nic nic

New Friends

2012-05-24T21:14:00.001+08:00

We met the kids about two weeks ago at the playground near grandma's house. Turned out they are all Puay Chai school students too.

From left; Soon Chen (age 10), Amelia (age 9), Nic and Julian (age 7).

They get along great playing badminton, the swing or any dog that happens to be around like 'Patches' (pic), an adorable Beagle.

Julian shouted 'I Love You' to Nic the first day they met and has been repeating it at school every time they meet. He's a cheeky one.

Never Let Her Go

2012-05-14T17:26:00.003+08:00

David Gates (born December 11, 1940) - his second solo album of the same name from 1975.

Bersih 3.0

2012-04-29T13:28:00.002+08:00

April 28 - 428
9.30am Drove to meeting point in SS2. My buddy Zech comes by and we head to Sea Park to join up with two more comrades, Dennis and Ong, both 'veterans' of Bersih 2.0

10.28am After a light breakfast (big mistake as we did not manage to have lunch later) we walked 1km to the Paramount Light Rail Transit (LRT) station.

10.39am Surprise, surprise! Ong explained last July they were frisked by cops at the station and that protesters were a dozen or so. This morning we had about hundred plus filing past the 'gate'. Along the eight stops more people jumped in and it was sardines.

11.00am We alight at Pasar Seni (Central Market) and saw the first icon, A. Samad Said (pic).

Just down the stairs was Datuk Seri Ir. Haji Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin (above) also attracting some attention.

11.15am Now we wait! Target is to march at 1.30pm. Two more chaps joined us, Adrian and Khalid.

1.30pm After over two hours of singing and chanting we were ready to march! Well as we were in the mid section of the congregation we only got moving at 1.40pm. Such was the size of the rally.

3.22pm It has been almost 60 minutes and we only reached HSBC bank in Lebuh Ampang as the front-liners were stopped at the Tun Perak/Masjid Jamek junction. Khalid decided to call it a day and left. Zech turns to me and said the same to which I replied, "I didn't wait over three hours for this. Let's go to the front!" He nodded in agreement and both of us squeezed our way to the front line, a mere 200 meters.

3.25pm We are now at the entrance of Menara OCBC (Jalan Melayu) 6 meters away from the regular cops and riot cops. I could sense a fight and seconds later the first volleys of plastic water bottles were launched at the cops. Cops replied with a few tear gas canisters that landed 200 meters away and the cops charged at their prey. I say so cos they were already eying their quarry minutes before and a young man just 4 meters from me who was cursing the cops was bundled to the ground and subdued by two cops. A third cop promptly kicked him and a fourth sent a well aimed elbow in his face. By now I was running into Jalan Melayu and a kind soul was hosing us with water from the upper floor of a building.

3.27pm I took this video after my first gas attack. It stings! First your eyes hurt like hell and tears start oozing. Then my throat feels on fire. Coughing and spitting and rinsing with water and I'm okay within a couple of minutes. Note the debris (below) after the first charge - personal effects like shoes, towels litter the street.

3.33pm The people are regrouping and I make my way to the front again. The crowd keeps chanting and we know it is a matter of time before they fire another salvo at us. Pop! Pop! Pop! More gas! (Below) I have retreated into Jalan Melayu and you can see the gas on Jalan Tun Perak. Riot police are on the right and a canister can be seen hurled back by a protester from the left.

4.03pm I got separated from Zech after the first charge and by now he has had enough and was on the train heading home. I said I'd hang around a bit and will meet him in PJ. I just could not walk away from this - we need to hold the line. This video (below) shows the group in total defiance and chanting 'Bersih Bersih!' We press on.

4.33pm Damn! My watch stopped! I hate wearing one so this is like a once a year affair for me. My old Swatch can't take water. By now my left sole was starting to cramp - time to retreat. I got gassed two or three more times before I walked along Jalan Melaka into Tun H.S. Lee. There a cool looking Caucasian dude was holding a large plastic bag and handing out mineral water. I promptly asked for one and thanked him. I walked towards Lebuh Ampang/Tun Perak for my finale. This video shows the riot cops charging and I figure I'd better get a head start running on one good leg. You can hear the scum banging their shields for psychological effect - like watching Mel Gibson's Braveheart.

4.55pm The cops had by now taken back a few blocks of the city and I had to take the scenic path to the LRT station. I boarded the train at 5.00pm

5.22pm Got off the train and still a kilometer to walk to our meeting spot. Four of us sat down for drinks and we all agreed that Bersih 4.0 will happen and this time the cops will e in for a rude surprise.

