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Tick and Tock
In primary school, I had an Alba watch (ALBA – close to the name of the current Aussie PM). Bet you millennials never heard of it. In all honesty, I just Googled it and surprise, surprise – the company is still in business!
Found out it was established in 1979 as well, so we are of the same age. I don’t know what happened to the watch; could have lost when I went to boarding school. Or maybe the battery died and we did not replace it.
What I do know is that I would wear it when I head over to play with my friends in the late afternoon (5-ish). My parents idea was plausible – get this boy a watch so he would be back before it gets dark/Maghrib (630ish).
Come on – you don’t really expect that to happen, would you?
My parents would be sitting at the front porch, gazing intently on me as I make my walk of shame back home. My late dad would quipped , “Even with a watch on, you would still manage to come back late?”. I believe this was my early exposure on being cynical. I don’t really get it at the time, but sometimes my kids say I’m really good at it.
Later on, I caught glimpse of a Swatch watch. I can’t remember exactly when but it would have been gold-coloured that straps like a bracelet. I have been wanting to own a Swatch for a while, like 20+ years maybe? There’s just something about the vibrant colours that caught my eyes but never had enough pushing factor to get one. I just felt content looking at phone, or just asking around for time.
Last July, I finally got my first Swatch! Woot-woot!
We were in the midst of our 6 weeks travel in Malaysia. It was not a planned purchase. Innocently waiting for my family doing their shopping at Genting Premium Outlet and, lo and behold, the Swatch shop was right in front of me. I exited the shop with mixed feelings.
It is nothing fancy, but I am happy. Little do I know that this won’t be the last time I get one. More on it later 😀
Whats with that smirk? 😀
Stay hungry, stay safe.
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Goals are for losers
Back in 1999, I had a presentation during my English subject. The topic was setting goals and targets to have a successful life. Feels ironic to have a totally opposite title for my blog entry.
“How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big” by Scott Adams (creator of Dilbert comic strip) could be the first, if not a handful of books in my Kindle collection that I read more than once.
I re-read it for the second time a week ago. Chuckled as I went through my earlier notes, at times beginning to understand some points. It sounded gibberish before. He reiterated that as a comic book writer, the so called advice in the book should not be taken too seriously – one should always consult a professional.
In a nutshell, he encourages one to look at failures in a different spotlight. We tend to avoid failure so much that we missed the fact that there is actually a lot of things to be learned from failures. For example, he failed his food business venture – but through it he learns what would work and what wouldn’t. Through it he gets to know processes, people etc. This would then helped him in the future if he plans to do a similar venture.
Goals are for losers. One should have a system; where you would have a routine on something. You would continue doing it on a regular basis; doesn’t matter if it rains or shine, doesn’t matter which side of the bed you woke up to. You just wake up and do it.
Before Dilbert was famous, he would get up really early (4-5am) and do his sketches before getting ready and heading to his office job. This would go on for years. This way when opportunity knocks, you are well prepared to take full advantage of it.
Its amazing how we start to see things differently if we take the time, no rush and repeat it. We don’t have to like it, but just understand it. Understand how the world around us it not so black and white; but could be greyish. At times so grey you can’t tell whether it borders the black side or the white side.
There is a part which talks about affirmation; I have different thoughts about it that I might share on a different post.
By the way this is not a paid book advertisement. I got this on sale (AUD4.99) on Amazon and find it to be an interesting book. One does not have to like everything he reads, but it certainly doesn’t harm if it helps you to see things in a different perspective.
Stay hungry, stay safe.
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One On One
Lately I haven’t been faring nicely in my 1-on-1 basketball sessions with Zarif. He is gaining frequencies and confidence in beating me. In a session last month it was 7-6 and 5-4. Slim margin lost – glad I didn’t bet on paying for his new shoe.
Not gonna lie, losing bruises my man ego. But I am also happy and proud of his progress. Gone were the days where I could simply shove him and get an easy underbasket. Instead of me, he is the one being a teacher – showing me how to correct my guiding left hand while shooting, or a proper hesi (pretending as if you are shooting the ball, to get your defender jumping).
It takes me out of my comfort zone, which is good. I thought of adding some extra kilos, maybe bulk up a bit so I would have this weight advantage. Just post up and show him who’s the boss.
I realised this could be my new super power – eat more and lose less. The mathematical side of my brain tells me this also means revamping my wardrobe; so I decided not to. I’d rather spend it on more useful stuffs; like a Lego modular building or a Dragonball Swatch:D.
I have seen people being biased when assessing their child sports skills. I prefer to let others do the talking. If he’s good, then he should/could play. If not, then he should be receptive of an advice or when someone tries to correct him. As a parent I try to instil humility in my kids – at times it is hard to differentiate humility, confidence and cocky.
