I caught the flu

Yep!! I caught the flu, but no, not the bird flu thingy though. I was playing fm2006 (football management sim) for the past couple of days and a few of my players were out with flu, but heck, i got it too eventually. i thought by sending the players home and excluding them from training would prevent the flu from spreading to the rest of the team, but noooo, Me, the manager himself managed to get infected. Isn't it a wonder, how a flu can spread from a computer game to a human? Fascinating! (The alternative explanation would be because i was under the rain 2 days ago, which sounds rather reasonable compared to the game theory.) To round up, i also have a slight sorethroat and fever. Nothing to say really..except WOOHOOO!!!

Well, now to my ongoing jobhunt. About 2 weeks ago, i made the decision that i would find a 'temporary' job here in Limbang for about 6-12months. Initially i planned to go straight to kuching and work there after my practical last year, November. Then i thought i wanted to celebrate Christmas with my family, so i postponed my departure to early January. Well, as it occured, i was looking at the almanac for 2006 and i noticed CNY would fall on Jan 29. So what the heck, i wanna have CNY here with my family and grandparents, as for the past 4 years i have been away during CNY. So i set a new date for my trip to Kuching, a few days after CNY.

However, there were more drama happening. Being at home here, it gave me a picture of what my parents are and have been going through. The bills, loan payments etc etc. They have spent alot during my course of study in Kuching, allowances, rental etc but they are still feeling the strain even when i'm here. With dad retiring in June, things are just gonna get harder. Should i proceed with my plan to go to Kuching just after CNY, i would need some cash in advance from my parents. And that's not what i want from them now as i realised. So i thought of a brilliant plan, or it was given to me by God in a way hehe where i would be staying here for sometime. As much as i'd like to be in Kuching, to hangout with my friends etc, i feel that i need to put family first at this moment.

There are several advantages of working temporarily here, huge ones in fact. First, i get to save money when it comes to accomodation, food and transportation. Of course i'll chip in for the bills, and petrol. But it would still save me a lot compared if i was in kuching. Not to forget the education loan that i have to pay every month :( roughly about Rm 550. The only disadvantage of this plan would be feeling dull and bored as my buddies are all in Kuching.

Now the job options.

Option 1 : I will send in my application for the post of a temporary teacher on wednesday perhaps, just need to get passport sized photos for the form. For a graduate, the pay aint bad, from unofficial sources its about Rm 1200 per month. With that pay i could set aside Rm 350 - Rm 450 per month for savings.

Option 2 : I just got news from my mum yesterday after she got back from my aunt's house. Turns out that my aunt's neighbour is some bigshot of some sort at the local Maybank. And she asked my mum about me, what i am currently doing. Well here's the interesting news, she then said that i could apply for a position (unknown) in the bank with her recommendation to back it up. Something like i would be taking over her position because she was promoted to a different place, i dunno its all still unclear to me. Plus, i have the option to choose the local branch or 1 in Miri. Hmmmmmmm....

Commentary : I have never imagined myself as a teacher, even a temporary one or a bank officer. But at this point i need to consider every option that comes my way. And both these options are currently the best i can have here in Limbang (aint a big place peoples, so limited job opportunities). Both would have a decent pay (enough to pay my loan, spending & savings). While the teacher thingy would be interesting indeed, the bank option is largely an unknown to me. I still dont know what the position is and i have never fancied a job in a bank. But after some thought, i'd give it a shot. The experience would help me in the future. But still, it gives me the creeps as i dont have a strong Finance background. So help me God! LoL

I guess that should be all for now, i need to take a shit. Looking forward for the Chinese New year!!!

A new book

Ah well, it's already the 3rd day of the year 2006. How time flies. As much as i have liked it, i havent had the chance to write something at the end of 2005. But it's not too late to do so aint it?

