tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37050089Wed, 21 Oct 2026 08:34:53 +0000worklifescienceacademiafamilyadminmedical conditionseventsPhilippinesconferencehealthinstitutemusicscientistsReflections of HZ Sea of Thoughtshttp://frequentseas.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (hishamuddinz)Blogger514125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37050089.post-7945508592090483663Wed, 21 Oct 2026 08:33:38 +00002026-10-21T16:34:53.083+08:00I thought I should do another update since the last post was ten days ago. Been quiet mainly tending to my own problems which I try my best not to say too much. I will just say enough so that those who are close to me are in the know.I had gone to UPM Medical Center and told Dr. Sufi about HPUPM could not help me with the letter to IJN. He rang up some of his acquaitances to see if HTJ has a http://frequentseas.blogspot.com/2026/10/after-ten-days.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (hishamuddinz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37050089.post-6222007355949758126Sun, 11 Oct 2026 08:36:04 +00002026-10-12T11:06:00.681+08:00In the last post, I spoke about my writing project. It was really an article I have promised to write for the online-magazine Majalah Sains. The magazine publishes articles in Malay, written largely by local scientists. In the past, the magazine has published a few of my articles but they come from posts of my Malay blog. The current article is the first written exclusively for the magazine and http://frequentseas.blogspot.com/2026/10/next-please.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (hishamuddinz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37050089.post-3759492131647491101Mon, 05 Oct 2026 17:53:51 +00002026-10-06T01:54:55.412+08:00 Yesterday, I have managed to complete a writing project and in some way, I consider it as an 'achievement' of some sort for me to take small steps in believing myself again. Ever since my retirement and not taking up part-time jobs, I have always been questioning myself with may periods of feeling self-worthlessness. In any case, some people say that it is after retirement that one gets to http://frequentseas.blogspot.com/2026/10/small-steps-forward.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (hishamuddinz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37050089.post-4738587193144901344Fri, 02 Oct 2026 13:59:49 +00002026-10-02T21:59:49.529+08:00Last two days, our next neighbour contacted us, telling us about that some of their things in their store were damaged due to dampness and fungus growing in the store. They asked us to check our own store which is next to their store, True enough, our store had the same problem.The suspicion is that there is an underground pipe from our side that is leaking. Why from our side? Well, the last few http://frequentseas.blogspot.com/2026/10/neverending-story-of-problems.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (hishamuddinz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37050089.post-2736825878642005591Mon, 28 Sep 2026 23:03:55 +00002026-09-29T08:12:45.187+08:00Yesterday was the passing of Tun Dr. Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali (12 July 1926 - 28 September 2026), wife of he former Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir. Inna lillahi wainna ilaihi raji'un. Allahummamaghfirlaha warhamha wa'fuanha wa'afiha wa' fu'anha. Condolences to Tun Dr. Mahathir and family.As a plain commoner, I do not have the good opportunity to know her personally apart from knowing her from afar http://frequentseas.blogspot.com/2026/09/the-certain-future.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (hishamuddinz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37050089.post-5815816012234459824Sun, 27 Sep 2026 03:23:44 +00002026-09-27T13:31:57.983+08:00Yesterday, we went to send our youngesr back to UiTM Jasin and brought along the newly repaired green Chevrolet Aveo driven by our eldest. The car still has a good pick up since we were trailing behind the car. We arrived at the house our son rented in Kampung Seri Mendapat just around 10 am.We were quite early and met a Sarawakian student (Adit, I think) who had arrived earlier.We had a look http://frequentseas.blogspot.com/2026/09/youngest-at-kampung-seri-mendapat.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (hishamuddinz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37050089.post-779649765819792798Thu, 24 Sep 2026 08:27:23 +00002026-09-25T14:19:20.305+08:00Update: The cost of car repair and service amounts to RM991. See photo below.This is my pair of s(c)andals. Took them off while having a rest after our monthly shopping for our needs (usually last only for a little more than two weeks) this morning and also bought things for my youngest son's needs when he is back at his university (rented a house shared with his friends). We are supposed to sendhttp://frequentseas.blogspot.com/2026/09/sandalous-varia.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (hishamuddinz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37050089.post-1850295290202293013Mon, 21 Sep 2026 07:11:11 +00002026-09-24T04:42:45.901+08:00Yesterday was the 60th birthday of my other half. So she has joined me in the community of senior citizens, beginning her journey within the six series. Me, I'm almost half way through the six series and I should remind myself that time is running out.To celebrate, my eldest son bought her a chocolate cake.In the evening our third son gave us a dinner treat at the new eatery Boorak Chill &http://frequentseas.blogspot.com/2026/09/six-series.