He’s not great per say, but he can play. Currently he provides a healthy dose of competition to me so I could keep pushing myself to be healthy. It also forces me to rethink my health regime holistically – how I deal with training, injuries, diet, weight training.
I pray for health and longevity so we could continue having this friendly bout. Maybe with a different sport?
We got balls🏀…literally. Stay hungry, stay safe.
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Leaving on a jetplane
Last 26 June 2022 we were blessed to experience our first trip overseas since the start of Covid-19.
This lockdown is certainly a blessing in disguise. It has given me time to think, read, reconnect and save $$$. Add in some tour guide experience and it certainly changed the way I plan for my 6 weeks holiday.
10 things I’m glad I did before we travelled :
1. Cleared out the laundry
2. Iron my work clothes for 1 week
3. Have a list of things to do (got the kids to do theirs as well)
4. List of people to meet/visit
5. List of food to eat
6. Keep an open and flexible mindset
7. One (credit) card to rule them all
8. Weekly small savings
9. Cleared out my bills/put them on autopay
10. Set a dateline for packing
It’s not much but really does help in getting me moving especially on the first day of work.
Just us and the “Departures” sign. Stay hungry, stay safe.
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Books of Ju-ne/ly
Finished Wild by Cheryl Strayed; its not that long that her adventure took place (mid 90s) but occasionally I will close my eyes and imagine how does one goes hiking with limited resources available.
No weather apps to tell you what the weather’s like the next day.
Or phone alert that snow will cover some part of the track that you have to make a detour.
Or some tweet to alert you that the next water stop after hiking 30kms is dry (you have none left in your backpack by the way). So many ifs; but if you survive, it is definitely a story worth telling again and again.
Just as the season changes, I have changed my reading style (again)
Got busier at work with the border reopening; so I spent more time listening than reading. The Australia General Election in May made me subscribe Youtube Premium to avoid watching the recurring politicians advertisement. It also means I can download some of my favourite lectures as I travel to and from work.
My current listening is :
1. Yasir Qadhi‘s lecture on the Prophet Muhammad pbuh (100+ hours lecture broken into 1 hour series each),
2. Tim Ferriss (he interviews and dissects successful/high performance/unique people habits)
3. Metallica (live shows are awesome)
4. Random Weezer, Dave Chapelle, The Sopranos clips
Audible has been tempting me with $0/3 months subscription for awhile; I’ll pass for now.
Stay hungry, stay safe.
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Books of May
Current Read
1. Wild – Cheryl Strayed
From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail
2. Quiet – Susan Cain
The Power of Introverts in World that Can’t stop Talking
3. Into The Rip – Damien Cave
How the Australian Way of Risk Made my Family Stronger, Happier…and Less American
Recently I changed my reading style. Whereas before I would pickup and read different books & chapters at a time ; now I will read a book start to finish, while having another 2-3 waiting in line.
Reading several books at a time now makes me feel like a maniac changing pace. Like running an 800m race and as you cross the finishing line, you sat down and start slurping down a bowl of hot noodle soup. Different writers have different pace, style – sometimes the font itself makes day and night difference.
Still avoiding Goodreads for now; else I’ll be like a kid in a toy store:)
Stay hungry, stay safe.
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One month later.
A month!!
That was how long it has been since my last posting. No, I am not on social media detox mode, in case you are wondering. Few things have been occupying my mind & body; Ramadhan, Eid ul Fitr, overtime at work (worked 7 days last week), open house invitations (full stomach makes you sleepy & dull to ideas).
Lost 5kg after Ramadhan; wasn’t aiming for it but it certainly is comfortable with my working pants now. I use to feel like the Incredible Hulk from the waist down – at times the pants seems like it is screaming to burst. Definitely would have been weird because the real Incredible Hulk would torn and shown his upper body, while I would tear off my….never mind.
There were some changes to my eating pattern – I’ll take half or a quarter of my normal rice portion but will fill up the plate with protein (chicken/beef/lamb rendang) and veggies. Occasionally I still have a munch of chips, cake, lollies or whatever my kids are enjoying in front of me; but that’s it. I don’t have the urge to finish a packet of chips – UNLESS it’s Twisties Curry flavour. That is a compulsory 1 packet (2 packets if I have to share with the others).
I checked at my local gym just this morning, down an additional 3kg…whaaattt? So its a total of 8kg since last April.
Looked at the results and sure enough as mentioned by Peter Attia (video here) fasting without resistance training would have bring some (unwanted) changes like an increase of fat mass and reduction of muscle mass. A bit unnerving especially if you are a health conscious but I’m ok with it.
