Walter and his tantrums

Walter seems to have tantrums more often  now. When he doesn't get his way, he cries, drops on his knees, start howling, rolls on the floor, legs kicking and whatever else in order to get attention.
This has happened at Everrise Supermarket,

Sarawak General Hospital,

his school, and apparently during school. Why? I guess he wanted something but did not get it; wants attention; or just tired. BTW, Walter has Downs Syndrome.
But what I am at loss is why this sudden tantrum throwing episodes. He never did this before. Now, whenever he doesn't get his way, this starts. I am of the belief that I should not go cuddling my boy every time he does this.. but its rather difficult to not do so.. when you need to register him to see the doctor or have other things to settle.. but wow, I really do feel the prying eyes of everyone.. quite sure some people did take his photo as I saw hand phones trained on him when he was doing his 'show' in the hospital. Wonder which blog or FB it came out... haiz. What I did was to take him and place him in the waiting room (where the show continued) and just wait. I am of the belief that Walter must learn that by doing this 'show' he will not get what he wants. Unfortunately, I feel that I am the only person of this belief!
E

Manners

I just dont understand the bad manners of people..
At Giant just now, my daughter was playing at the kids playground and I placed her slippers by the side. A lady comes by, kicks the slippers away and sit down there. Haiz..
A lady driving out of a lane onto the main road.. drives right into my lane.. on the opposite side of the road, with no sign of remorse etc, just proceed on.
People cutting Q, and the frontline still serves them.
A gaggle of girls at the fast food counter, deciding what to order.. sometimes I just wonder why do I always get this kind of persons in my line.
Last night at KFC, the lady in front of me insisted on paying by credit card, when the restaurant only accepted cash.
People driving with their high lights on (usually smaller cars)..
And the list goes on....

Sometimes I wonder how true are our tourism advertisements, I would love to find those kind of people.. cheerful, helpful, smiling, considerate...
E

Promoted to Professor (Marketing) (VK7)

Dear All,

This afternoon I met Prof Dr Shazali, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), who handed me my letter of promotion to Professor VK7 together with a few words of advice.

I must say that I am extremely grateful and thankful for this promotion. As I said to Prof Dr Shazali, the title Professor has been my aspiration, the pay is secondary (appreciated too of course), and now this dream of mine has come true.

I must give thanks to all of you, who through these 16 years that I have been at the faculty and at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), have helped me to mature and develop myself in my chosen career. There are still many things that can be improved in myself and I would greatly appreciate it if you will continue to help me in this career as a Professor.

Your contribution to my personal development is greatly appreciated and I look forward to further years at FEB, UNIMAS. I must also thank all of you for your support to my family and me during our difficult times.

I look forward to your continuing support and may all of us gain success in whichever way we dream of.

Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.

Ernest

8.3.12

UNIMAS is 20!

My employer, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), is now 20 years old. How does time fly, especially when you are enjoying yourself and doing things that you like, at a place that is as supportive as possible. I greatly appreciate UNIMAS.
I have been here for 16 years, at the Faculty of Economics and Business, and now also at the Center for Graduate Studies. Look us up. We are doing great things and will continue to expand and provide more and better services for our stakeholders.
E

Satok Night Market

One of the places we do go as a family is the Satok Night Market on Saturday evenings, partly to buy some greens and fruits, and partly to walk about and see.. 

The first stop is the usual.. either keropok lekor or an Indian snack food that I forgot the name.. lol.. vade i think, this time only the keropok lekor was open.. many stalls were still not open, guess Chinese New Year affects even the night market.

This snack food is important, as it is for the children.. lol.. yup.. both Walter and Vina love it and will fight over it. Vina wanted to hold the plastic bag of keropok lekor and Walter was not having that.. in the end Doren held the bag and dished out keropok lekor as we walked. We even have a kind of standard tour of the place.. depending on the need but the usual is through the fruits and then the veges an then to the souvenir place and to the magazines for Doren's weekly supply.

Some times the tour goes on a long stretch to the end of the market, sometimes a quick run to the veges. We also do walk on the other side of the market, to see the trees, plants, fish and animals that are on sale. Nice to see.. not really to buy .. for us especially..
This time we stopped at the fruit stand (where we usually dont) to buy some pears.. actually it turned out to be only 2 pears (as it cost RM6.80).

