olddog-samesame

The intoxicating aromas from the dough baking in the oven wafting from the kitchen and permeating the house invigorating all the senses. Oh, what joy watching the loaf swells and rises turning  golden brown. My newly acquired skill the artisan craft of handmade bread A hobby that has morphed into an obsessive Sunday morning ritual. The hypnotic therapy of working with your bare hands the ancient art of mixing kneading pressing stretching folding and waiting for the dough to rise and turning your labor of love into a perfect loaf. simon  12 Jan 2016

Melbourne (Part 2) I had no intention of going on to Melbourne from Perth until the very last week before the trip. Firstly, the mother was more than capable in assisting the daughter and handling whatever procedures or technicalities there were or to solving any unforeseen hick ups. Secondly, accommodation in Melbourne would be a little bit awkward, especially when they were supposed to crash at her brother mike's house.  2 additional squatters  might be tolerable but 3 would definitely be a crowd in a small house. However, when the daughter pleaded with me to go along there was no way I could back out. Arrived in Melbourne early in the morning of 19th Feb, the 1st day of CNY. Going from the airport to  Melbourne U, we had to drive into the city through the morning rush hour traffic. Unfortunately, we missed the 9:00am session of the Business courses introduction and registration and had to stay on for the afternoon session. It was a long tiring day and by ...

Perth (Part 1) The 1 week CNY break in Perth was planned way back early last year. My only previous trip to Perth was more than 30 years ago, on my way home from NZ. It would be near end of summer over there, so perfect weather for some travelling in and around Perth. The idea of renting a house and car made good sense.  The itinerary was well planned and everything was set to go. What was unforeseen was the daughter's qualification for Melbourne U and her decision to accept the offer, all within a short month.   What complicated matters  was the date she had to report for registration at Melbourne U fell within the week we were supposed to be holidaying in Perth. The otherwise leisurely and relaxing holiday was thus cut short to a hectic 5 days. The return trip from Perth was aborted as we had to detour with a direct domestic flight from Perth to Melbourne on the very morning she was due to report at the University. Perth remained a quiet  small...

Dear ML As per your request I am writing you a letter. This will be my second letter to you. The first was written while you were still in the womb. It was hand written and I read it out loud to you. I don't know if you still remember but my recollection as to the content is fuzzy now. Early sign of Alzheimer or just old age syndrome?  It was a strange request asking me to write you a letter. For the past 18 years there was no plausible reason to write you because we have been staying under the same roof ever since you were born. Now that you are leaving for Australia soon, there may be a valid reason to send you an e-mail every now and then. Then again, we also have WhatsApp, Skype, Facebook, FaceTime, Messenger and many other communication tools. There are so many ways to keep in touch. Is there even a need to write a letter? You know, in our time it took a week for an Aerogram (an air-mail letter) to reach its destination. Even a Telegram (a written message sent th...

When you have gone past 60 and graduated into the senior citizen rank, the body begins to show its wear and tear. I don’t have any idea what my use by date is but the tell tale signs of aging have started to appear. There is no longer a spring in the steps. Even my walking speed has slowed visibly from 6km to a more comfortable 5km/ hour. Only the other day while walking in the park, the wife commented that I walked like an old man. I can’t quite remember the last time I bound up and down the stairs three steps at a time.     It seems like yesterday but then my memory might not be so good too. I had a viral infection last month and went to see the family doctor.   During a routine examination that included a blood pressure check she exclaimed that my BP at 160/90mmHg was extremely high. I was given antibiotics and other medication but nothing for my hypertension. After brooding over it for a couple of days I decided to get a second opinion from another doctor. The...

Compared to past rallies the crowd has dwindled, the enthusiasm has waned. Is it a case of rally overload? Are these symptoms of political fatigue? The excitement of GE 13, the promise of UBAH and a new beginning did not happened on May 5 and remains an elusive dream. Disappointed, down....yes but definitely not out. There is light at the end of the tunnel. The people have awakened from years of political apathy and fear. Today our Youth are in the forefront for change. We may lost the battle this round But in 5 years we will be ready to win the War. 20 June 3013

HAIKU Wet garden Crickets chirping Split the night. 18/2/2012 Night after night Insects calling Nature is sublime. 20/2/2012 The crickets Vanished Dead or alive? 22/2/2012 Sound of nature Departed without a sign Leaving dead silence behind. 24/2/2012 No more Beautiful songs In the depth of the night. 26/2/2012 simon

My 80+ year old father fell down 3 times over the weekend. Although there was a minor swelling and bruise on the side of his head, he seemed to be ok. There was no sign of other visible injuries. He was at his normal self, enjoying his meals, watching television and taking naps in between. There seemed to be no reason to panic or a need for drastic actions that might cause him unnecessary duress. Nevertheless, there was this perpetual feeling of unease and nagging anxiety. Events suddenly took a drastic change on Monday evening. His body went cold and he became incoherent. An ambulance was called and he was immediately sent to the Emergency section of SJMC. A brain scan and x-ray was carried out. The neurologist said there was concussion, minor burst arteries and shrinkage of the brain, but the situation was not so serious that warranted a surgery. However, he has to be warded in the HDU for further observations. Most people are uncomfortable, but my dad has an aversion to staying in a...

