POW: A journey to Kelantan

Time aku buat entry ni, aku tengah ada kat somewhere, dalam Tren Wau, perjalanan dari KL Sentral ke Wakaf Baru. Aku dengan 9 orang lagi geng Rebanamaya naik tren, few others pergi naik kereta. Diorang nak merasa sangat naik keretapi, nah ambiklah, naik lah keretapi puas-puas 13 jam. Hehehe...

This is not my first experience traveling by train to Kelantan. The other time was back in 2006. Waktu tu, aku nak pergi Pulau Perhentian so aku amik train ke Tanah Merah.



Gambar ni diambil sewaktu tengah tunggu keretapi nak balik ke KL. Ni waktu aku dah lepas berehat, berjemur, berlenggeng dan benda-benda yang sewaktu dengannya selama seminggu kat Perhentian. Tu yang gelap je muka aku tu, hehehe...

Anyway, to some, it is quite a challenge to take a 13-hour train ride, dengan tak boleh tidurnya, dengan mabuk pun ada dan macam-macam hal lagi lah. Tapi aku sempoi je, dari mula perjalanan pun aku boleh tidur. Hahaha...

BN and UMNO raja getik

Entah sekarang ni meluat-meluat dan meluap-luap kemenyampahan aku dengan kebengongan UMNO dan BN serta kegedikan orang-orang UMNO dan BN atau orang-orang yang di sekeliling orang-orang UMNO dan BN. Banyak benda yang menyerlahkan keegoan dan kebodohan pemimpin-pemimpin UMNO dan BN. Dari kes royalti minyak yang tak sudah-sudah, kes liwat Saifool, kes MB Perak, banyak lah lagi benda-benda bodoh yang berlaku kat negara kita ni sebab pemimpin-pemimpin yang bodoh.

Antara benda-benda bodoh UMNO dan BN yang aku sangat kisah, ada few things. Satu - pecah amanah Setiausaha Politik Nor Mohamad Yaakop. Macam gampang kan? Umur baru in the 30s, dah boleh ada RM2 juta cash? Siap waktu buletin utama TV3 siarkan berita tu, boleh terkeluar dari mulut aku, "pukimak dia ni..." refering to the Satar guy, depan-depan mak aku pulak tu. Adehhh... nak buat macam mana, kalau perangai dah macam pukimak.

Secondly - kes perarakan Maulud Nabi tu. Muhyiddin pun dah jadi macam tahpahapa je main buat statement sesuka hati je pasal Penang cancel perarakan tu. Dulu aku rasa Muhyiddin ni kira boleh pakai laa jugak tapi sekarang, hmmm... lepas dia buat statement bantai Penang government, bukan main lah yang orang-orang UMNO yang konon alim ulamak tahap wali ni keluarkan nas-nas pasal perarakan tu semua. Pundek laa... entah-entah korang sedap tidur je pagi cuti tu tak pun pergi cuti ke luar negara, nak bising-bising. Pastu bila ada negeri macam Johor, Pahang, Perlis tak buat perarakan, takde pulak mujahid-mujahid UMNO ni nak bantai? Telur dah masuk ke dalam ke? Macam cibai!

Thirdly tentang rakyat dibutakan dengan wang ringgit. Tengok je lah ke mana Najib pergi buat lawatan rasmi, habis dijanjikan macam-macam dengan wang ringgit. Pergi Langkawi, dia announced nak buat jeti RM7 juta kat Kg Sg Cenang. Pergi Sarawak pulak, dia dah announced that 95% of all Sarawak akan dapat bekalan elektrik, to which I don't know how much the investment will be. Tu belum masuk RM8 juta nak buat jalan Nanga Ngungun-Nanga Jagau dengan RM9 juta nak buat klinik satuwhateveryouliketocall kat Nanga Tada. Yang pelir aku pelik, kalau all these developments dah ada bajet yang dibentangkan di Dewan Rakyat dulu, buat apa nak bising-bising lagi, nak kecoh-kecoh nak tell the whole world? Kan dah approved dalam budget 2010??

Itulah dia all the clowns of UMNO dan BN. Yang orang-orang di sekeliling these clowns pun dah macam beruk. Clowns buat slapstick gimmick, beruk terloncat-loncat suka, macam dalam gambar ni...