In conclusion, I am encouraged by the better than expected turnout. I think we hoped for 100,000 but we got over twice that number. For me, seeing so many youths out there is heartwarming. I'd say over 50% were teens and under 30s. Sure there were a few old folks (like me) - I saw this frail old man walking alone with the aid of a quad walking cane. HIDUP BERSIH!

A Rally for Change

2012-04-28T08:42:00.000+08:00

Dear Nic,

You cried when you heard daddy was going to the city for a rally even though you did not understand what it was all about. You wanted to join me but it is no place for a child to be. Many years from now when you are old enough you will understand. You have a strong will and whatever you political inclination may be I will respect it. I only hope that you HAVE one.

Some folks say politics is not their problem but it is a fact that almost everything that happens around is a result of politics. Like why the hell we pay more than some of our neighboring countries for automobiles! Whether one owns a car or not - you still end up 'paying'. Example, you board a compact-size Proton taxi where it should have been a mid-sized sedan. The higher cost factor is the reason of course. I am not even to touch on the horrendous scandals.

Anyway back to the rally. I believe over the years more Malaysians are emboldened by the determination, courage and sacrifices shown by some of the leaders of NGOs. All the big guns out today will be harassed and targeted for arrest. I merely have the simple task of uprooting my butt from this chair and joining the rally.

Let's MARCH!

Taekwondo Grading Exam

2012-04-15T12:39:00.000+08:00

Nic just completed her grading this morning. I hope her performance is sufficient for her to attain the rank of Senior Green. Yeah, I believe she did enough.

Sarah's Birthday

2012-03-26T17:24:00.000+08:00

Last night we headed to downtown Kuala Lumpur for Sarah's surprise birthday dinner at 1919. The food was great, as always and Nic and fun with cousins Brandon and Shannon and siblings Shane and Shania.

Sarah's cake (pics of her at age one I think)

Nic and Shannon

Susan and Sarah

Taekwondo and a Moth

2012-02-18T14:15:00.000+08:00

Nic wanted to quit taekwondo mainly cos her pal Reyna has quit and is joining gymnastics instead. I was not going to let her get off so easily so it is early Saturdays once more!

There are the newbies (white belts) who were mostly 1st Graders and a few older kids (Grade Two and higher).

[video] The kids were so fascinated with a dying moth - some rascal killed it a bit later on. The moth was a Lyssa Zampa aka Swallowtail Moth - they are common in Malaysia. In fact I recall seeing many of them when I was a school kid myself. They are quite dull in color - greyish but they look majestic and this specimen had a wingspan of around 150mm.

For the record, being the animal-lover that is Nicole - she wept.

Can't Wait to Drive

2012-02-04T19:07:00.000+08:00

Something about automobiles that even a child wants to be able to drive.

Dinner at Shangri-La

2012-01-29T12:40:00.000+08:00

Saturday: Sue's company dinner this time was held at the 'Shang' in the city. The buffet spread in the Lemon Garden Cafe was very good indeed. Top notch! I guess at RM160++ (USD53) per person, one would expect nothing less.

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

2012-01-23T22:35:00.000+08:00

Happy Chinese New Year to all. May you have good health, wealth and happiness throughout the year!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T14:38:00.000+08:00

We ushered in 2012 at 1919 Restaurant in Jalan Yap Kwan Seng. The food was good and we had fun.

A Little Bird

2011-12-26T15:55:00.000+08:00

Nic and I came across a young sparrow outside a shop this morning and it looked to be in s lot of trouble. I knew from its short tail feathers that it is a juvenile and must have fallen off its nest. It was gasping for breath probably from panic and not to mention the intense heat (we're in the middle of a heat wave). I knew if we didn't intervene it would not make it through the nest couple of hours.

We ran back to the car - luckily I have loads of stuff in the trunk. I scraped together an ice cream box, an old rag cloth, a spoon and water. We dashed back to the shop and caught it and took the little critter home. Guess what? After a couple of hours it started to chirp - sounded like it was calling out to its mother.

Two Cincalok ...

2011-12-12T15:37:00.000+08:00

Nic has been singing this - a Malaysian Peranakan version of The Twelve Days of Christmas.

Grading Results

2011-11-26T22:22:00.000+08:00

Attendance was probably 50% today as some families are already away for the year end school break. Nic and her buddy Reyna both passed! Whew, we were kinda worried as they did not look very confident last week. Time to get a green belt.