So here's 2005 highlights in review:
1. Finally entered my final year of study.
2. Had a crush.
3. Got really drunk on one of Dennis' farewell parties.
4. Man Utd lost in the FA Cup against Arsenal. A bitter defeat. That summed up the 04-05 season, as we were trophyless.
5. Celebrated my 24th birthday. And again in Kuching.
6. Fell in love? LoL
7. Struggling with projects & assignments with my 'band of brothers', though at times it wasn't all brotherly.
8. Ary moved in and became my roomate.
9. My underdog team finished 2nd in the inter-faculty streetsoccer competition. Lost 2-0 to the Burmese.
10. Injured my marriage finger (is this correct?) of my left hand during my usual streetsoccer game with the guys. Hurt like hell man!!! Doctor said its a tissue injury, but i really think its a fracture as it still don't look normal today.
11. Made my debut in a major competition with Chakwaw FC in a futsal knockout tournament. Led 1-0 early in the game but conceded 3 goals in the final 3 minutes to lose.
12. The so-called "Inti-banana street thugs" gang 'announced' its arrival in inti college by vandalising the bustop and starting fights with just about everyone.
13. Started playing futsal with Cammy & gang.
14. 9 am on a Saturday, August 6, 2005. Along the hallway of block H and towards H213.
15. Sat for my final exams, that would determine my destiny (yerdeh). Staying up till early morning throughout the week hitting the books and notes. Cannot forget the final day when i sat for my last paper, did it half asleep, literally man!!!
16. Started my internship at Limbang District Office for a month.
17. Finally graduated, on November 27, 2005.
18. Still in love? LoL

Pure Inspiration

"3 minutes…till the biggest battle of our professional lives
all comes down to today
Either we heal as a team..or we’re gonna crumble
Inch by inch..play by play…til we’re finished
We’re in hell right now, gentlemen
Believe me
And we can stay here…get the shit kicked out of us
Or we can fight our way back into the light
We can climb out of hell...
One inch at a time
You know when you get old in life..things get taken from u
That’s part of life
But u only learn that when u start losing stuff
U find out life’s this game of inches
So is football
Becos in either game..life or football
The margin error is so small..
One-half a step too late or early..n u don’t quite make it
One-half second too fast..too slow..u don’t quite catch it
The inches we need are everywhere around us
They’re in every break of the game..every minute..every second
On this team...we fight for that inch
On this team...we tear ourselves n everyone else around us!...to pieces for that inch
We claw with our fingernails for that inch!
Becos we know when we add up all those inches..
That’s gonna make the fucking difference between winning n losing!..
Between living n dying!
In any fight..
It’s the guy who’s willing to die who’s gonna win that inch
And I know if I’m gonna have any life anymore..
It’s becos I’m still willing to fight n die for that inch
Becos that’s what living is!
The 6 inches infront of ur face!
U gotta look at the guy next to u!
Look into his eyes!
I think ur gonna see a guy who’ll go that inch with you..
Ur gonna see a guy...who’s gonna sacrifice himself for this team...
Becos he knows when it comes down to it..
Ur gonna do the same for him
That’s a team...gentlemen
And either we heal now as a team...
Or we die...as individuals
That’s football guys...
That’s all it is."

Tony D'Amato's (Al Pacino) 3 mins speech to his players before a particular important game in "Any Given Sunday"

Realization in Reality

One of the main reason i started this blog was to write out my thoughts...however i just realised that i have difficulty doing so...i find it hard to put my thoughts in writting...unable to do it in a way i would have wanted that is...maybe its because of the distractions that are around me whenever i start writting...well unlike most people..this isnt a personal pc of mine...having it in the living room wherelse most people would have theirs in their own room...

maybe im just the type of person who do not have the flair of writting...unless its pure crap...like writting letters for friends who missed classes...appealing from getting barred etc etc...maybe i should start writting poetry again...not to say that they were class...maybe im a thinker...one who thinks...i dunno...

well...thats it for today

Decisions!! decisions!! decisions!!

I've been contemplating on making some decisions right now...more like for the past 2-3 months...BIG decisions...more or less...i've settled on my choice...tough decisions indeed...and the thought came to me...that the difficult thing about making tough decisions is not making them...but rather having to live with the consequences...TOUGH!!!!

on the sunny side...our kitten smells awesome today...been more than a week since she had her last shower...now she smells like my sister!!!..i assume lah...since they use the same body shampoo...well...hehehehee...not that they know about it...i hope...

kitty lookin a lil cranky there

well nothing else to report todayyyyyy...had pretty much a dull day...started late as i woke up late...read a new book...thats about it...

Ben signing off!!

GOD BLESS DAD!!!

YES!!!

I finally have my internet connection up and running..thanks to dad of course..hehehe...its been like what...a month or more???...good to be back and writting again

I went through one of the highlights of my life 2 weeks ago...MY GRADUATION!!!!...well...the excitement has mellowed down after 2 weeks..so i dont have much to write about it now LOL...but it was great...just great!!!...a wonderful feeling...geez i just cant describe it...to have finally get to this...

here are some images of the event...and also the alumni dinner that nite on Sunday, November 27

ah well...due to some probs...i would only post 2 pics here...more would be in my friendster photos section...