46th to 52nd

Nothing much happened this week. Isnin dan Selasa aku di Ipoh. Selasa, pagi-pagi lagi aku dah terpacak di PCMC. Then, lepas lunch aku gerak balik JB, dan weekend ni pun aku kat JB. Bila kat JB tu biasalah takde aktiviti apa sangat nak diceritakan. Aku plan nak tengok My Name Is Khan pun hampa, tak tayang lagi kat mana-mana bioskop di JB. Geram je!

Minggu lepas was all about jaga makan, makan ubat dan sambung training aku untuk Half Marathon Jun ni. Ye lah, dah 6 hari tak berlari sebab cuti CNY, so mengah juga lah nak mula balik. Tapi pagi tadi, aku lari on the road, dapat buat 6km, rasa sedap je, rasa banyak sangat angin (stamina) dalam badan aku nih.

Aku rasalah kan, jadual training aku tu macam berkesan je. Nothing much pun sebenarnya, just that on weekdays, say on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday aku akan lari on treadmill between 5km to 6km (that's around 40 to 50 minutes), then rest on Saturday. Ahad tu baru lari on the road and you should aim for longer distance, say at least 8km and target to run under 1 hour for the distance. Kira ok laa..

Pasal my diet pulak. Last week aku memang aku jaga betul makan aku. Aku makan jugak nasi, but on alternate days. Tapi aku avoid la nasi lemak, kuning telur, daging, keju, kuah/gulai bersantan. Sampai bapak aku masak sotong tumis cili pun aku tak makan. Dah le sotong-sotong tu ada isi (telur) kat dalamnya. Mak aku tapau cendol pun aku tak nak. Haish! Apa nak buat, kan?

Aku makan pulak - breakfast makan roti wholegrain dan epal, nak cari avocado dengan grapefruit tapi kat Giant dengan Carrefour tak jual pulak, minum air soya, pastu makan laa pil minyak ikan aku beli hari tu, and last but not least ubat kolesterol lah... Tapi Jumaat lepas, aku terkantoi jugak makan 4 butir goreng pisang. Tak boleh tahan godaan lepas solat Jumaat. Huhuhu....

Aku check balik result checkup aku buat tahun 2007 dulu. Memang waktu tu kolesterol level aku dah naik to 7.9, tapi after a month lepas makan ubat kolesterol dengan dieting (but without exercise), turun ke 5.6. So, with exercise aku harap next month dapat turun macam tu punya banyak lah. Hehehe... Tapi seriously, aku rasa badan aku ringan je sekarang, walaupun on scale sama je tak turun-turun pun.

This coming week, kerja 3 hari je before aku balik Shah Alam then off to Koto Baruuu with Geng Rebans. Tak sabar! Err... tapi awas, kena jaga makan sehhh...

POW: Winter Olympics

Sempena dengan Winter Olympic Games yang sedang berlangsung di Vancouver, Canada sekarang ni aku nak letak gambar yang related dengan Winter Olympic Games jugak lah kan? Heheheh...



Gambar ini diambil pada tahun 1998, 10 tahun selepas Calgary jadi hos kepada XV Winter Olympics ni pada tahun 1988. Itu kali terakhir Canada jadi tuan rumah Olimpik musim sejuk sebelum diadakan semula di Vancouver tahun ni. Aku ada jugak pergi Vancouver tapi waktu tu cuma ada tempat Sukan Komanwel je.

Anyway, aku nak ulas sikit lah pasal Olimpik ni.

Pertama, pasal ke'surprise'an aku dengan kemenangan duo dari China dalam acara figure skating. Perghhhh memang power lah diorang ni. Aku tak sure lah diorang menand sebab undi simpati dari juri sebab dah berapa kali diorang terlepas pingat emas dan ini olimpik diorang yang terakhir ke, tapi it was something unbelievable to see this duo to break Russian dominance in this event. Dan how, China has come up the rank to be among medal winners in winter olympics??

Lepas tu, aku ada jugak tengok event speed skating, yang macam acara balapan tapi kat atas trek ais lah. Yang aku tengok tu baru first round, tapi punyalah ramai peserta dari Korea, Jepun dan China. Gila aaaa... so, aku dengan member aku kat ofis ni plan lah nak jadi peserta pertama Malaysia yang menyertai sukan olimpik musim sejuk ni. Kitorang nak gi US, nak train dalam satu acara, dan for sure kitorang akan jadi the best in Malaysia, kan?