Nice pears.. and a small bunch of red grapes came to nearly RM30. Oh well.. once in a while.. we usually stick to Malaysian fruits.. especially when we can get from the village. We love durian (but I have to cut down), cempedak (have 2 outside the house at the moment.. courtesy of my neighbour), my wife and children loves nangka and rambutan.. i so so, mangosteens, mango.. the list goes on.
E

Claypot rice.. in Kuching

We don't usually go out to eat, and am not really well versed in places in Kuching for good food, but we do have some places that we like. There is this place, a corner restaurant at Rubber Road, at the other corner of the Singapore Chicken Rice near Satok Night Market, where we go for Claypot Rice. Its just a hole in the wall operation that has moved around for some time, and we have followed them. We even know their children from the time they were small till teenagers that they are now. 

To say that the claypot rice is marvelous etc, not really.It is just claypot rice. Thats it. Nothing else. But it is very nice, very rustic, and without realizing it.. you can eat the whole pot..LOL. We ordered a medium sized pot and between the two of us finished the whole pot..

 The other thing that we have when we are there is a owl of peanut soup. I like this soup, for the taste, the peanuts, and the occasional pieces of chicken leg. Very tasty and it goes well with the claypot rice.

This claypot rice and soup cost us RM9. Now tell me where else can you get such value..
I enjoyed myself.. and I could still feel my wallet, so I am smiling...
E

City...

I have just been to Melaka and Kuala Lumpur again last week.. now back to Kuching.
What I saw and experienced made me to ask, why are we hurtling towards becoming a huge city with all its so called modern contraptions? Why cant we stay as we are and maintain our ecology?
These questions came about as I sat in taxi after taxi, car after car, in traffic jam after traffic jam, yet the city guys showered praises of their city. Yet it took hours just to move from one place to another. People were rushing everywhere and were rather rude and inconsiderate. I could barely see any greenery, and even as I flew back I could only see cement and brown (see pic). Do we in Sarawak want that? While I was there people were talking of water rationing, the increasing cost of electricity and cost of living. My dear old friend in Melaka told me that the prices of everything has gone up so much. Yet everyone seemed to want to live in a city... which was weird for me.
I wonder is this becoming a concern for me because I am getting older?
I understand the economics of the matter at hand.. but then why can those in the far off European countries can have self sustaining cities, renewable energy, use run off water and the like for their cities. Somehow or rather I feel like we are wasting our resources in order to become modern, instead of managing our resources. But the question remains.. can we manage our resources in such a way that we do not have to be cities? Can our people survive? Must we become cities?
I like how Kuching is.. now... and yet I know it is growing and becoming the nightmare that I do not wish to be in. More and more buildings and housing developed in haphazard ways, more and more cars (and associated bad drivers) and less roads and car parks with no significant public services, more and more older / sick / ets persons and less and less services to cater for this (unless you have wads of cash to pay for it in private institutions). I now understand why my mother moved house, from town to suburban to rural and I also understand why so many persons have land at their village or dream of having a place away from the maddening crowd.
Yup.. the maddening crowd.. that sums it well.
Maybe its old age.. thats why I dont want to be in a maddening crowd... hmmm.
Your thoughts..
E

Happy New Year 2012

Its another new year.. and my best wishes to all, for a healthy, wealthy and all encompassing good and fun year to all.

I had the chance to take photos with my brother and his family

I also had the chance to have a family photo with my mum..







Just missed out with my sister and in laws.. next time.

To my dear family, Happy New Year. May we continue to have good health, all our needs are met, and our faith strengthened. Love all of you.

To my friends, students, and all those who know me.. Happy New Year, and may you and yours have a GREAT year.

Ernest

Malaysian Drivers (1)

My categorization of Malaysian drivers (Part 1):

1. The Aunties: Have you ever seen them, these aunties driving grand cars, so slowly.. usually all dressed up, and with kids and the help in the car. They drive like they own the road, and just don't seem to understand that there are rules to be followed. I like their style though.. must have a full face dark eyeshade, hands all covered, and usually heavily made up with striking make up... but not all.. some just seem harried.

2. The Panic Persons: Can be young or old, but the usual is they drive along well until an event panics them, then the devil in them rears up. Just saw one this morning, in a Kancil full of people, wanting to turn out to the main road and a lorry turned in towards the Kancil, he panicked and speed off, nearly causing at accident there and there as other cars and motorbikes had to stop for him. He then sped off and ran a red light and drove in a zig-zag fashion until I lost sight of him.

