Speeding on the highway.

D's driving on the highway mad me nervous. As we were heading back to kajang from ipoh D was averaging about 120km/hr. I could feel the car vibrating sideways.

Young people don't know and appreciate the dangers of speeding on the highway. They don't realise that the safety of the whole family is in their hands. I am so disappointed and upset at his behavior. D has turned into a brash, arrogant and impatient teenager, the type who is always thinking about himself before others.

I have been a teenager before but I don't recall behaving like D. I was always respectful of the elders and treat others with consideration.

I guess times and expections change from one generation to the next. What was considered as rude and arrogant behavior in my generation is now consider normal behavior in today's me generation.

25 Hour wrist watch

Won a wrist watch during the lucky draw at the ZL Sports Club annual dinner. Never heard of this brand of watch called 25 hours before. Thought it was a cheap watch until someone remarked that this type of watch sells for at least RM200.00. It felt heavy and solid in my palm, unlight the one that I am now wearing.

Hari Raya Haji

Tue

Today is Hari Raya Haji, a public holiday. Even though a public holiday, I went to the office to work as usual. I was the only person from the structure section working. Thayalan didn't come although yesterday he said that he would. I was not surprise that he chose to stay away. Towards 3pm Ganesh came in to work awhile.

Did some errands in the morning before going in the office. Early in the morning took Anna and Amy to town. Amy wanted to take a passport size photograph. I wanted to deposit some cash into RHB bank and also withdraw some money from Public Bank. The cash machine at RHB bank refused to accept my cash deposit. Probably the machine has malfunctioned.

At Public Bank withdrew RM800.00

11.30am. JayaJusco Tmn Maluri. Already queuing at the end of a long line of customers at the cashier. After some explanation, the cashier agreed to remove the plastic tag from the shirt.

Booking a hotel room for CNY

Sun

Made enquiries concerning room rates at several Ipoh hotels. The better class hotels charge high rates for their rooms. Hotel Exselcior even asked me to settle payment in full by 1/15/06 before confirming the booking. The price at Fairpark hotel is reasonable but the rooms are available at the old wing. Anna wasn't too please to stay in the old wing. Finally settled for Hotel Seri Malaysia. We have been staying in this hotel during all the previous Chinese New Years.

12.30pm. Jaya Jusco Tmn Maluri. Bought more than RM200 worth of clothing and furnishing. This time round Anna managed to find a door curtain that was agreeable to her in design and pricing.

INTi Aikido. 1st class of 2006

Wed

About 5 people showed up for training. Mr Hong turned up much to my surprise. He is middle age, about 50 maybe.

The canteen was rather empty and there was no student activity to be found. Compare to previous years, the student centre appeared devoid of students. Where are all the new students? Has INTi lost it's popularity as one of the better private colleges around?

This year I see more African students than other foreign nationalities.

New year in Bentong. Ah Fatt's 60th year anniversary dinner

Sun

Today is the first day of 2006. Spent the morning and afternoon attending Ah Fatt's 60th year anniversary dinner in Bentong. Beside Anna, Amy also tag along to Bentong.

In Bentong we had ice kachang at the famous ice kachang store near the bus station. Forgot the name of the shop. Anyway didn't find the ice kachang so fantastic. However I was amaze to find the place packed with customers from all races and age.

The dinner started at 7.30pm. It was over by 9.30pm. Even though it was raining decided to return to Kajang rather than staying in Bentong over the night. Luckily no untoward incident happen despite the traffic and the heavy downpour.

Due to the steep and winding road I am never comfortable driving to Bentong. I feel very tense on the road whenever it rains, especially when I am heading down hill.

NTTC class on Christmas day

Today is Christmas day. To my surprise and utter disbelief the committee decided to hold the monthly NTTC class! I wonder how many students were going to attend the class on Christmas day.

Yesterday, I had promised that I would take Anna to buy curtains at Alamanda Carrefour. Anna would be furious if I cancelled the trip to attend the NTTc class. On the other hand I could attend the class in the morning and take her out in the afternoon.

Finally decided that it was too much trouble to attend two functions on the same day. Decided to skip the NTTC class and go shopping with Anna instead. At the end of the day, I guess her happiness is more important than attending a NTTC class. I'll be too selfish if I spend all my free time on my own pursuits without taking account of the needs of others.