Atas faktor usia dan fizikal kitorang, acara yang paling sesuai lah untuk kitorang sertai ialah satu sukan yang aku rasa paling bodoh dalam sejarah sukan olimpik, CURLING. Kalau korang tak boleh bayang curling ni main macam mana, korang tengok video ni (click sini).

Prince of the Prince Court

It was a public holiday for my office in JB yesterday, being replacement to the public holiday to observe the demise of Sultan Iskandar which was on Saturday last month. So, I took the last train from Ipoh to KL at 9.45pm on Tuesday and arrived in KL Sentral at 12.45am. That's very punctual, and trust me KTMB service is improving and getting better! Can't wait to travel to KB by train next week. Yeay!

I was back at Prince Court again yesterday. It was my second visit as many months to the Prince Court. This time, to meet Dr Shan**r for my hypercholesterolemia. He's a nice, young cardiologist, more friendly and connected to patients than my other cardiologist, Dr Y*p. Well, I told him the whole story, from the medical check-up I did last year in Pantai to my pre-employment check up here late last month, showed him the results of my angiogram taken last year.

He was quite happy with my situation. He said apart from the high number on my cholesterol level, I'm otherwise ok - my blood pressure, my thyroid test result, sugar level, etc etc. In fact, he did not want to subscribe me with any medication but I insisted since I need to reduce my cholesterol level in a month's time to do another blood test for the pre-employment thingy. So, he agreed to prescribe me and to see me in a month's time.

Generally, I was happy with the way Dr Shank**r handled my case. He made it sounds not serious. Unlike Dr Haz*e who told me I was like a walking time bomb, can collapse and die anytime like Hani Mohsein. Damn! That's so harsh. I know I have problems, but don't give me more problems by saying such things, god damn it! So, I'll have to do another round of blood test in a month's time and if it goes down, I'll get Dr Haz*e to write another recommendation to the Emerald Co.

Oh, Dr Shank**r was quite surprised that my cholesterol level affected my employment with the Emerald Co. and he called up Dr. Haz*e seeking clarification. Dr Haz*e mentioned that the Emerald Co have the 'upper limit' for cholesterol level, which is 8.0. I laughed and told Dr Shank**r, "that's not that safe too for the Emerald Co. to hire!" Anyway, I'll take one thing at a time, for now, let's get rid of the hypercholesterolemia thing, then wait for the Emerald Co. to response.

At noon, made my way back to JB, dreadfully. Still lots of cars traveling south and despite slow crawl in some stretches, I arrived in JB safely around 6.15pm. And it's work again, for 5 days before another long weekend. Yiehaaa!!

39th to 45th

It was a sad week for me. It started quite brightly, just got back from KL/Shah Alam with a medal from Putrajaya Night Run to show, finished my bus service field study which quite impressive to my boss but I was still anxiously waiting for the email/call from the Emerald Co.

The field study on the bus service turned out to be good. In fact, my boss wanted to make it a more formal report, binded nicely and to show to the CEO. It came out to almost 40 pages altogether including pages with pictures. And I heard the report has ruffled some feathers at the authority body who governs the service. And according to my boss, the CEO quite like it, and she said if anyone from the authority body wants to have it, they have to pay for it. Hahaha...

That's the brighter side of the week. On the other hand, I received not so good news from the Emerald Co. There are two problems with my medical report, one with my WPW which is least concerning to the Emerald Co. Unfortunately the other thing, my cholesterol level has forced the doctor to not recommend me as I am temporarily unfit for employment. And my cholesterol level is 8.6, damn high which the doctor decribed as "you can collapse and die anytime, like Hani Mohsein."

So, before I went to see Dr Shanker this Wednesday, I've started to cut down my high-cholesterol foods intake like red meat, fried foods, even rice (until I came back to Ipoh), eat more of apples and the wholemeal, high-grain whatever bread. Damn! It's expensive and tasteless! RM4.50 a loaf. And I also found my cholesterol medicine from last year which I haven't finished :-) and I've started to eat it again every night.

That was the bitter side of the week. It took me almost two days to get over about it. Telling my parents were more difficult. My mom was ok, she was just concern about my health. But my dad seems to be presurring a bit. He kept on asking what's next and how's the Emerald Co. will take it? He even suggested that the Emerald Co. would response favorably in the next two weeks. Hello! I can't have a blood test every week. But I just kept mum, otherwise my blood pressure will go upstairs. Heheheh...

