush the toilet bowl after usage and this is still repeated after being reminded for a few times. He is also practising less hygience as he did not wash his face upon wake up and at brushing his teeth. He is less concern about his appearance and he does not tug-in his school uniform properly. There are at less several others which annoyed me as this is not my expectation. He is seldom talk to me and upon my questioning, he is always remain silence and claimed he will comply but then after a few times, he repeats. I will definitely need some patience on him now.

Today I have the kids to have masks on when they go to the nursery and school. It is just another hopeful pre-caution. The kids are somehow like the idea of having masks as they see wearing it as some form of amusement. However, I warn the elder as he is playful and could be sharing with his friends. The elder's character is always forgiving and easy going; where I believed if he is bullied by friends, he will still remain quiet. I warned of not sharing and if the mask has been taken and used by friends, dispose it and inform me at the end of day. I will surely attend to the school and warn the other kids. The little one on this context, play smart quoting that he will not share. He always acts smart by hearing what we communicate and repeat after us. This is the difference of the kids.

It was ashamed to the ministry of healthy that claiming temperature checking will be carried out in all school. But when I check with the elder, he said there is nothing like this but the teachers indeed asked them to go hospital to check. I felt so bad about this as it was reported as A but in the fact is B. I will take our self-precautious by having temperature check at beginning of the journey to school. The situation of H1N1 is getting from bad to worse and this really worrisome.

If needed, I will have the kids at home more instead of those public area.

This morning, I received a strange number call. It was from the Aeon Credit and it was a male voice at the other end. He spoke with a few mistakes, first with wrong name of the company he represent and also speak rather bad English.

He was actually trying to enquire my interest in the credit protection. At the moment I just finished saying No. He cut the line without any words. How rude and strange. With this type of service, I just rang another call to the card center to terminate the credit card. Sorry, but you had annoyed me.

The twitter was known to me some months ago but I did not really bother it although I had registered. Similarly for the facebook and friendster. I could just occasionally login to exchange a few lines of comments to some friends and play some stupid games when I was really bore.

Now, I would try to twitter more.

What is twitter?

Follow me on http://twitter.com/kmchong

I am normally not an impulse shoppers and so I would carry a few of credit cards as I do not want to have too much of cash inside the wallet. Of course I also do not have too much cash available. There had been several purchases that I utilized the credit installment and this really get my finance out of control.

The installment rocked up to 15% of my income and I had been servicing them. I did not notice my financial status is already in red alert till recently I calculated the monthly expenditures. The total committed expenses are now twin-tower high to 70%. The situation will not improve till Dec before I completely paid up some credit usages. It was worsen as the source of income did not increase and I do not have other side incomes but I spent a few thousand on my new toys.

Now, I began feeling the financial pressure. Immediately I had cut back some regular unnecessary spending and utility cost. It was really ashamed that I would need to sell off some gadgets every month so I could have some breathe in every month for spending.

Kids, I am sorry but the toys buying every week will need to be cut!

There will be no exclusive dinner at weekend.

No phone renewal

No more credit card in my wallet

Before my parents moved to a double storey terrace house, we were brought up inside a wooden house with zinc ceiling, beside an always flood river bank, surrounded with pests, rats and may be even snakes. Most importantly it was illegal in some sense! Every year my dad would need to beg the MDKS with some channel for TOL (aka temporarily occupancy license) and so would not be demolished.

And we were lucky that our hut was not located in a strategic location that has any hidden commercial potential and so the hut still standing till today after 31 years later. I could still remember before the hut was finished building, I would sleep inside it without any walls but only with some parts of ceiling. This was continued for a few nights. I was even scolded by the BM teacher for not combing the hairs. Now I would reply the teacher that, I did not even have a place to sleep, where could possibly I could find a comb. Those were old days.

A few days ago and now here and then, I read about a nearby state with some "illegal house" pending demolition and they "villagers" are offered with some sense of compensation of 1 to 1 house exchange for double storey terrace. I am truly amaze and continue puzzle that what would the kids want if not a secured and permanent house to stay in. I do not believe they like to be in a tension area whereby seeing bulldozers, police, flesh fence etc. I do not have a detailed follow up on this case. But I believed there are always people that "beri betis minta paha" and commonly these are people who do not need to worry but "brave" enough as the frontliner.