Taekwondo Grading

2011-11-20T13:30:00.001+08:00

Nic took her 6th grade test this morning and we'll have to wait to see if she passes cos there were a couple of errors. We hope she'll nick it and gain promotion to Junior Green belt.

left: Nic and Reyna after the test.

Cultural Nite 2011

2011-11-12T23:01:00.000+08:00

above: Instructor Yukiko Hori helps out with Nic's hair.

The day began at 8.00am as Nic had taekwondo practice. She was all excited about getting her hair done for her routine in the show. The kids had to have their hair 'bunned' at the rear and we had to get the hair salon to help as her hair was quite short.

pic: Reyna and Nicole

Next she had to be at the school by 4pm for make-up. The show began only at 7pm and was she tired. I had a little trouble recognizing her after all that paint. I decided to call it a night at 9.30pm (I think there were another 11 presentations to go) as she has taekwondo class tomorrow - extra class to prepare for her grading test next week.

Report Card Day

2011-11-10T22:14:00.000+08:00

I went over to school to get Nic's 2nd semester report card. Her grades were somewhat lower than the first. She will not be in the same class as her buddy Reyna next year, too bad!

Sports Day at MBPJ Stadium

2011-09-21T20:39:00.000+08:00

Nic has been looking forward to this day and was upset that I could not attend but mummy took the day off and got to watch her in her race. Nic was ecstatic as her blue team got third spot and she won a medal.

(above) Nic savoring her moment with friends Gloria (blue tee) and Reyna.

Aidil Fitri

2011-08-30T22:37:00.001+08:00


Back: Sue and Carol Front: Haniza and Agnes

Many thanks to Saidi and Haniza for inviting us to their home. We enjoyed a wonderful lunch feasting on nasi dagang, serunding daging, pulut, satay and ketupat. Best eaten with your hand.

Nasi Dagang

Nic & Lassie

Nic had a blast with their pets namely Qatmir - the husky, Lassie (pic) - the gorgeous Shetland sheepdog and Sam - the 'big' poodle.

School Holidays!

2011-08-28T22:27:00.001+08:00

We headed to 1U today. Jusco has reopened after closing for extensive reno works - it looks great! The crowd was good but was not too chaotic which is always a good thing.

Dinner at Mojo Upstairs in SS2 - Nic likes their fettuccine carbonara

Taekwondo Grading Results

2011-08-27T02:00:00.000+08:00

Yay, everyone who took last week's grading test passed which makes Nic a 7th grade Gup student. She is now a yellow belt senior and I think there will be another test in November. If she passes that she will be promoted to green junior.

Wrestle-mania @ Sunway Med

2011-08-13T16:50:00.001+08:00

Pics: before and after

Nic was very calm, even excited when she was wheeled into the prep area. Hospital rules only allowed one parent to accompany her into the OT and Nic chose mom. The action started as soon as the anestheticwas being administered. That's when she pulled the mask off. The technician had to call for back-up and eventually it took 2 men and three women to subdue her. The first guy said she is very strong. Yes I can attest to that as she was also very violent at age two. Read older post!

You see she uses any and every part (hands, elbow, legs) when she gets into her 'fighting" mode. Wish I was there to witness it! Mom saw it and as soon as Nic was knocked off mom had to leave the room.

Minor Surgery

2011-08-06T21:55:00.001+08:00

Mom took Nic to see an eye specialist at Sunway Medical today as the swell under her right eye (pic; nasty) has not cleared after a month. Verdict is the condition is called chalazion - a lump of the eyelid that is caused by obstruction of the drainage duct of an oil gland within the upper or lower eyelid. Nic is scheduled for surgery next Saturday.

The doc also confirmed that Nic has astigmatism in her left eye. We were not surprised as we notice she rubs her eyes a lot but when questioned about it she insisted her eyes felt tired. She will need a pair of prescription glasses to remedy this.

2011-07-28T21:44:00.011+08:00

Today was Nic's first DanceSport lesson. Over fifty kids attended last week's trial and it was good to see the children show so much excitement. Instructor Miss Yukiko Hori who runs Dance Xpress studio was wonderful with the kids and taught them the cha cha cha!

Although I did not get to attend today's class I am sure Nic was even more excited cos she got her dancing shoes!

Dreamgirls - a Broadway Musical

2011-07-16T19:55:00.016+08:00

A wonderful musical comprising of Malaysians (except for Broadway vet Kris Coleman, boy can he sing!).

Undoubtedly Sammie's biggest fan. Nic sure was excited!

One for the album!

Sammie (at right) and 3:18 to 4:32