At this moment, the whole family just got back from Perlis, attending a cousin's wedding. As usual, the normal question was "when is your turn?" oh shit! and now it got worse since my younger brother is getting married in June. And there was a lady who wanted to recommend her daughter to me. Strangely, some 20 years ago, her husband was strongly recommended by a relative to my parents to marry my eldest sister but it didn't happen and now from a son-in-law-to-be he becomes 'bisan'-to-be to my parents. Funny!

Then, we went to Padang Besar but it was not as exciting as last time I went there. Probably because almost everything sold there can be found in KL/Shah Alam? Then, we went to Kuala Perlis for a dose of laksa Kuala Perlis, yummy! Loving it! I ate 2 plates/bowls of laksa and I think laksa is the only low-cholesterol food I enjoy eating.

With all that happened this week, I had firmly set my goals for this year, concerning 1) Health - by reducing cholesterol level by precription, dieting (to reduce weight to 55kg) and exercising (to run Half Marathon race hopefully by June), 2) Career - by changing job for a better position or promotion/upgrading at the current job, and 3) Financial - to restructure personal finance standing - by clearing some debts and have savings of [can't disclose here... err probably RM2 million like the Satar] by year end. That's all - and no love love yet. That thing can wait.

POW: X-Country

I should've posted these pictures two weeks ago prior to my first Open running competition. Nevermind, it's never too late to reminisce the old glories. Hehehe... okay, here are the two POW...



This picture was taken post our school's X-Country event in 1991, when I was in Form 3. I was really skinny that time and how I wish I could be slightly fatter than then. Anyway, like I mentioned in my previous entry, I was not given much hope to score much points but in the end, I managed to be placed 7th in Junior category (Form 1-3).

The guy in white (Idris House) is Amir Hamzah, he was our batch's second-best long distance runner and the one in maroon (Sulaiman House) is Izzat, another surprise top-ten finisher. Amir was 2nd that year, I was 7th representing Ahmad House and Izzat was 8th or 9th, I can't remember. My track bottom's brand was Antioni (couldn't afford to buy Adidas and there were no China-made fake Adidas in those days, only Abibas!). And shoes - Lotto, I think that was Peejoun's (my one-year senior).

Next,



This picture was taken on the course of the X-country. It was in 1992, when I was in Form 4, competing in Senior category (Form 4-5). Do you notice that I built up some muscles from a year before? Hehehe... And for that year, I managed to finished 7th, again! and this time I was competing with some very good runners from the Form 5. And the big guy behind me in black is Khalid, the headboy that year and he was one of the pre-race favorite but finished one place behind me. :-)

Not positive

Today, I put on all the courage and called Talent Sourcing and Placement at the Emerald Co., asking about the result of my medical check-up. The lady told me that the result isn't OK. One, is of course of my WPW syndrome. But there is another one, my cholesterol level is at a very very high side.

For the time being, the Emerald Co. will put me in its KIV list but for how long, it will depend on the Division hiring me. At the same time, I need to go for consultation (and medication if need be), which for normal cholesterol treatment will take at least 3 months to see the result. And in my WPW syndrome case, I will only get to see Dr Y in late April.

I spoke to the doctor who did my medical checkup, he said man! the cholesterol level is very high and that's why he couldn't recommend me to be fit for employment. In fact, I'm the only 2nd patient with such a high level cholesterol he ever came across all the while he's been working at Prince Court. (but I didn't ask him how long he's been working there). He added that I'm like a walking timebomb, I could collapse and die anytime, anywhere. I could be in the same position as Hani Mohsein or Ust Asri of Rabbani :-(

For now, I'm going to consult a physician in Prince Court next Wednesday. On my employment with Petronas, I have no idea, we'll see. Whether they can wait that long for me or not, I don't know. Kalau ada rezeki, ada lah. Kalau takde, live has to go on, for how long, I don't know...

32nd to 38th

The week started with all activities towards completing the necessary forms for the Emerald Co. - cop setem hasil, ambil gambar passport, hantar email minta tangguh tarikh melaporkan diri, poslaju untuk courier kan dokumen-dokumen tu semua. At the same time, the waiting game started. Day after day, I was anxiously waiting for the call/email from the Emerald Co., to give the clearance on my medical checkup result so that I can eventually tender my resignation.