Anyhoo, it feels good to be able to squeeze some time to write this. Feels better if I could get my hands on some Twisties later tonight.
Stay hungry, stay safe.
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Wake Up and Smell The Coffee
There are certain memory recollections that are clear as day to me, like the first time I tried sushi.
Ordering Western-style coffee (latte, espresso etc) is not one of them.
Knowing how I used to think, I bet the first time I ordered one would be an espresso, because that’s what I normally see on TV. Just being able to say the word “espresso” made me feel like a French speaker. Uber-cool for a 20 year old if you ask me back then.
I still don’t understand the coffee culture even after 13 years in Perth.
Maybe the fact that we don’t have a Starbucks outlet here doesn’t accelerate my coffee knowledge like my friends back in Malaysia.
Maybe I don’t have that many friends to hang out with at the ubiquitous Dome/Coffee Club here.
I can’t fathom what makes a coffee delicious – is it the temperature? Smell? Bitterness? Zestiness? The latte art? Companion you are with?
To me it’s just some hot, bitter beverage coming into contact with my mouth. Comforting on a cold day. Occasionally the smell itself would triggered something inside me.
I went through a period of drinking black coffee without sugar. I will get a shiver after sipping it; the words coming out from my mouth is a mix of regret and cursing. Like Tuco from Breaking Bad saying “Tight! Tight! Tight!”
So bad that I usually make a mental note not to order it again. Not long after a mental eraser pops up, wiping off the earlier note and I’ll repeat the same order. A depresso situation.
A few of us were chatting and somehow the topic of coffee came about. A friend, with a big smile and her eyes squeezed tight mentioned how she enjoyed this particular coffee in a capsule. So good there was a time she quickly whipped up another cup after the first one was done. That ecstasy look on her face, I will never forget.
Nowadays the safe option for me would be latte; the higher milk ratio to coffee makes it bearable. Will add 2 tsp sugar if I feel like it.
There are predictable outcomes when I consume coffee; usually it’s either my shoulders feel sore or it has a laxative effect.
I’ll drink more water and just wait a few hours if I feel sore.
I’m ok with the latter effect and at times welcome them, as long as there is no urge to go while I’m on a public transport or while I’m at work ie driving. It’s a horrible, horrible experience.
Just because I don’t enjoy coffee much like some of you (yet); I currently do enjoy watching these 2 baristas.
If I have the time to spend and wanted to feel like a scholar, I’ll watch James Hoffman on Youtube.
If I just feel like browsing through something in minutes, I’ll check out MorganDrinksCoffee on Instagram.Stay hungry, stay safe.
Calm before the storm. -
Simple Man
In the 80s we used to watch the TV series MacGyver. As a secret agent, he keeps finding himself in tight situation but his knowledge of applied science and skills in using a Swiss knife would save the day. He’ll pickup some items lying around and manipulate it diffuse a bomb, picks a lock, saves a friend from imminent danger, even shoot a pen-size missile. Whooah!!
From there, for a time I started keeping small, little, usually useless stuffs, thinking that I might be able to use it to rescue myself out of life threatening situation. Like MacGyver.
Once my mum cooked a crab meal and I decided to keep the crab pincer; you know, in case I need to pick a lock. Just the shell of course, I have already eaten the meat.
Now I prefer to keep things as simple as possible. My wife would at times comes to the rescue as the simplicity that I chase could actually spelt trouble, especially if you are planning a camping trip.
It’s better to have and don’t need rather than to need but not have.
I only carry a handful of items to work – phone, wallet, face mask, lanyard with my bus+office access card and a pen. The month of Ramadhan now makes it double easier as I don’t have to think nor carry packed lunch meals.
Both my hands a free to swing some Kung Fu move in case I need to defend myself. Think I might add a Swiss knife to my arsenal.
Wocket In My Pocket Stay hungry, stay safe.
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Books of April
Glad that we had some books during my quarantine period last month. I included a new category – CNF (could not finish).
A good friend suggested that I open an account with Goodreads; looks interesting but I don’t feel like signing up to another membership. Maybe later; just like maybe I might pickup the CNF books again in the future 😀- Killing Floor (Reacher) – Lee Child (R-I-P)
- Daylight – David Baldacci (R-I-P)
- What It Takes – Stephen A Schwarzman (R-I-P)
- Surely You’re Joking Mr Feynman
- History of the World – Map by Map
- High Performance Habit – Brendon Burchard
- The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (Comic) – D
- Berserk (Comic) – D
- Don’t You Have Time To Think – Richard Feynman (CNF)
D : Done & Dusted
R-I-P : Reading-In-Progress
CNF : Could Not Finish
Stay hungry, stay safe.
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