I am sure the villagers have no time to read news and or read this blog, but I really hope that they will peacefully accept a move order with a replacement of a brand new double storey. It is for the future of the kids to have a better place to live on. An illegal house for a double storey terrace, I could not image if this was the offer to my parent's old wooden hut! I would definitely accept it and live on.

Please be considerate for the kids! Not your personal agenda!

In the evening I have a brief shopping at Jusco and it was just another approaching weekend evening. There were some shoppers perhaps in a couple of ten but I glimpsed that there was a few of them wearing masks. They were shopping and dining in a group. I could see them were teenagers but not Malaysian. I turned around trying to checking if there were others wearing masks. I found another family, a Malay family were too wearing masks.

Is this a sight of arrival of H1N1?

I believed there is one special moment of today. On 12:34:56 date 7/8/09 or 7/8/9, the time is aligned to 123456789. Wow!

There is always special moment of every calendar year.

It will be 10:10:10 on 10/10/10

Then there is 11:11:11 on 11/11/11

and 12:12:12 on 12/12/12

Wow... so many special moments

But I hope every moment will be special and meaningful to everyone

I read a wonderful comment from someone in nearby state over the matter of restricting beer in some area...

I stay in an area that do not have assess to some neccesity after midnight. I will need to drive for a mile or two to cater for the need when I need. I believed most of the people also will do the same. When there is a need, they can just drive or go there no matter how far or slightly far. By restricting beer in a local area, it really does not mean it will stop some one (who suppose not to be) from drinking beer. When there is a need, they just wander to the other area and buy more back and store at home...

If it is a legal items, by mean or not by mean, it is valid to be sold at any area. But of course we can restrict the person from selling to some one who is not "legal" to buy. I still remember when I was a teenager, I commonly seeing some of my friends had cigarettes but the cafe or canteen did not sell this. So? If not this store, they can buy at some other stall... may be 1 mile or 10 mile. It really does not matter.

This is not the fix.

I did not happen to remember how many wawasan fund being launched ever since the new leadership took charge in our nation, but I do remember there is already a few of them. If not, 4 of them within a short period of time.

This is truly amazingly as where would all these gathered fund goes to? I laughed whenever these fund is launched. And I bet there will be another a few before the end of the year. Time will tell!

How could the couple do this at my car and still did not bother me when I was yelling at them and demanded to leave my car or I would snap a photo to upload to youtube. Obviously they did not comply to my request. And here they were, for being no manners without seeking my authorization before having the sex at my premises.

It was another wednesday again. Last week, we just had the gathering session at your place with kids and others. Time really really fly. Before I realized, it is the 323 days after your departure. And today, I was unwillingly to drop by but when I was driving, I just drove to see you again. Today, the weather was cool and cloudy. But I still have the sunglasses on... For a simple reason.

I again could not control the tears when I tried to test myself if I already forgotten. But it was not. I still have not healed yet. The same memory still ran wild in my mind. It is still painful. When will I recover?

I remembered there was someone commented personally to me that I am just trying to show off as of how much I will miss you and I am a hypo. It really meaningless now to remorse. May be I am, but sharing a feeling and be brave to share and confess really require a lot of courage and I did. I am still felt terribly sorry for not taking good care to you and did not treasure and cherish the best of our time together. And I believed this could be the reason why I am still feeling the pain. How are you now, my dear?

I still do not have an answer yet!

I hope the kids can be ready sooner for me to share all these to them.

It was another normal Sunday. The weather somehow chilly with some wind. It was a really great Sunday for outing. But too bad, when I have my head straighten up, it was already almost time for lunch.

Today I added another two great Prime to my collection. And it was also today I had the glass cabinet started displaying with Prime. The highest value of my collection so far is this MP01 at RM400/=. It is yet not a new set as it is hardly can find any new set. And it was lucky that I manage to grab this first issue of the MP01 and I believed the age of this prime should be more than 3 years old. Somehow, I only getting this "second class" MP01 as it is the 20th anniversary version by Hasbro instead of the famous TAKARA. Both are equal but the value for Takara seem higher somehow for some reasons which I do not understand.

The second prime that to my like is the THS02. This is the small tiny little prime when it stands beside the MP01. I believed it measured not more than 4" but yet the build quality is really first class and it also bear its designer name. How Cool! And of course I got a new set for this at a premium...well RM300/=

There are at least another two Prime I am still looking forward to own. They are the Galaxy Convoy and Fire Convoy. I wish they will be in my collection soon. Btw, I met some collectors on Saturday night. It is also who I gotten the MP01 and they are really interesting guys who only aged around late 20 but yet the collections are 10x more than my initial counts.