Groping for my spectacles and putting them on before I open my eyes every morning has been a routine for the past 40+ years. This morning, after the cataract surgery last night, the trusty pair of glasses was no longer by the bedside table. I walked to the window, parted the curtains and looked out the window. It seemed like the world has changed over night. The Ficus tree in the garden, with its perfect crown of bright apple green leaves were shimmering in the early morning light. The park across the road and every blade of grass never looked so green. Everything was in brilliant colors and perfect focus. I swear I could even see the yellow stripped caterpillar on the tree. Cataract and Lasik surgery has been around for quite some time. When lasik became available in this country some 10 years back, I was among the first to sign up for it but was rejected as an unsuitable candidate because of some minor eye blemishes. A few more tries down the years with numerous other eye clinics tha...

On the way back to the office after going to the bank nearby, I walked pass a clinic and noticed that it provides minor surgery among other services. I had this lump at the back of my shoulder for years. It was not painful nor was it growing bigger, but like any lump on the body it attracted unwarranted attention and concern. So I walked in to enquire and the receptionists confirmed that they do have a doctor who does surgery. There was no patient in the clinic at that time and the doctor had gone out for his teh tarik break. Since there was no queue I decided to wait. Soon the Indian doctor returned. I took off my shirt and showed him the lump. He said it was some kind of fatty cyst blah, blah, blah, medical jargons which I cannot recall and probably due to too eating much Nasi Lemah . The good news was it can be removed. While talking to him, I noticed that he had long and dirty finger nails. Even school kids with dirty fingers are punished what more about health care providers. Ima...

My daughter will officially become a teenager on August 19. With the blink of an eye, 12 years has gone by. We were first introduced inside a lift in SJMC as she was being pushed in a trolley from the Operation room to the Nursery at another level. She looked at me with tired open eyes – a sign of recognition as I introduced myself. She was a skinny little infant. All wrinkles and bones but bore a striking resemblance to her daddy when he was a child. Within months, with all the baby formulae and feedings, she piled on the baby fats. Not the prettiest of baby and was constantly mistaken for a baby boy. Then she took her first step before turning 1, by-passing the crawling stage. She would greet us when we came home in the evening – all excited, griping the grille door with her hands and jumping up and down though yet unable to talk. Education at home started early with all the illustrated cards, story books and bedtime stories followed by drawing and music class, swimming lessons and e...

Tom Watson the 59 year old professional golfer had captured the imagination of many senior golfers around the world in the recently concluded 2009 edition of the British Open in Turnberry. Professional golfers are deemed to be past their prime in their late 40s. Flexibility, strength, distance and eyesight (?) are on the decline and can no longer compete with the young guns in the regular tours. Come 50, they are mercifully sent to pasture and retired or “relegated” to the senior tours. For decades, this seems to the excepted order of things in the golfing fraternity. And then, the unexpected happened in Turnberry. While the much touted world no, 1 player embarrassed himself floundering in the bushes of the Scottish links, this veteran player steps in and played near flawless golf for 4 consecutive days in the toughest of tough golf courses. Die hard fans of Tiger Woods switched allegiance by hordes over night. There is suddenly a glimmer of hope for all those old geezers and high hand...

24 hours had gone by. All was calm and peaceful. Another day went by. Not a pip. Hey, this is cool, piece of cake. But it proved to be only a false sense of security. A typical lull before the impending storm. On the third day, the termites returned with a vengeance. Overnight, the dirt tubes, tunnels, freeways and mould hills were back. The speed and urgency of their reconstruction was simply mind boggling. You can not help but admire their tenacity and determination. Regardless of my sentiments and my impartiality to ants (a childhood obsession), truce is not an option. This defiant act of provocation called for an all out WAR. A quick research reveals that the “Shock & Awe” tactic will not work. These subterranean armies will simply disappear underground and continue their guerrilla warfare. I believe Sun Tzu (Art of War) will recommend fighting the enemy from within. In pest control terminology, it is called baiting. The strategy is to bait the worker termites with poison laced...