PS: if ive known the internet connection was resumed today...wouldnt have spent my last rm6 at the CC for to pathetic hours!!!

First Edition

Well..my first post...

i hope to make this as my permanent blog...

God speed!

The Night I Wished I Was at Old Trafford

94 mins of action...final 45 mins of seemingly endless anxiety...the feeling after Mr Poll blew the final whistle...pure ecstasy...and i thought we just won the world cup...and for Pete's sake...with that performance we could win the world cup....

I'm still on a high...a feeling that has been long forgotten

Fletcher the goalscorer...tho he it wasnt his intention to head the ball into the net

Good job lads!!!

The Transporter 2

wOOt!!!
it's a pretty hot saturday afternoon...and im left all alone at home...where did everybody go!!!...i have a feeling my parents n sis are out having lunch without me...darn..

ah well...

last tuesday i went for a short trip to lawas and KK...it was kinda fun...too bad Dad cant join us. okay...the trip from limbang to lawas would take an estimated time of 1 hour 30 mins...depending on the traffic at the ferry points and immigration checkpoints...i've done it under 1 hr 15 mins. then...from lawas to KK...would be about 3 hours plus...thats when you drive an average of 90 km/h...

Spent the nite in lawas at my aunt's house in kampung as the plan was to depart to KK the next morning...for a daytrip only since Mum had a limited budget hehehe...and my cuzs would be coming with us to KK. got the flu...cos of the airconditioner...yeah...i still cant sleep in an airconditioned room without getting the flu the next morning...crap....

the next morning at 6.42 am...we departed kampung to KK...arrived in the city about 10 am...not bad...didnt drive really fast...observed the speed limit and all..hehe...had lunch at this chinese market or something...looked abit ceridak lah the whole place...but im fine with that...then we went separate ways...Mum and the girls went to the clothing and kain shops...while me n my cuz davin went 'sightseeing' ...at the end of the day...i bought 3 pairs of emilio valentino shirts hehehehe..yeah i feel rich!!!...but then i got em on huge discounts lah..hahaha..

on the way back to lawas...we discovered that KK/Sabahan drivers really sucked and have little driving manners...to the extent of cramping the emergency lane when there was an accident about 500m infront...making the flow of traffic slower...and also preventing the ambulance from reaching the accident site...that was the suckiest part...

arrived back in Limbang about 1.30pm on the first day of hari raya hehehe...with a bad flu and strained feet due to the long distance driving...

here are some pics taken by me during the trip...as always using my ever-reliable Sony Ericsson T630 handphone...hehehe..it is a crappy camera phone...but still i love it to bits!!!

Brunei immigration checkpoint at the Brunei-Lawas border...this blue unser kept popping up overtaking us more than once when i dun remember overtaking it...weird...

kampung at lawas...this is one of the walking paths built around the kampung...the pink house would be my aunt's place...and the one after it in the background is grandparents'

the jetty!!!..hehe..the place i used to play when i came here as a lil kid...jumping in the river and all that...nowadays looking in the river freaks me out...hahaha

the jetty from a different angle...Sungai Lawas at the background

didnt take much pics in KK...this is at the coast in the city...lotsa boats ferrying people to nearby islands...

one of the shopkeepers at the Filipino Market...full of handicrafts and stuffs like that...

A world of my own

Well...turned out my planned trip to Bakelalan would be cancelled :( . Mum said the condition of the road would be really bad as it has been raining heavily almost daily...ah well that sucks!!! Alternatively...we could be heading to KK for a day or two...hmmmmm...

Went jogging this evening :) though it was only about half an hour...as i started out late...and by 6.30pm the sky was really dark and the park was gettin creepier...no joke people as its kinda haunted as well...so...as excited as i was to jog more rounds...better play it safe and not risk any "close encounters with the 4th kind" ...also at first i didnt noticed that the other joggers had gobe back....only realised that when i stopped to look around...had to run back to the carpark...about half a round...as i was on the other side of the lake...the side near the jungle !!!...and as i got to the carpark...so 2 guys preparing to leave in their cars...phew!!! im not alone hehehe...