Well, at least I find some focus to rely on now and I wish the kids will follow me too...although I kind of reluctant to allow them playing the Prime as the kids are really rough! LOL.

And tonight I have the kids to sleep with me. This is for some economical reason as I could save the electricity of turning on two air conditioners to one. Somehow I believed I will like to be close to them again. May be in a year or two, they will not like to be beside me soon when they are becoming more and more independence. So I will need to take the chance now...haha

At the end of the bath, I was stepping out from the bath tub and when my right foot stepped on the floor, I slipped. Thus I lost the balance with whole body hitting hard on to the floor. It was immediately acute pain at my spina and back. At the fall, there was still 1 - 2 seconds while I was almost on the fly (before hitting to the floor), my mind was really blank and thought of nothing but I could see the wash room ceiling and the next moment I regain my conscious, it was me moaning on the floor. I landed with my back and it was lucky that I did not have the head hit on to the toilet bowl or bath tub.

If I had hitted the back of my head to the toilet bowl or bath tub, I believed I would have been unconscious or see you at any time soon.

There are two things on my minds now...

1) I really need to have my will written down now

2) all the floor of the washroom must be coverred with those anti slippering mat

I still do not know if I suffer more severe damage due to the fall but I guess after a night of sleep, all the severity will emerge and I better get ready for it.

It is so fast... It is your "birthday" tomorrow. Last year, we did not manage to have the occasion celebrated as we were at the hospital and you did not like the idea of having any event inside the hospital. You were not fit for the occasion as well. I would rather we rest more as you could hardly sleep that time. I remembered I chased away the nurse who tried have the regular routine examination on you. You were half asleep and it was so difficult to have you rest.

This year, I went to have some flowers and prepared two cards for you. One will be from me and the one from the kids. And I was not feeling well with running nose and hopefully it will not be another incident of H1N1. I hope I will not infect the kids for flu. May be it was due to body fatigue and the flu, my emotional was rather disturbed and some memory of old events rush back, screening in front of me and all of these suddenly made my tears run down again. It was especially when the kids handed me their writing and drawing on the cards. I will bring the cards to you and I wish you will read them. Soo King, you will be forever in our mind and memory.

Happy Birthday and your wish to have the kids well taken care off will be granted and I promise you. They are my lovely kids and support. Oh ya, forget... I inherited a lot of gestures from you now... One being the way how I would hang the pants exactly like you and I believed it will be with me forever as I will hang the clothing under the sun everyday.. Ya, I need to wash the clothes everyday now. I hope you remembered there were times where we were hanging the clothes together as there were just so many of them; easily 30 - 50 pairs with 3/4 belong to the kids.

Yesterday, some inspiration to have a larger collection of Optimus Prime had urged me to drive to KL to buy-all-in-one-shot. There are seven of them, of which are old generation Prime which could be difficult to find now in shop. I reached home at 6.30pm and by the time I finished having them aligned, it was already 8pm. The kids were eyeing eagerly for the Prime but I warned them of touching but not "destroy" The kids are well known as destroyer.

I am still looking into other prime figures but will be more cautious for price then. After all, this is not a one-time-invest hobby.

Do you like the Prime?

I have opted to change the already worn out tyre and was advised to have regular wheel alignment and balancing for every 10k km. The car also require another service at its 40km milage. Both of these services are considered unexpected expenses but it is necessary to perform this service. The service center also inform me that it will be time to have the timing belt changed in the next service... my God! and the car also has a cracked windshield which is just pending to be shattered into piece. I hope it will be the last major service before year end.

Btw, the is something I wish to show you, the little one has managed to pedal the bicycle with the balancing wheels at two sides. He could ride fast now although still does not know how to apply the brakes. But he is enjoying his riding at every evening whenever he has the chance to cycle. He has grown up a lot, but getting more naughty and mischievous but I hope I will not spoil him.

I spent at least 2 hours in this painting and kind of like its used metal appearance and some battle damage signature. With this painting, I found another hobby --> repainting the transformers

Last night I was having a dinner and my friend suggested to have some casual street hawker delight and so we went to the "tong sui kai" but perhaps it was really too early, 80% of them were either not setup or closed. The traffic also was terrible as it was nearby to the Sam Tet primary school.