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (hishamuddinz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37050089.post-4538544700916445819Wed, 16 Sep 2026 02:00:26 +00002026-09-20T12:41:07.035+08:00My youngest son will be going back to UiTM Jasin before the end of this month. So I will need to worry about the upcoming semester fees. As if this worry is not enough, we just heard yesterday that he will not get a place in college for his accommodation and he will be required to find a house outside the campus to stay. Staying outside woud mean higher expenses plus the trouble of getting into http://frequentseas.blogspot.com/2026/09/troubled-on-malaysia-day.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (hishamuddinz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37050089.post-4521359452233934632Sat, 12 Sep 2026 14:37:15 +00002026-09-13T18:34:24.174+08:00"When the going gets tough, the tough gets going", they say. Or probably the second half should just say, "act or pretend to be tougher". In my last post,  I mention about my other half was down with fever and bad cough. The fever has subsided, but there is still residual cough and had to buy more medication for the phlegm. Medicine are getting more expensive these days and one feels http://frequentseas.blogspot.com/2026/09/auta-gate.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (hishamuddinz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37050089.post-8338460159827205787Sat, 05 Sep 2026 12:28:02 +00002026-09-05T20:28:02.365+08:00Ever since we got back from Kuching, most of us were just relieved that the travel was over and we are now facing the (financial) consequences. Not only that, my other half was down with fever and bad cough. She was already having a bad cough before the travel as she was seeing several patients who had influenza (and even covid) the week before. The tiring travel and then the bad haze must have http://frequentseas.blogspot.com/2026/09/yours-insignificantly.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (hishamuddinz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37050089.post-8439834656979859681Tue, 01 Sep 2026 02:27:46 +00002026-09-01T10:28:51.916+08:00Our third day started off with breakfast at the hotel. Thereafter, we decided to take a group photo at the tourist spot where they had 'Kuchng' statues.This was the second time we were there but now with Izhar (our third son) who was absent before due to a wedding task. I have also decided not to join for their tour next since my back pain was quite severe. Without me they will be 'freer' to havehttp://frequentseas.blogspot.com/2026/09/in-kuching-day-3-and-independence-day.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (hishamuddinz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37050089.post-6704248010018729264Sat, 29 Aug 2026 22:58:08 +00002026-08-30T08:30:02.357+08:00We took a flight from KLIA to Kuching on Friday morning. Let me backtrack a little. Ihsan drove back home the day before and most of the evening we had to pack our bags and also send most of our cats for boarding leaving only Yaya and Koko behind (with just two, the cat food we left won't finish that quickly). Ihsan had booked a cab to pick us up at 4,30am in the very early morning. We had http://frequentseas.blogspot.com/2026/08/in-kuching-days-1-and-2.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (hishamuddinz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37050089.post-773171483783441710Wed, 26 Aug 2026 14:28:41 +00002026-08-26T22:28:41.913+08:00Yesterday was the public holiday of Maulidur-Rasul celebrating the birthday of Prophet Muhammad pbuh. Both my eldest son and third eldest were at home, not working. Thus, we decided to celebrate our 33rd anniversary a day earlier.Celebrated our anniversary simply by having a Dubai chocolate cake bought at our local Harold Bread store.Afternoon today, we went out to Jakel Senawang to get some http://frequentseas.blogspot.com/2026/08/33rd-anniversary.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (hishamuddinz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37050089.post-5417387535477292699Sun, 23 Aug 2026 14:08:20 +00002026-08-23T22:45:32.954+08:00The last two weeks have been uneventful with me coping with my sleeping disorder due to my intake of pain killers and gabapentin. I need to fix this situation before our trip to Sarawak, which is just a few days away. Essentially I did nothing in those weeks. I should do better this week; I need to finish making notes from the book I'm reading before the trip, just to avoid bringing the book http://frequentseas.blogspot.com/2026/08/doing-nothing.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (hishamuddinz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37050089.post-6775987110415235009Sun, 16 Aug 2026 02:16:18 +00002026-08-16T10:35:30.949+08:00Yesterday, our next door neighbour held a wedding for their son.On Thursday, they have started setting up 'tents' for the wedding guests. There are eight of them including the one for the bride and bridegroom.As a good neighbour, we allow the caterer to use our car porch to place their equipment and food. Around 12 noon, the bride and bridegroom arrived and later sat at the wedding stage placed http://frequentseas.blogspot.com/2026/08/the-wedding-next-door.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (hishamuddinz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37050089.post-5426414264138060096Fri, 14 Aug 2026 15:19:56 +00002026-08-15T02:13:44.833+08:00My previous post had some public exposure and perhaps tread on someone's toes. It is not directed to anyone in particular. The so-called minimal criterion of who we called expert as one who could read technical papers/documents in the topic concerned with ease, is not meant to be a hard and fast rule. It is certainly not a rule to be used for judging others (how should we know how others can http://frequentseas.blogspot.com/2026/08/oops-i-did-it-again.