There is no reason to hang around in the dark and stuffy storeroom. You only venture in occasionally when something needed is in there. You switch on the light, pick up the thing and shut the door. So imagine the shock when one Saturday 3-4 weeks ago, the house cleaner announced that the storeroom was infested with termites. And it was no typical infestation, where you see a small amount of droppings by the door frame or furniture. It was the mother of all invasions. The whole storeroom was literally taken over. Dirt tubes streak all across the walls like brown poison ivy. The floor was ankle deep with dirt droppings with more pouring out from drawers and shoe boxes. It was not a pretty sight at all. With the teaming colonies of creepy crawlies running riot, the place was busier than a pasar malam. We could probability hear the racket when we walk past the storeroom door had we paid any attention. The tedious task of tidying up the storeroom and throwing away the junk had been postpone...

So who is the imposter and who is the real Mc-Coy. The almost comical game of musical chairs and seat grabbing is still playing on the stage to a world wide audience. With new developments unfolding everyday it looks like the fiasco is set to continue for quite sometime from both inside the courts and without. So how will it play out when the dust finally settles? With the entire state machinery at the disposal of Federal BN Government, the odds are heavily stacked against Pakatan. It is almost mission impossible for Nizar & Co. to win this battle. However, every dirty trick and every act of treachery to usurp power will only serve to further expose how corrupt the BN government really is. With each episode, more and more fence sitters will be politicized and be alienated to the other side. It is a no-brainer as to who will win the war come the general election in 2013. 13 May 2009

The ground reports, analysis and predictions in the built up to the 3 by-elections all alluded to a touch and go affair. It would have been a political catastrophe had PAS lost Bukit Gantang as so much were at stake. The momentum of the March 8 tsunami would grind to an abrupt halt. Hence, it was a great relief that Pakatan managed to retain Bukit Gantang and Bukit Selambau and with an even greater majority. Unfortunately, the champagne was not chilled in time for the celebration that after the results came through the blogs. Another bright spot in the by-election. The obnoxious ex-PM tried to meddle and wield his influence but the results clearly showed that the use-by date of the old tyrant has long expired. It is time to put the pathetic octogenarian to pasture or more aptly discarded into the garbage bin of history. 9.4.2009

The 3 cucumber plants growing in flower pots in my garden finally bear fruits after 2 long months of tender loving care. Each plant only bears one cucumber. So it means the cost to return ratio is probably negative. The dream of organic farming and the Green Revolution nevertheless remains a mere dream.

It is my birthday today and I feel awful and sick in the stomach. Everyone would like to have their birthday coincide with a happy or remarkable event. Unfortunately 5 February 2009 will be remembered historically in this country as a black banner day. Treachery has brought down the 10 month old Pakatan Rayaat government in Perak today. My whole day was spend in front of the computer waiting for the news to filter in as events unfolded.The unfounded glimmer of hope that the Perak Sultan, being the most educated one amongst the monarchy, will exercise wisdom was completely shattered. There is scant regard for the democratic rights of the people to choose the government of their choice. It is indeed a very sad day. We might have to wait another 3-4 years but people have long memories. The full wrath of the people will be felt in the ballot boxes come the next general election. 5.2.2009

The 2008 UPSR results were announcement on the 13 November 2008. My 12 year old daughter was one of the candidates. The atmosphere in the house over the week leading to the announcement had been one of stark contrast. The daughter was sort of laid back and nonchalant about it. There is no sign that she was exited or worried. The wife on the other hand was tense and worried sick. She complained of sleepless nights and the night before the results were announced was a nervous wreck. Technically 5As, 6As or 7As makes little difference. The student still proceeds to Form 1. So the pressure arose more from peer competition among the net-working Hockey Mums. Egos and bragging rights were more at stake than another thing else. Statistics from the previous years Lick Hung School's results indicated that the top 20% of the students would normally obtain 7As. There would be a few exceptions of course if the students occidentally screwed up one of the papers. ML was a consistent top 10 studen...

The 3 days 2 night long Diwali weekend was spent in Damai Laut. The drive up along the coastal road took about 4 hours including a wrong turn towards Bagan Datuk instead of Teluk Intan. It must have been at least 10 years the last time we travelled up this route. Small towns and villages and scenery that had somewhat faded from memory slowly became familiar again. It was almost a nostalgic journey. Reached Sitiawan town around 1:30P.M. The wife was craving for a bowl of rice wine mien sein . Enquires with the few locals drew a blank. They claimed there is no stall selling the item. The sun was blazing and we were hot, tired and hungry so we did not persist and settled for some normal fare at the corner Kopitiam. The resort is located some 10km off the old trunk road leading to Pantai Remis and Taiping. The location is superb. Isolated, hidden away in the middle of no where and nestled by the sea with its own stretch of sandy beach and complete with its own 18 holes golf course. The m...