So, we tried to locate another stalls and I suggested the Hainan village chicken rice. But we decide not do so as it was dinner times and I only could observe 2 tables were occupied. My theory was that if the food are good, at this moment, the restaurant should have at least 80% full. And so, my friend suggested the nearby "Bentong fish ball" as it was supposed to be good and famous. There are around 8 tables occupied and only 2 of them were not yet served with food. There were at least 8 - 10 staffs around. For being first time to the shop, I walked to the food preparatory personnel trying to order our food and asking where was a bowl so I could pick. But I was told to be seated as their staffs would come and serve. OK OK! And so I sat there waiting. A middle aged short harsh voiced lady approached to take the order of drink. Fine, I order a drink. It was already 5 minutes and at the serve of the drink, the same lady asked me to pay and I was already furious and replied why there was no staffs to take my order as I only saw them gathered at the food preparatory area and there were at least 8 of them. The lady replied some one would come. I looked at her and she was waiting for my payment. I ignored and said "get the money from me when someone take my order" And so she left us alone. Immediately I saw her taking order from another customer and picking up the dishes. I watched and overheard that she yelled "I already take order of two tables...."

On hearing this and without hesitate, I asked my friend to leave the restaurant and did not look back. In this world now, you are not the only one who sell this type of food and you have nothing too great and why I will need to have my money to you while I was not honour as customer at all. What a shame! This is CHINESE stall. It is a shameful old style of operation. Good Luck to you. Another shop on my blacklist.

Last night, I had a chance of 1 hour break after dropping the elder to his music class. So I was windows shopping with my little one at a nearby mall. It is "The Store". It was a weekday and the time was approximate 8pm and so there was only a few shoppers. The entire store seem empty and quiet. We walked up to the third floor where it is the children and toy session. We stopped by the rack where there is a couple of "transformers" and "Gundam". There was already a guy, a rather tall and seem quite good looking guy there eyeing on Gundam. He took down the box and put it back. Walk away then come back. Repeated a few times. I was still at nearby, may be just 5 foot steps away. Suddenly I heard plastic bag wrapping sound, then I saw this guy picking up the plastic bag with a box of Gundam inside the bag and he walked away without looking back. While he was doing this act, he turned back to observe but he did not bother me who were at his front. It was as if I would not bother to report. I saw him walking to the escalator and descending to exit without paying a penny.

This was a shoplifting and it happened. It was just a simple trick and thus an item was stolen.

I mentioned this to the nearby keeper, but he also did not seem to be interested. I looked around but found no security guard. And so I left the mall wishing it good luck as it was so simple to shoplift items from it and its staffs do not bother.

What a shame to the shoplifter !

I repeatedly mentioned this incident to the kids reminding them do not shoplifting and I could buy them what they want. This incident also reminded me that I too fell in this trap before of shoplifting when I was young. But those would be for eraser, ruler etc. Worst case would be just changing a pricy price tag to a lower price tag. I still paid for the items. Haha...but this was still consider a crime and I did. I had paid off by then. This really remind me

It was another birthday for my mom. She is now turning to 66 and started to show some sight of aging. She has white hairs, wrinkles, joints pain, loss of memory and most importantly, she really old now as compare to my young memory of her. I always remember her younger appearance when I was in secondary school. She is a very dedicated woman and will never complaint for the kids although I always mischievous and disappointing her sometimes.

She will do anything for me and I know she cares for me the most, for being her youngest son. I knew it. I still remembered there was an incident of my mother queuing up at the bank to purchase a bank draft for her son. That was in 1991 when I just completed my STPM. I was indeed hoping to further my studies in Singapore since I knew I would not be getting in to the local U as I failed to acquire satisfactory results. It was really my most disappointing moment in my study life. I must confessed that (indeed only a few of my friends know this) I indeed thought of commit suicide as I had disappointed myself and my family. I did, it was a split second of thought. I did not remember what had made me to change this thought but I never did or so I would really disappointed my dearest mother.

She queued up for 2 hours and was riding to the bank with her bicycle and in the fact that, I could be the one doing so. But the shame of getting a poor results had made me embarrass to be out of the house. I was among the top student but I fell flat for the results...

I was really behaving strangely after the results. I did not talk to my family about how would I plan the studies nor my choice of studies. She was really worry but only to talk to one of my friend and since then I realized, I must not fail her again.