3. The Apek (old, usually Chinese man.. sometimes, well rarely.. old Chinese woman but can also be of other races): Older person, usually in an older car. But don't be misguided, this car is just the Apek's work car. I know of a few Apeks with work cars like s**t but you should see the mansions they own. Anyway, I am digressing.. these Apeks drive like i***ts and I believe their attitude is "Do you really want to hit my car? I don't lose anything but your car...?" Plus maybe because they are old, they don't seem to know the road rules and drive as and how they like.

to be continued...

Cost of living, worry, and thankfulness.

Was reading in the paper today of how people in Europe are worried of the economy and their livelihood.. and of a quote of a grandma stocking up on foodstuff .. that's what my mother does too.. LOL, which brought to my mind my own situation.. and those worst off than me.
I am in the middle class level of society, and yet I feel the pinch of our economy. I work for a living and even though I do have a good salary, I find it difficult to live nicely. I am thankful that I have a single-storey terrace house (which I am still paying for every month) and sad that I have no real savings or assets. Every month my wife complains that the amount of money I give to her to run the household is insufficient and now with the kids going to school, petrol bills, electric bills, Walters medicine (price really has gone up) and whatsoever.. its just difficult. And I am a lecturer... what more those earning less than me. Everything is more and more expensive..and my income doesn't go up as quickly as the prices.
I try to save whatever I can for my family's future.. but that doesn't amount to much, which makes me worried for my wife and children's future. Now while I am alive, people do give face to my son (he has Downs Syndrome) and I worry what will happen to him when I cannot support the family. My wife insist on going back to University to take a degree but I really wonder what work can she find and how can she work when we need somebody to look after Walter. I also worry how will she and the family survive if I pass away or am no longer able to provide an income for them. I worry for my daughters future, education and life in these difficult times and the future.All this plus my own not so great health... haiz.
Boy do I worry.
At the same time I take to heart what my Jesus says in Matthew 6:25- 34;    
²⁵ “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷ Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 
²⁸ “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; ²⁹ and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰ Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven,will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 
³¹ “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.and I take comfort and worry less. 
The practical side in me will and have tried many things, so that the future of my children will be good.
Nevertheless, at the same time I am thankful for what I have. I am still alive. I can still see. I have a wife, son, and a daughter. I have family that loves me. My mum is still alive and supportive. I have a house and car. I have a job which I am thankful for, its something I really love. I have the opportunity to help so many people. For all this and many more I am thankful.
So I worry less... yet...

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

A very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 

from Ernest, Doren, Walter and Sarah de Run.

We plan to go back to Doren's village for Christmas and hence no open house this year. I will be on leave from 19 December 2011 till 3 Jan 2012 and will only rarely (I hope) check my email.. : )

Our best wishes to all.

My Eyes

Went to the eye clinic recently for my 2 checkups, last Tuesday was the 2nd visit/test.. even by then I knew it was not good..my right eye has shown some degeneration.The clinic was so full of people.. had to stand for most of the time.. 

The usual drill of appointment at 9.. lol.. arrived earlier at 830am, and placed my card and stood and waited for 30 mins for my name to be called out.. eyesight check.. couldn't read the bottom line of the chart.. haiz..then wait again and saw the doctor, she put this med in my eye and immediately sting.. and looked in my eye, then did some more drops which stung and made my eyes yellow and then stood and waited outside.. . vision became blurry.

Another look into my eyes and then a short chat.. starting me on drops, my pressure on the eye is now 18 and the drops should lower the pressure... need to know how to lower pressure in my eye.. should have asked but didnt.. oh well..so now I am a glaucoma patient.. and need to reduce pressure on my eyes... and now I pray I will have my eyesight at least till I retire.. need to prepare for my kids and wife..

Here is a pic of my eye some 2 years ago.. apparently now its worse.. haiz... 

So that's why I was a bit disheartened, sad, depressed.. still am .. but will need to pick myself up and get on with it..
Life has to go on, and I have 3 persons depending solely on me.. so must.. must go on..
E

Haiz..

I wonder if others feel as I do..
I just want to stay at home, play with my kids.. and not be bothered by the many petty things..

Malas..
not lazy but just give up on the idiocy and pettiness of people around me.. maybe I expect too much... lol..

