Wish There's 2 of Me

I am currently sitting in my garage coz am having a sale today and tomorrow between 10am and 4pm... trouble is, its been quiet for the last 2 hours and I feel I can get other things done besides sitting here...


Still got lots to do and I am fast running out of time... forgot to call to make an appointment with my physio too... the day started earlier than I thought... people started coming at 9:30am... some look for household stuff, some looking for furniture... one thing I noticed, they all say they have a small place and can't fit much furniture... interesting...


Thinking what should I do with the unsold stuff... bin them, donate them, give them away... I have done all three these past months... still got so much left... the books and the vinyl records... need to get out the spare kitchen stuff from the shed later for tomorrow... did I mention the VHS tapes and player too?


I still got some final packing to do and then cleaning up the house best I can... I was vacuuming and moving boxes at 9pm last night... talk about weird... need to update the packing lists as well... gosh... why can't I work faster?


Need to catch up with my friends before I leave... 1 week is really not much time leh... still got arrangements to make with the real estate agent, need to check up on a few things with AEC... the bank, utilities... please give me strength...


Although I have a loaded plate here, that does not mean I am not thinking about what's happening at home... will be there soon... just wish there's 2 of me so that I can finish all these tasks quick smart...

© Shiki Tekken

Adi Yusri Hj Md Deli - Thanks for Your Friendship

When I took this photo yesterday afternoon, it was because I thought the lantern was lonely... when I was editing it last night, I notice the rays of the sun... and thought to myself how special this turned out... coz it reminded me of hope... its warm rays touching everything...


That's how I remember Adi... a warm hearted person who is a caring and easy-going friend... never once have I ever heard a harsh word from him... I remember the comforting and encouraging words he said to me in my time of stress and sadness... never did I think I would be remembering those words again so soon...


I first met Adi while hanging out at Coffeebean 2 years ago when I was home for vacation... I knew Adi through Rose who is also friends with Rul and my bro... little did I know then that he was my junior in SOAS and that he knew some of my other friends...


We both own a Macbook and I remember the first question he asked me when we were introduced... 'how do you keep your Mac so clean?''... We continued our friendship through FB after I came back to Perth...


Through Adi, I got to know his other hang-out buddies and thanks to him, they have become my support system in my time of need earlier this year... thank you D for unselfishly sharing your pals with me...


We share a few things in common... Mac for one... he loved his cats and talk about them all the time... he loves taking photos of his cats... he loved chocolates and last Easter, I sent a few bags of Easter chocs to him... he enjoy good food... Coffeebean's Vanilla Latte was his favourite... he liked Big Bang and Super Junior... he was a scrapper, I was impressed coz I am not creative at all... he had a wicked sense of humour... he used to order teh tarik from Dynasty and had it delivered to him in Coffeebean... Bentley was my god-kitten...


When I received news of his passing this morning, I was on the train into the city to collect my new specs... during the whole journey, the images that kept playing in my mind's eye was the times we spent hanging out, his surprise bday party at his home, the bday dinner he treated us to... those were happy times, I am glad I have those memories...


He was already not well back then, he had wanted to attend my bro's memorial but was not able to coz he was hospitalised... I did not know his condition would deteriorate so quickly... When he started his treatment, we did not expect it would take such a toll on him... I was looking forward to visiting with him when I go home in a few weeks' time...


The last week was a test on all those who love him... and for a short while, we thought he was pulling through and on the mend... but fate has a funny way of reminding us of our mortality... I lost a dear friend this morning... may he rest in peace...


D, I miss you my friend... till we meet again... stay forever young...


My heartfelt and deepest condolences to his family in their time of bereavement.


*This post was written on 24 August 2010*

They Shall Not Grow Old...

The song that was playing on my iPod when I received the news of Adi's passing was Angel by Sarah McLachlan and I thought how appropriate it was... a few hours later when I entered my favourite shop Dusk to look for something to honour Adi's memory, the same song was playing on the shop's PA system... someone must know how sad I am feeling today... In memory of a dear friend... Angel performed by Sarah McLachlan and Josh Groban.

I would like to borrow some words from our ANZAC Day celebrated every April 25...

They shall not grow old,

as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them,

nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun,

and in the morning

We will remember them.

Lest We Forget

Awaken from Slumber

Wonderful news came last night... Adi is conscious from sedation... its been a week since he was put under after he started regular chemotherapy... I think visits and prayers from loved ones and friends helped and he needs more to reach full recovery... he is not able to speak yet but at least he's awake and aware of his surroundings... made all the conversations I have had worth it... :)

I will see you soon D!

© dashboard day

Come Back To Me Part 2- SE7EN

Part 2 of Se7en's 'Come Back to Me'... This is from his 2nd album 'Must Listen'...

Deadline is Near...

For the first time in a long time, Australia may be facing a hung parliament... would be interesting to see what and how the negotiations will be like before a winner is declared from the election yesterday and who the new prime minister will be... will I be around to witness this? We will see how they progress along in the next few weeks... its been a close race this time... I did mention to a friend few weeks ago when the campaigning started that we may end up with a hung parliament... seems I should have put a bet on it... hmm...