At the same time, my boss called three of us one afternoon, mentioning his plan to keep three of us plus another two (from the total of 13 staff) in the division. The company is downsizing, with deployment of staff to subsidiaries to happen throughout the year. I gave a hint to my boss, asking what's his plan if anyone of us resign. Luckily he didn't get what I asked him. Probably, I'm the least expected to go. Anyway, will keep this thing to myself until everything has been decided.

On Thursday and Friday, I was out of office doing some field work on one of the services that we are offering in the region. This task took me to lots of places where I never thought reachable via bus. I had to hop on and hop off buses and moved from place to place by bus. Haven't done that for a while.

Friday wasn't really a good day to me, at least for half the day. I was quite curious why I haven't heard from the Emerald Co. after a week. A medical exam result shouldn't take this long, I assume. But, instead of calling the Emerald Co., I called the Occupational Health Service (OHS) in Prince Court, asking whether they have submitted the report to the Emerald Co. or not?

True to my worry, they haven't! The staff in OHS told me that they have yet to receive report from the Cardio department. Damn! So I had to call Cardio, the staff nurse told me she needs to check with Dr Y, and promised to call me back. I waited long enough but couldn't help myself from calling them again. Staff nurse said doctor is busy bla bla bla. Almost lunch break, she called and told me that Dr Y has prepared the report, it's already in the system and she blamed the OHS for not extracting the system in the system.

I asked her, who in OHS should I talk to. She said she forgotten the name but will call me back after prayer to give me the name. After prayer, she didn't call. So, I called but she refused to give the name. Instead, she told me that Dr Y hasn't done anything with my report citing his busy schedule and will only do so today. Damn! What took so long, 7 days to be exact to write a simple report - an OK or NOT OK?! One argument led to another until it forced me to lodge a formal complaint to the Customer Service Department (CSD).

The person in CSD promised to investigate the matter and would call me back later. Yes she did two hours later, she said the doctor at OHS has just received the report from Dr Y and will compile everything and submit to the Emerald Co asap. See... it can be done in less than two hours! I sensed that Dr Y totally forgot about it and what if I didn't call to follow up? And OHS is another stupid party, they knew of the pending report and why didn't they follow up with Dr Y????

Anyway, I hope everything will be resolved this week. I'm not sure if the official complaint I made would affect the report in a negative way? I don't know...

Sabtu, the highlight of the week. Malam tu aku akan berlari dalam the first Open running competition dalam hidup aku. Siang tu aku dah rehat secukupnya (aku rasa) dan petang tu bergeraklah ke Putrajaya, area Palace of Justice. The atmosphere was great, the spirit of the runners was sensational. Aku akan lari dalam kategori 7.7km dan memakai bib putih. Pelari-pelari full marathon pakai bib kuning dan half marathon bib biru. Jealous aku tengok those with blue and yellow bibs. Dan diorang tu ramai yang aku rasa lebih tua dari aku, tua banyak pun ramai. And they look amazingly fit and having fun! Macam lari marathon ni tak pressure apa dan not abig deal.

Aku yang nak lari 7.7km ni pun dah kecut-kecut perut ni. Anyway, aku berjanji pada diri aku untuk berlatih lebih gigih dan tahun depan kalau tiada aral melintang dan panjang umur, aku akan ambil bahagian dalam kategori paling koman pun half marathon (21km). Yeay!

Race category 7.7km started jam 9pm. Aku agak sewaktu di garisan permulaan tu, aku dalam kelompok yang depan-depan juga lah. Tapi bila dah dilepaskan, rasa macam ramai gila pelari-pelari ada di depan aku. Lepas tu, yang potong aku pun punya lah ramai. The first 2km tu, aku rasa macam nak give up, macam tak boleh nak teruskan, macam nak mula berjalan je, macam satu badan aku sakit-sakit, dengan jalan berbukit around PICC pulak lagi.

Tapi bila dah lari dalam 25 minit tu, aku rasa macam dah dapat rentak, badan dah adjusted dan aku tak fikir nak dapat top 400 dalam kategori 7.7km untuk dapat medal. Yang aku fikir, lari macam yang aku biasa buat kat gym bawah 60 minit, jangan berjalan, habiskan race dan collect sijil penyertaan. Tengah lari tu, nampak adik aku pulak tengah berjalan, aku kata "Cepat lah weh lari..." Dia pun lari, tapi dia lari laju dan potong aku. Dah lagi 2km nak habis (tak silap aku), aku rasa the urge to stride, panjangkan langkah. So, ramai jugaklah yang aku potong. Ada yang dah berjalan, ada yang dah tercungap-cungap.