Credit card scare

It was the first time that I couldn't use my credit at a major hypermarket.

Today is Christmas day and as it is a public holiday I and Anna went to Alamanda Carrefour to buy the month's groceries. Anna wanted to get a new curtain for the living room and she thought she could get a good buy at Carefour. By the time we finished we had bought about RM135.00 worth of groceries.

At the check-out counter even after the cashier had swiped my credit a few times the card reader refused to recognise the card. "Did the bank cancel my credit card facility?", the thought flashed across my mind. Fortunately, I had enough money with me to pay cash for the purchases.

One time in the past somebody used my credit card without my knowledge to buy gasoline. The bank found out about the fraud and cancelled the card after informing me about it. It took about two weeks later before I was issued a new card. During those two weeks I had to carry lots of cash with me in order to buy services and goods.

Called the credit card centre after dinner to find out the status of my credit facility. I was so relief to learn that my credit standing is still in order. My latest balance didn't indicate any unaccounted spending, thus ruling out credit card fraud.

1st anniversary of the Asia Tsunami

Today is Christmas Day.

Today also marks the first anniversary of the terrible Tsunami that hit the Indian Ocean states of Asia in 2004. Many people in the affected countries of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand, and to a lesser extend Malaysia, Somali and Myanma perished in the disaster.

King Kong

Together with Anna and Amy watched the box office movie at Mines. All of us enjoyed the movie. Although a 3 hour flick Anna didn't fall asleep as she is accustomed to in the cinema. She was enjoying every minute of the show, thanks to the amazing special effects.

After the movie we took our dinner at the nearby Yong Tau Foo restaurant. We were a little disappointed at the rather poor service of the restaurant staff. All the waiters and waitresses have this dour and unsmiling looks in their face.

Memoirs of Geisha roadshow

Took one day leave to help out in the Aikido public demo in conjunction with the "memoirs of Geisha" roadshow. The roadshow is organised by a fruit juice and milk beverage manufacturing company using the movie to promote its products. As part of the promotion MAA was asked to give public demos to introduce Japanese culture to the general public.

The demo was held at Berjaya Times Square. Low Sensei and myself were the only MAA instructors who participated. Tony was supposed to give a presentation. He came to watch but didn't take part. Vincent, Tony's student was my uke.

Although this was the first time that I had practiced with Vincent, he was able to harmonise and blend in splendidly with my movements. I was quite pleased with how the demo turned out.

The most expensive book

Bought a book from Borders called "The structure of Aikido". The book, written by Gaku Homma is about the relationship between sword techniques and the empty hand techniques in Aikido. I paid RM91.90 for the book. It is the most expensive book that I have ever bought in my life.

It is the first time that I come across a book that deals with the kenjutsu and the taijutsu relationship of Aikido with such clarity and in such detail. Although initially I felt guilty paying so much for the book, after reading it I felt it is worth the steep price.

For the first time I could clearly see how so many of the empty hand techniques are mirror images of the sword techniques.

The book will be a useful guide for teaching bokken applications to my students.

Oct & Nov fees

Transferred online RM465.00 into MAA HQ Dojo account. The money is the fees collected in Oct & Nov.

Handed MAA passbook application form to Low Sensei

During lunch time deposited RM12.50 into MAA account. The cash is Low Kim Loong's 5th kyu grading fee.

In the evening after work went up to MAA HQ to look for Low Sensei. He came in at 8.00pm and together with Lee we ascended the stairs to the dojo. Submitted Low Kim Loong's MAA passbook and 5th kyu grading application form. Also paid Low Sensei the RM5.00 for the passbook. Not long after two female students showed up at the dojo. I expected to see a crowd of people training in the dojo. Instead I counted 3 students while I was at the dojo. Maybe the downpour and heavy traffic were making it difficult for people to come on time.

As I was heading towards my car met Chan Fun Shin on his way up. He used to be a regular at my Thur class but lately have not seen him. Maybe he has decided to train with Low Sensei.

Thanksgiving prayer in Bentong temple.