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (hishamuddinz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37050089.post-2202543867059294618Wed, 12 Aug 2026 13:11:23 +00002026-08-12T22:44:54.289+08:00Lately there is some discussions about experts and expertise (note: I purposely write the title of the blogpost in a different way). Let me begin with myself (because I prefer not to say much about others). What would I be an expert on? Since my PhD is on quantization, I suppose I can pret-end myself to be an 'expert' on quantization. Having a PhD does not necessarily entail expertise in the areahttp://frequentseas.blogspot.com/2026/08/expret-and-x-practice.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (hishamuddinz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37050089.post-8669893419142490725Sat, 08 Aug 2026 08:52:39 +00002026-08-08T16:53:18.638+08:00Lasr night, we lost a close neighbour, just a few days from our home, Mohd Tarmidi (popular called by Ustadh Tarmizi). We were told that he had cancer and was hospitalized for a while (kept secret, not known to many). I would like to recall good memories that we had with him. We have always turned to him for help on matters of religion and the local community. But one matter that I am indebted tohttp://frequentseas.blogspot.com/2026/08/this-temporray-life.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (hishamuddinz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37050089.post-6341301335318402879Sun, 02 Aug 2026 09:17:14 +00002026-08-02T17:17:14.564+08:00Last Tuesday, we picked our youngest son from UiTM Jasin since he had his last exam the Monday before.Like before, Nasrul and Shahrul helped carry his things to the car and since the semester holiday is a long holiday, he had to take all of his things in college back home.Fast forward to Thursday, Ihsan from JB came back home, particularly for him to vote on Saturday. So the whole family was backhttp://frequentseas.blogspot.com/2026/08/momentarily-together-and-voting.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (hishamuddinz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37050089.post-7727799348405475903Wed, 29 Jul 2026 10:12:13 +00002026-07-29T18:35:36.002+08:00Not the cats, ... me. Be warned, this is a rant post but written just to remind ourselves that many times one should not be listening.At school, having good grades in chemistry and did an act of turning off at the source as the gas was burning from the gas outlet in the chemistry lab, I was feeling good about these. Then a teacher came to me and said, "don't think that you are that good".During http://frequentseas.blogspot.com/2026/07/you-shouldnt-be-here.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (hishamuddinz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37050089.post-8887360532691983468Sun, 26 Jul 2026 09:27:25 +00002026-07-26T17:27:25.417+08:00In one previous post, I have mentioned about the visible crane from a construxtion nearby our neighbourhood. Well that crane has grown taller. This is for the construction of a private hospital and I was told by my other half that the hospital will be eight storeys high. Hmm ... maybe I can get a part time job there (seriously, feeling rather useless here)? Soon (not sure when it is supposed to http://frequentseas.blogspot.com/2026/07/varia-hospital-in-our-midst-and-wedding.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (hishamuddinz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37050089.post-7467856160969254567Mon, 20 Jul 2026 05:56:17 +00002026-07-24T12:01:35.977+08:00So the issue raised in the last post seems to get the attention of many (including those who made decisions), some are more knowledgeable than I can be, so I don't have to say anything much. For me, it is not about who they are, what race or creed they are or have. It is about what they do or what is intended (which is murkier because we are not psychic or a mystic accessing secrets of the heart)http://frequentseas.blogspot.com/2026/07/murky-techies.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (hishamuddinz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37050089.post-1558602558759945178Thu, 16 Jul 2026 15:40:48 +00002026-07-18T00:13:55.770+08:00I was told by my younger colleague that IFM is organizing another international event this November in Kuching. Interested? Well, the interest is always there despite my retirement. However I will be in Kuching end of next month to attend a wedding. Tickets and lodging have been bought/booked, partially supported by my sons. Despite the support, there will always be extra costs associated to http://frequentseas.blogspot.com/2026/07/mid-july-varia.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (hishamuddinz)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37050089.post-3607563852257318316Mon, 13 Jul 2026 14:51:40 +00002026-07-13T22:53:06.279+08:00Today, we went to UiTM Jasin to pick up our youngest son for his study week leave. I had to wait for my other half to come back from work. Another reason why we need to send our Malibu car for service two days ago. So far, my other half uses the Malibu to travel while her own car (Toyotta Vios) is used by my eldest son. In a way, it is good for me not to work any more given the present http://frequentseas.blogspot.com/2026/07/study-week-and-mums-memorial-day.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (hishamuddinz)0