Besides the election, the other matter that has got me on tender-hooks is how well is Adi is recovering... please be strong D and fight this battle of your life... there's so many friends who are praying for you and willing you to fight on so please never give up...

I am also doing the last bits of packing up the house and heading back to Brunei... end of a chapter of my life soon and the beginning of another chapter... hope I have the patience and tenacity to bite my tongue... 

The to do list seems to be never-ending... phone calls to make, accounts to terminate, friends to catch up with, things to pick up, garage sale, arrangements to be made... feel tired just thinking about it...

© Performant

Come Back to Me - SE7EN(세븐)

Se7en's been away in the US trying to break into the market... so its been a few years since we heard much from him... 'Come Back to Me' was his very first hit from his 1st Album 'Just Listen'... he has matured but he still sing and dance well... pity he did not make much dent in the States but he's back in Korea now... hope to see and hear more of him... This is a very good live performance by the way... 

What's Happening in August 2010

Packing up the house... getting quotes for shipping stuff... preparing to put house on the market... got a summons to jury duty... unfortunately, not able to attend as I will be leaving Perth and my GP said I am in no fit state of mind to carry out my duty... if it had come at another time, I would have participated for the experience of being on a panel of jury... on top of that, my blood pressure is on the up and need to be back on medication... had my Swine Flu jab... nothing much, just a sore left upper arm 2 days after the jab... don't hit me on my left arm coz I may hit back... elections coming up... waiting for new specs... seems my eyes and brain can't work with my current pair of specs... CB has taken to washing my hair as he is grooming himself... feeling tired all the time... emotionally drained too... 

© LunaticAttitude

You Are Loved (Don't Give Up) - Josh Groban

Josh Groban has always been one of my favourite singers coz his voice is so ethereal, it evokes the emotions...

As I was preparing to write about my friend Adi, who had been having chemotherapy in Brunei, I received news that he was admitted into the Surgical ICU on Sunday when he became unconcious yesterday morning... news came yesterday afternoon that the doctors wanted to take him off life support... it tore in my heart coz it was exactly 6 months yesterday that my brother passed away... I was hoping that the decision was not carried through and thankfully, his parents did not consent to it... I was told yesterday evening that he is in a stable condition... 'Don't Give Up' came to mind and I would like to dedicate this song to Adi... 

Please fight this battle of your life and come out the winner... I know you are capable of beating this illness... you got a whole bunch of people who love and care about you... some of us are waiting to party with you and some have yet to be introduced to their Uncle Adi... alum lagi aku sempat beraya with you too... so, don't give up D!

Australian Election 2010

Australians are going to the polls this Saturday to vote for a new government and Prime Minister... I have exercised my right to vote 2 times before this and this Saturday, it will be the 3rd time... who will I be casting my vote for? its for me to know... :)


From the time former PM Kevin Rudd was replaced by PM Julia Gillard, I have been two minds about the leaders of the country... I think I liken it to the analogy of going into the shop to buy Coke but all they have got is Diet Coke, Coke Zero and Pepsi... Very much like caught between the devil and hard place... :-s


Anyway, the advertising campaigns from all the political parties on the telly are driving me slowly insane... for the past 3 days, I kept hearing Mr. Rabbit instead of Mr. Abbott on the telly from one of the adverts... I think I am really overloaded with the election political campaigns adverts now...


Can't wait to go to the polls this weekend so that all the brainwashing can stop for another 4 years... then it would be a night of biting nails for the count... hmm...

© Japla

My Very Last Bulk Collection Week...

It's been 20 years since my family made the collective decision to settle down on our street... every year, we have 1 week where all households can put out all their junk to be collected... each year, I have managed to do my bit and clear the house of unwanted items... never have I thought that I would put out as much as what I had this one last time... 

Spent the whole sunday past clearing out the 2 garden sheds we have... suffice to say, there were a lot of stuff that lined the front verge... my front yard now looks like a junk yard... it did not start out that way mind you... everything was stacked in an orderly fashion... but the visitors who came to look through them and take what they want left a messy pile behind... I have counted 10 vehicles stopping and looking since lunchtime today... they are mostly vans and station wagons... most of them were women... I so feel like going out there and start stacking them again... 

One thing that irked me was that some stupid idiots smashed 3 working fans for no apparent reason on Sunday afternoon... thats so irritating... though I may not need it but someone else may have a use for them... and these people with nothing better to do, decided to destroy them... aargh... hope Karma will catch up with them and bite them on the bottom real hard... grrr...

The photos here were taken on Sunday afternoon and also this afternoon... will try to remember to take one of when all these things are removed... hope it will be tomorrow... its getting to me and the pathway is getting cluttered... not good for pedestrians who walk along it...

It feels sad somehow... to know that I will be ending a life that I am so comfortable with for so long... it will be a new adaptation again when I leave for home... hmm... where or what exactly is home?

Before Shot: Sunday, 1 August 2010

After Shot: Tuesday, 3 August 2010

Late Summer Night - KangTa

One of my fav songs... did not know what the lyrics meant till after a long while... it sounded like a happy song but in fact, its about loving someone who don't feel the same for you anymore... KangTa is a very good Jazz singer too... when my brother first saw him and ShinHwa, his comment was: 'ah... pretty boys...'