Together with Anna, Amy, David and his girlfriend, we made the journey to Bentong after breakfast. I am surprised that David was bringing along his girlfriend to Bentong for the first time.

David took the wheel on the first leg of the journey. Arrived at Ah Meng's house in Bentong at 11am. After a chit chat we proceeded to the town temple.

I was surprised to see so many devotees already offering prayers at the temple. It reminded of the Chinese New Year crowd. This time none of our relatives accompanied us to the temple. Without the relatives around, we took a relatively shorter time to complete our prayers and offerings.

After the temple prayers, we headed to the Bentong morning market. By the time we got there, it was already pass noon and many stores were packing up.

Both Anna and Amy bought a few dresses. Each piece cost from RM5.00 to RM10.00, a bargain compared to KL prices.

Returned to KL at about 3pm. Amy took over the wheels on the return trip. We had to drive through a heavy downpour from Genting Highlands to KL.

I was quite worried at the way Amy handled the car particularly the downhill ride after the Genting Highlands tunnel. Fortunately nothing untoward happened although at times I was gripped with fear and tension. Arrived home in Kajang at 4.30pm.

Due to the uncomfortable return trip from Bentong Anna felt giddy and light-headed and had to lie down to rest.

David's graduation

By the time we got to Nikko hotel it was already 1.00pm. Saw a lot of graduates taking photographs in the hotel lobby.

Before entering the lobby, we had to pass through tight security screening. We had to surrender our handbags and hand phones for scanning. There were at least 3 policemen manning the security post. "Ah... some delegates to the Asean conference must be staying in the hotel..." I thought to myself.

The ceremony held at the hotel ballroom started at 2.00pm sharp. The whole process took about 2 hours. One by one the successful graduates went up to the stage to receive their degrees from the university authority. After the ceremony, the graduates and their guests adjourned outside for a buffet lunch. The fare was rather bland and uninteresting considering the RM80.00 that we were paying. After the lunch we took a few snapshots together with David. We also posed for a family shoot with a studio hired by the university for the occasion.

The bouquet of sunflower that we brought to the hotel was more of a hindrance than anything. I noticed only a small minority of people bringing bouquets of flowers into the ballroom.

Happy anticipation

I am looking forward to David's convocation ceremony in about one hour's time at Nikko Hotel. This morning the Star published his name in the convocation adv put up by Alberty Dundee University. I am sure Anna and Amy are also excited. The new digi camera which I bought recently can be put to good use.

New dojo keys

Tony claimed that he didn't know that the landlord of the MAA HQ dojo building wants the building tenants to lock up the premises after 5pm. Dr Leong knew but wasn't aware of the implications and did not seemed too concerned.

This new arrangement is to bar a drug addict from sleeping overnight in the building. The individual tenants arer supposed to collect the key from the land lord by 12/07/05.

It appears that only Low Sensei is aware of the new ruling that the land lord imposes on his tenents.

I wanted to go to Low Sensei's dojo in Klang to collect the spare key. However he decided to pass the keys to Dr leong's Puchong clinic to be delivered to other senseis.

After work stopped over at dr leong's residence. His son passed the key to mr.

Decline to attend the OCM dinner.

Last night Dr Leong called to ask if I want to attend the Majlis Makan Malam OCM to be held at Wisma OCM next week. When I turned down the invitation, Dr leong's response gave the impression that he was a little disappointed. Perhaps, he could not find any takers for the dinner. Anyway I thanked him for asking me.

The 2004 dinner I attended, none of the other senseis showed up. I had to ask my students from INTi and MAA HQ to fill up the table. Low Sensei turned down the invitation at the last minute. I felt like I was invited just to fill up the seats because no other people were interested.

Memoirs of a Geisha

To my amusement, today Low sensei forwarded me a message with the title of a movie about geishas that is soon to be shown in the local cinemas.

On further reading I found out that it is not about the movie. It is about an enterprise using the movie to promote its business. Among the promo activities is Aikido demonstration. I wonder what has Aikido got to do with geishas other than the fact that both are of Japanese origins?

Not sure if I want to participate. After so many years of doing such public demo I have grown tired of it. The public just want to watch free Aikido martial arts demo and not keen to learn the art.