Bila gantry start/finish tu dah kelihatan, lagi laju aku lari. Akhirnya sampai jugak aku ke garisan penamat dengan masa 50 minit 35 saat. Dan lagi best, aku dapat nombor 392, dan dapat medal!! 400 peserta je dapat medal ok?! Dan medalnya macam ni laa rupa bentuknya....



So, not bad lah kan for the first try?! Dan yang lagi bestnya, aku rasa running a running contest ni adalah satu hobi yang sangat sangatlah baik untuk kesihatan dan tidak membebankan dari segi wang ringgit, tenaga, buah fikiran, dan sebagainya. At the same time, dapat juga kawan-kawan baru, selain mengekalkan kelansingan and... can take you to places.

Bulan depan ada satu lagi night race, the Energizer Race di Cyberjaya which aku dah registered. Dan lepas larian Putrajaya tu jugak, aku terus registered untuk Bidor Half Marathon bulan April nanti. Dua-dua races tu aku amik yang kategori 10km. More races to come, maybe Stan-Chart KL Marathon, Penang Bridge Run, Borneo Marathon ke, tengok lah. Yang penting, aku kena tingkatkan latihan dan usaha. Dan akan banyak lah t-shirt, sijil marathon dan lagi best kalau banyak medals!! Go!! Caiyork!!!

POW: LTdL2000

Aku sendiri tak pasti macam mana sewaktu aku kerja di Proton dulu di bahagian Corporate Planning, aku boleh terjebak dengan Events dan Sponsorship punya aktiviti. Tapi yang aku pasti, setiap tahun tibanya Le Tour de Langkawi, nama aku mesti naik untuk support bahagian 'cavalcade'.

Untuk pengetahuan korang, 'cavalcade' ni lebih kurang promotion team untuk LTdL race lah. The convoy of vehicles (ada setahun tu mencecah dekat 90 buah kenderaan) akan membawa replika-replika penaja-penaja di atas kenderaan 'cavalcade', kemudian badan kenderaan-kenderaan akan dihiasi dengan logo/iklan penaja-penaja, etc. Konvoi 'cavalcade' biasanya akan tiba di sesuatu lokasi sejam sebelum basikal para pelumba tiba.

Dan konvoi akan bikim havoc di lokasi-lokasi yang konvoi berhenti, contoh di tepi-tepi sekolah atau di pekan-pekan kecil untuk memberitahu orang ramai yang pelumba-pelumba basikal akan sampai tak lama lagi. Yang bestnya, kenderaan-kenderaan 'cavalcade' ni akan bawa bersama dan distribute kepada orang ramai cenderamata-cenderamata sumbangan para penaja. Paling busuk-busuk pun pen lah, atau note pad. Paling best, kalau dapat t-shirt, cap, memang grand lah tu sebab kebiasaannya cenderamata ni semua ada cop logo LTdL.

Gambar bawah ni, sewaktu LTdL 2000, tahun pertama aku join. Aku tak sure di mana lokasi gambar ni, mungkin somewhere kat Johor atau Kuantan atau mungkin juga Melaka, entah? Dan kalau korang kenal, dalam gambar tu ada Seelan Paul. Waktu ni dia masih lagi penyampai dengan Era FM dan juga Kiran yang waktu tu dia masih lagi dengan Skuad Perodua Era, belum glams lagi tapi sekarang dah glams. Aku je tak glam-glam lagi. Huhuhu....



Tak banyak gambar LTdL yang aku ada sebab semuanya bukan dalam digital copies, waktu tu pakai filem lagi.

The Run!

My running kit just arrived yesterday. I'm so excited though I'll be running a short distance of 7.7km only. 3 days to go before my first competitive run since 1993. Hmmm, that's like 17 years ago! Damn! Ironically, that was when I was 17 years old, running the cross country for my Sports House for a distance of 5.6km (or is it 6.5km, I can't really remember).



The nice part is, when it comes to annual cross country affair, teachers and fellow House mates will look up on me as one of the hopefuls to score not just one or two points, but to break into top 10 which carries lots of points for the House. I remember in form one and form two, I was just a regular runner, scoring 1 point each year for finishing within the qualifying time.