It was also at this time, with the accompany of SooKing bringing me back to the confidence of myself and moving forward to face the challenge of life so I will not disappoint the women of my life, Mother and Soo King.

To both of my dearest women, Thank you and I remembered all you have done for me, and I would not be myself as what as of now without your encouragement and support. I do remember and will always cherish. I must apologize for all wrong doings that pierced to your heart. I am sorry.

It was a bad influence from a good friend. He indeed motivated me towards joining him in the saga of transformers collection. But I would only interested on Optimus Prime and Bumble Bee. I have now 3 optimus prime, 1 bumble bee and 6 others. I am also have the 4 tiny petronas transformers set. (Bumble bee, Starscrew, Megatron and Optimus Prime) These are really meant for my kids so they will not disturb the bigger cousins.

This evening, I had also re-furnished the second living hall with a cabinet to host the Transformers. I hope I will able to find more of my likes and continue to pursue this collection. After all, they are really nice collection toys for memory.

There is a pot of "bird of paradise" which I have since early 2008. It only flowered once and it was the reason I bought it home. Since then, it never has any blossom and I was truly sad and trying all I could to bring it to flower. But it never did for more 15 months.

Amazingly, early this month, I could see it showing sight of blossom and it was almost like a miracle as it never did. Could it be the sight of paradise is accepting you or is this the sight you want me to remember you? I always remember this month is special for you. I do.

This week, the emotion drastically changed. I am easily upset and moody. I will fuss for a simple incident or item for hours and yet giving self heart-beating torture. It is because whenever I get angry, I am finding myself the sense of high blood pressure.

I had been nagging for sometimes since Tuesday and keep on complaining to a friend of mine. It was not really the problem of the person but I could not adjust or adapt myself to almost all situation. I am easily upset!

Today, I am making a fuss again as being FFK for some simple visit. I did not at all like the idea of FFK. Yet, the FFK was not informed to me till I checked up. I am really upset!

And alternatively I also felt terribly sorry for the kids as the little fell off the chair when he tried to climb up to the chair to off a light. The switch is way too high for him and the roller chair slipped thus he fell and cried. I was mad at this and punished them both. He cried even louder. After all, I was the one suffered as I was inspecting him when he asleep. It is simple to punish but the pains are really felt on me. Kids, please do not upset with me.

I am sorry but please help daddy for being good but not naughty.

I will again need to meditate to control my emotion.

My friend called me for the arrival of the "bumble bee" which I had waited for two weeks. After collected from his house and post the bath, I was already seated to prepare for the transformation...

It is at least 10 days I did not put a word on the blog here. Indeed I did capture quite a number of images and topics to share, but I just a bit too lazy to login to the blog but instead just resting on bed. It is sometime so relaxing just on bed without any thoughts and worry.

Ya, before I forget, I will still comment on some observations recently.

First, I started to see mushrooming of a red company. It was "SunRider". Everyone can start seeing it at almost every corner. Within a few hundred, one will see another outlet and another outlet. I do not know and do not care to know the nature of this company, but it is too many in the town making an eye sore. I will bet to "cut my head" if this company not going to be off the scene within 6 months. It may be doing good but without a good management to control the number to mushroom within doorsteps, customers will be confused and drive away. Good Luck. "SunRider", you just remind me the "KLG" or "MyFC"

Second...I started to feel life is so repetitive. Every week i am virtually and physically doing and repeating the same routine. It seems there is too much of routine schedule. And, I had stopped the morning sports. I get too tired after every trip fetching the elder to school. I would rather have another 30 minutes rest on bed. Then it will be followed by the routine preparation of the little one for his nursery then I reach the office for again non stop issues of yelling and arguing..May be I will need some juice to my life now. I try to ignite some sparks. OK OK I will

third, it is fast approaching to your birthday. This year, the lunar calendar and western calendar fall on the same day. I believed for this type of matching, it will happen once every 12 - 15 years. The last coincident took place in your 21 year old I believed. I may be having a trip to BM. I will need to "close" your wish made about 16 years ago at the St. Anne event. You have made it and I knew I will need to close it. I am also wanted to have a final wish to St. Anne so you have a peaceful life now and forever without any suffering of sadness and illness. I will want to close my wish to St. Anne. It was already almost 16 years I did not visit this event and I will go back for once and may be the last time.

July 26 will mark a closing chapter for your wish as we have been granted not one but twice gifts. The elder and little one are the greatest gift of all times. We will see you on this July 29th.