But then I cannot be malas.. because of my children.. because of their future
so I push myself for them
even in the face of the idiocy and pettiness that I face day in and day out..

but now I really must slow down, save my eyesight,
but I have committed to many things and persons.. so need to finish that off.. and then no more

just do what I like

LOL.. as if that can ever happen

Its just a tool

Read the papers this morning.. front page of how a lady got duped by a Nigerian to be a drug mule, via Facebook. Inside the paper, a story of a company suing Facebook and some authors on an article, and another story of the censorship in China of Facebook. Plus the countless rhetoric by our leaders on the social media.
Wonder why the hysteria?
Facebook and its like is just a tool.
You think the Nigerian will not find another way to get drug mules if Facebook was banned?
You think that people will not shoot off their mouth at their bosses or services that they don't like?
You think that governments like China (BTW, its a communist government) will not want to censor dissent in any form? Especially after the Arab summer.
Lets be rationale. Its just a tool. Its not the tools fault. Its the person typing, reading, using. As an example, do we take guns to court for killing a human? No. We take the human who used the gun (tool) to court.
Lets use our faculties before we go off on a mass hysteria that Facebook and its like should be banned. Instead, lets educate people on the responsibilities, etiquette and mannerism that we should use while on such media.
E

Antecedents to ... Meeting the ... Doctor ! ! !

Its coming soon... have to face the doctors...

The indicator.. blood test.. and yet I have not summoned any will power yet to make myself a better man and not a fatter man (copied directly from the ad from TV.. can u guess which show?).

Just been to hospital to 'donate' my blood for testing, again. The usual wake up early in the morning... this time couldn't wake up. I have noticed that I have become lazier and lazier in waking up in the morning and it has become so difficult to wake up and do the usual routine. 

Whats the routine? Wake up. Cant shower etc as have to get the kids up. Wait for Walter to eat something. Prepare all the towels, toothbrush with toothpaste, and Walter's medicine/pampers. Drag / carry / Pull or just get Walter to the bathroom, sometimes screaming and shouting, to have his shower. Then shower while my wife puts Walter's medicine on his buttocks and dresses him up. I am so lazy. Sorry dear wife, really.

Anyway, off to donate blood. The usual heavy traffic and the idiots that just nip in front of you and cut in (at the hospital traffic light).    

Wished I had a piece of land next to the hospital. Sure become millionaire. I always park at the cheap part (RM3).

Walk through this side gate (at one time was locked and had to walk the whole nine yards to the main entrance (why am I complaining.. fat, need the exercise..LOL). Each time go through this side gate, must remember to bend (a slight "kow tow" to the hospital spirits), otherwise your head will feel the wrath of the iron.. LOL.

 Haiz.. the place I have to go every few months, either for me, my wife or Walter. Specialist Clinic (more like the outpatient clinic for the hospital) at the Sarawak General Hospital.

 Its just 730am, I arrived a bit later than usual and the place is packed. The staff is already calling out names to get their number. I quickly place my sheet of paper for blood test at the counter ans set to wait.

 I usually bring my students work or a paper or a newspaper to read. This time, nothing. Just lazy and no mood to do anything. So sit like an idiot until I hear Profesor Madya something something being called out. Quickly I walk to the counter and to my embarrassment it is not me. LOL. What? You think you the only Profesor Madya at the hospital? LOL. At 805am, my name is called and I am given this chit, number 1029, and they are just calling number 1002.

I sit and wait.At 830am my number rings on the counter over the door to the blood taking room. I go in and see that the person that will be taking my blood is a young lady. She seemed nervous and rubbed my hand with alcohol covered cotton for so long I thought that my hand must have got drunk. She tried once, poking the needle in slighty, didnt get the vein and gave up. I told her that the Indian guy on the other side usually takes my blood and she waited for a while, called him, and got me transferred over.
The first thing this guy says is, "You gained weight huh?" Haiz..He was all business. One poke, and he was drawing blood like water from my veins.

All done, at 845am. Repeat this every 3 or 6 months, for the rest of my life. 

Now also, to see the Doctor to get the results... don't think it will be good, as I have not been taking care of myself, at all. 

Haiz.

Don't want to go and see the Doctor. I just want to crawl under a rock, curl into a fetus shape, and lie down covered and all by myself. Already know what the Doctor will say. Haiz.

Haiz ad infinitum.

My teeth..

Guess I am getting old..
This year is a rather bad year for my teeth... been seeing the dentist for so many times... partly for a filling that keeps on falling out - after a few hours, days, and weeks. Yup.. once after the dentist filled the cavity, went home.. all OK, that night had dinner and the filling came out as I was biting into the fried fish my dear wife made for me.. haiz. Once for a root canal... haiz..not something I wish for my enemies even and twice for a false tooth. The second time came about because I left the false tooth in a hotel... had to fork out RM700 for the new false tooth.
Oh well...

Undilah

Saw this on yahoo news and thot it was a good effort, go get registered as a voter.. and vote.. and if interested, look at their site http://www.undilah.com/.