Then in Form 3, I managed to finished 7th or 8th in Junior Category (combining Form 1, 2 and 3). That was a breakthrough year for me and people started to recognize my ability to run middle and long distance. In Form 4, I was contesting in the senior category with the Form 5s. Didn't put much hope, especially knowing there are some good runners from the older batch but in the end, I managed to finish 7th, which I consider an outstanding achievement.

In my final year in 1993, the rules changed - there were 5 categories, one for each Form. I didn't train at all prior to the run and still not sure whether I would run or not until that very morning when I said to myself, just put on your gear and run, regardless where you'll finish at. That year, I also finished 7th among the Form 5s. And that was the last time I ran competitively.

So, come this Saturday I'll be doing something I haven't done for the past 17 years. I kind of worried because I haven't been able to practice on the road as I wish and I only did around 5km on treadmill these few days. Thinking of how am I going to finish a 7.7km run already made me nervous. Anyway, my target is just to finish the race within 1-hour and to get the certificate. And if I managed to get a medal, that'll be bonus!

25th to 31st

Minggu yang indah!

Seminggu kena pakai songkok berlilit kain putih ke pejabat. Pagi Isnin tu, rasa janggal sangat dengan kemeja lengan panjang, tali leher dan songkok di kepala. Mula-mula tu rajin je aku pakai songkok even waktu aku di depan komputer aku. Tapi, lama-lama berkuwap kepala aku jadinya. Naik pening kepala aku, akhirnya songkok letak di meja je, bila nak keluar dari pejabat baru aku pakai.

Pagi Isnin tu jugak aku dapat panggilan dari the Emerald Co. Diorang tanya alamat nak hantar offer letter dan dokumen-dokumen lain. Maknanya, aku dapat lah kerja di Emerald. Yihaaa! So, diorang hantar dokumen semua tu ke alamat aku di Shah Alam dan email aku the scanned version.

Walaupun aku tak dapat gaji yang aku mintak, tapi kira okay lah sebab aku dapat lebih beberapa ratus daripada gaji aku sekarang dicampurkan dengan elaun kereta dan petrol yang aku dapat. I'll still be in a better position, lebih-lebih pulak dapat balik semula ke SA/KL! Tapi aku tak respond lagi kepada Emerald sebab aku nak tengok dokumen-dokumen lain dan buat medical check-up dulu.

So, sepanjang minggu tu, fikiran aku melayang-layang je laa mengenangkan aku bakal kerja di Emerald. Perbualan-perbualan aku pun berkisar dengan kerja baru ni je, ada jugak aku mintak pendapat kawan-kawan rapat aku, ada juga aku search di internet tentang working life in Emerald, aku survey macam mana aku nak commute to the workplace, etc.

Khamis, aku drive balik ke SA. Jumaat cuti gantian untuk Thaipusam. Bila dekat nak sampai SA, perasaan aku lain macam seronoknya dari waktu lain. Mungkin sebab perjalanan pulang ni yang beberapa perjalanan terakhir yang aku buat. Mungkin sebab aku dah tahu perjalanan aku ni mungkin dah nak tiba ke penghujungnya. Dan waktu aku drive tu jugak, bila aku tengok kereta-kereta ke arah selatan, aku rasa letih, nak muntah thinking that I'll have to drive back to JB later on Sunday. Heh!

That night, aku go through all the documents. Takde apa sangat, banyak borang-borang yang nak kena isi je. Dan juga ada surat suruh aku buat medical check-up di Prince Court. On Friday tu pagi-pagi aku dah call Prince Court nak buat appoinment, dia suruh datang hari Selasa which aku kata tak boleh sebab aku kerja di JB. Then, dia kata kalau aku sanggup tunggu, aku boleh datang terus tapi arrive before 11am.

Medical check-up awalnya went well, urine and blood test aku rasa takde apa. Test mata pun ok, test tiup api dalam komputer (nak tengok oksigen dalam paru-paru agaknya) pun ok. Then buat test pendengaran, first time aku buat test ni. Ok jugak kot. Cuma lepas tu aku kena jumpa cardiologist sebab ECG test aku detects ada some complication dengan jantung aku. I'm not surprised sebab kat Pantai last year pun ada problem jugak.

Lama tunggunya nak jumpa cardiologist sebab aku walk-in je. Waktu aku jumpa Dr Yap tu, aku cakap lah it's strange because they detected similar problem in Pantai last year but the results of CT Scan Angiogram that I went through didn't show any blockage on my arteries. Dr. Yap cakap, why they put you on angiogram? It is absolutely unnecessary. Your problem is not because of artery blockage, it's something else. Aku mula cuak! Dalam hati puas aku maki Pantai.