Got home and laid flat on my bedroom's floor...then thought of something....got up...took my cell...and started snapping away!!!

this is the main section of my room...hmmm...still wondering if my undies was in the pic

my preffered shaver the silverish "Gillette Sensor Excel" cost a hefty rm14.++

my preffered soap brand "Protex" any 'flavour' would do hehe...about rm4.20...i get 3 bars plus another bar free...weeeeeeee!!!

and here is my preffered toothpaste brand since childhood...COLGATE!!!!..hehe...and the Gel version here is my favorite...

this is my perfume...at about 40 bucks...it gives me a refreshing scent...hehehe

last but not least...my ever reliable deodorant...Nivea!!!...at about rm7.20...this baby ensures that my armpits dont stink and keeps it dry as well...

The Day That I Watched in Infamy

fellow Manchester United fans who watch the Boro game would know how i'm feeling right now. Nothing can describe the agony...the heartache...the sh*t and all after watching that particular game...was that Manchester United playing in those blue strip?...those guys dont even deserve to wear that jersey and badge...not tonight...No. Not when these guys are playing like some retards...the only person who stood out was smith...rooney just barely...and ronaldo as well. This is it...if we don't beat chelsea next sunday...might as well forget about winning the premiership. I hope fergie make some signings when the transfer window opens...ballack...diarra...whoever...whatever...save us!!!

on the bright side...wait...there's no bright side...well...there is...i can switch back to my room after a temporary 'transfer' which was much later deemed unnecesary...so Goodnite

Boys like girls

i just came up with a theory after chatting in mirc in #ironic with some people...

requirements in life... for guys...its money
and for the ladies...sex appeal...

hahahaha...quite true innit?...not that i believe we should live that way...just from by observation..

might be going to bakelalan with mum and uncles...that would be great...the first and last time i went there was back in the 80s when i was still a lil boy...im all excited about it :)

btw...was in town with my cuz davin...bought a water tap for grandpa to replace the leaking one at home....then we were driving around and we had this crazy idea...and u can see em in the pics below

The Transporter

it's a fairly warm saturday...makes u feel kinda sucky...

after 2 weeks of intense driving...being a Transporter...yes thats wat i'll call myself...The Transporter...today im able to wakeup after 10am yippieee!!! slept pretty early lastnite...before 2am...wow...guess i was awfully exhausted...driving almost the whole day...not too mention waking up at 6.30am!!! and the car could get some rest too...hehehe... below are the routine sights i see on my drives…lemme see...

ok...ignore the last picture

datin Seri endon passed away on a thursday morning...was looking for a parking space after dropping my 'clients' when it came out on the radio...that was shocking...she seemed to be recovering and this happened...lovely lady...rest in piece

on the bright side...ive had 2 days of my very own laksa-mania...never consumed that much laksa in my life!!!....alrite im gonna go get some rojak cucur later this evening...woohooo...get some drinks for tonight's big game...United vs Spurs...

signing off...congratulations to Melati Anita binti Cikodok on getting a job..i'll claim my discount ok! hehe

The Day I passed my exams

Made a call to Mr Desmond my HOP...

Mr Desmond: "Let me see...."
*Ben waiting anxiously*
Mr Desmond: "2nd lower.."
Ben: "2nd lower?.."
Mr Desmond: "yes 2nd lower..thats very good.."
Ben: *smiles* "Thank u sir!"

That's it...i've graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Business Administration,2nd Class Lower, from University of Hertfordshire!!! i'm in jubilant and arrogant mood!!!! LoL...cant blame me...ive been dreaming for this day to come...
after all the hardwork and all...ive made it...together with all my classmates *sings* "We are the champions my friendddd...we'll keep on fighting till the end...we are the champions we are the champions...no time for losers cos we are the champions....of the worlddd.."
now i'll just wait for the formalities of receiving that rm 36,000 piece of paper on Nov 27th...my convocation...
*sings again, to akon's "lonely" tune* "happy...im so happy..."
i thank God first and foremost for His strength and wisdom...You da man
my parents for their support and encouragement!!!
my group members in FOCUS Constructions...we did it buddies...all our hardwork in our group effort and support...our activities at Graman's home like all the orange syrup...benson...mini BBQ...fried mee hoon...watching astro...and kicking the football in the living room...WE DID IT!!! ...to mehdy and dunstan...liverpool still sucks :p
also...grateful to my roomate for his extreme consideration and understanding...hehehehe
to my lecturers...Ms yamuna for her ever exciting n interesting lectures...Mr Holmes for being Mr Holmes...Mr Heng as well...
lastly...to myself...for dragging my own ass when it matters