Rupanya I'm having Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome which I was born with "an extra connection in the heart, called an accessory pathway, that allows electrical signals to bypass the atrioventricular node and move from the atria to the ventricles faster than usual." Walaupun aku tak pernah mengalami keadaan yang jantung aku berdetak secara rapid, mungkin sebab faktor usia yang masih muda, kemungkinan akan berlaku later in life although it is not life threatening. Kalau nak tahu lebih pasal WPW Syndrome ni, boleh baca sini or sini atau google je.

In summary, macam ni.. dalam jantung normal, ada satu je pathway. For illustration, say cars going from KL to Singapore. In normal circumstances, there is only one Causeway (Tambak Johor) to get them into Singapore. Lepas tu, Custom/Immigration clearance dekat Causway akan control pergerakan kereta masuk ke Singapura at a certain rate, macam tu lah. Tapi, dalam jantung aku ni ada pulak 2nd Link, so pergerakan kereta masuk ke Singapore tu jadi tak terkawal, kadang-kadang sampai sesak (or rapid heart rate). Kalau in extreme cases, takde kereta dah lalu ikut Tambak Johor, semua ikut 2nd Link. Haa macam tu lah.

Dan Dr Yap sempat jugak cakap bila aku dah kerja dengan the Emerald, dia suggest aku go through a procedure called 'radiofrequency catheter ablation' to remove the extra pathway tu. This procedure takde surgeon kat Malaysia yang boleh buat, tapi Prince Court ada collaboration with one Austrian hospital and they'll fly a surgeon from there to do this procedure.

Aku tanyalah Dr Yap, will this affect my employment? Dia kata, tak unless aku apply for a pilot or deep-sea diver position. Then, dia tak recommend lah. In my case, he will recommend to the general doctor yang buat medical check-up aku tu, then that doctor will pass the report to the Emerald. In the end, it's up to the Emerald to employ me or not. So, now I'll have to wait for the Emerald to give a green light before I can tender my resignation.

The offer letter stated that I have to report for a 16-day induction course in Bangi on 16th April dan report to HQ on 3rd May. Tapi aku rasa macam tak sempat, dengan 3-month notice period aku with the current company lagi ni. Maybe, I can only start on 3rd May, regardless lah in HQ or for the induction course. Tapi, apa-apa pun, kena tunggu medical result dulu lah ye.

Dan rasa beratnya nak balik JB tu amatlah amat beratnya sekali sebab rumah aku dah bersih sebersihnya, berkilat lantai boleh guling-guling cukup. Aku upah dua orang cleaners bersihkan rumah aku. Walaupun kena bayar RM60 seorang, tapi berbaloi-baloi! Cleaners tu jugak cakap, mula-mula mahal sikit sebab banyak yang kena bersih, tapi kalau panggil diorang kemaskan dalam once a month tu, tak lah mahal macam tu.

Cuma yang boringnya, aku kena tinggalkan diorang kat rumah buat kerja dan aku kena pergi somewhere in say 3-4 hours. So, membahayakan sungguh kepada poket aku jadinya macam hari tu. Macam-macam aku nak beli, dengan original dvd special edition 'This Is It' lah, cd audio muzik-muzik gamelan lah, dengan dah terbeli beberapa helai pakaian dalam lah (walaupun tak perlu beli lagi, tapi sebab ada design boxers tu yang aku takde lagi heheheh...) dan terbeli lah jugak carpet kat kedai Paki.

Aduhhh aku nak beli yang kecik je letak depan tv, ganti carpet lama yang dah kusam. Alih-alih dia kawtim dengan aku, terbeli yang besar sekali, karpet jenis rambut Shaggy tu.

So, that's all for last week. This week, aku nak settlekan borang-borang the Emerald, nak amik gambar passport, nak cop hasil perjanjian perkhidmatan kakitangan whatever lah (akujanji kot nih), then nak negotiate reporting date dan akhir sekali waiting patiently for the medical result. Fuuhhh... hope everything will be fine.

Terpanjang pulak entry ni, ye lah sebab excited kan cite pasal kerja baru ni. Oh ye, WPW Syndrome tu dikenali juga sebagai Preexcitation Syndrome, kira ala-ala belum jadi apa-apa lagi dah excited kan? Hahahaha....