Thursday, December 31, 2009

Bye bye 2009

I wonder what it is that compels us to be reflective at the end of the year. Perhaps it is the increase in the number that shocks us into realising that time has passed by and we haven't done as much good as we possibly can in the past 365 days.

To me, the year has been a pretty good year. I don't remember a lot of downs - but maybe that's just me, despite the grumpy person I am, I tend to forget bad things rather quickly.

Career-wise has been pretty good. Despite still not wanting to pursue a masters programme, I can finally plate a femur bone myself (did one - skin incision to skin closure - within an hour, a personal record which I haven't been able to break since), K-nailed numerous femurs, and can totally be left alone doing carpal tunnel and trigger finger releases.

After about 8 years of working in various specialties, including a stint in a KK, I can safely and surely say that SHOULD I decide to take a Masters programme, it will be something that I enjoy rather than something that I had ended up in just because it was my final posting of my housemanship. Or, even worse, something I am taking up just because the work is easy and allows me to be home when oncall.

I am thankful that I haven't had much trouble financially. Finally got myself to acquire a property, much to Ma's relief. This year, money seems to come in from unexpected sources, Alhamdulillah. I have been able to travel a bit, something that I hope can continue this year.

On a more personal level - there's still only the two of us. I am happy with my uncomplicated life - so far. I hope my relationship with Abg for the past year had been more than simply two adults tolerating each other just because they're married.

Yup, it has been a very good year indeed, and here's to an even better one in 2010!

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Grumpy post

Excuse me, but I am postcall and I am irritable today.

Someone had named their baby ISAAC and I got to thinking if there is anything wrong with ISHAK. Tak cukup glamer kot. Kang dah besar, spoil pulak kalau member dia pakat panggil anak dia SAHAK je. Ah well, your kid, your choice I guess. Iskandar is Alexander. Yusof is Joseph. Whatever.

Anyway, a few weeks ago I was trying to get my ATM card replaced at a Bank Islam in UM when I came across a banner with this word on it: FI. Tiada FI tahunan.

Seriously, FI?

What was wrong with the word YURAN?

I am kicking myself now for not taking a picture of that banner.

Somewhat closer to home, a boarding school near home had an even weirder word: KLUSTER. KLUSTER Sekolah Cemerlang. Hello...? Kelompok not hip enough for you izzit?

Where do you people come up with words like this?


So much for memartabatkan bahasa Melayu.

Told you I was irritable.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Where oh where...

...has my Ciku gone?



We went to KL for a weekend break, and to welcome Ma home from her pilgrimage. Arrived at FIL's house late on Monday and according to Abg, Ciku was well and jumping all over the place, as Ciku is known to do.

The next day when I went to let them out, Ciku looked listless and was sitting on the floor. Which, if anyone knew Ciku, would immediately suspect something is wrong.

Anyway, I left him be, hoping some fresh air would do him good. I chatted with Abg and the next minute Ciku was nowhere to be found. I went all around the house and couldn't see him anywhere. Ciku never leaves the compound. There is nothing that Ciku loves best than getting himself all caught up in my clothes, and getting his head in my handbag so if there was anywhere Ciku would go is into the house but nope, he was missing.

and he hasn't returned.

Someone told me once that cats will never die in front of their owners. I'm not sure how true that is but Ibu Kutip whom I brought home with two kittens from work never left the porch. She was old; I can tell by the lack of teeth in her mouth. One day she just disappeared. I know she didn't get hit by a vehicle because Ibu Kutip never goes to the road.

I wish I hadn't let Ciku out of his cage yesterday. Perhaps he would still be with us today. Now, who would I cuddle when things are stressing me out? Ciku is my only cat who seem to recognise his own name, never failing to mew back when I call it out.

Be well, Ciku and come home....

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Edisi lepas geram

If it is one thing that I hate, it's confrontation but I think sometimes it is just inevitable.

It is a pity that we live in a society that prefers to talk behind someone's back rather than say it out loud in front of the person we have a problem with. I used to watch MTV's Real World and would be impressed by the way how the Mat Salleh's could lay it all out and settle things once and for all.

A staff at the hospital had been trying to get us to write a memo about her relative's condition. All this while she had been passing the message to us via the staff at the clinic so we told our staff to tell her that we would like to speak with her ourselves and could she please call us?

But no call came and apparently one day Her Royal Highness came huffing and puffing to the clinic and lay her fiery wrath towards my staff and got another MO to write the memo.

Yang aku peliknya, if she was so mad, she had passed my partner on the way into the clinic and she didn't say a word! Kalau nak marah, marah directla weh. Don't let it out on the staff - they were basically following orders.

So I called her the next day. As she wasn't in, I got her staff to pass the message that I was looking for her. Did she have the courtesy to call me back? Nooooo - I had to call her back and this time she was in. Aku tau la kau pakai baju biru and kau rasa kau lagi tua dari aku - memang pun kau lagi tua sebenarnya and sebab kau tua la kau dah hilang pertimbangan kan.

When I told her off (nicely, mind you) she went on to sulk mode and merajuk ngn aku la pulak. Aku nak marah pun tak jadik. Tah pape tah. Nak mintak tolong org tapi nak suruh org pulak cari dia....bengong.

Tu la masalahnya bila kerja district hospital - it is full with old dinosaurs who think just because they have worked there for yonks, that they own the hospital and are exempted from having manners and courtesy. and one more thing, just because kau pakai baju hijau atau baju biru, it doesn't give you the right to be nasty to your lower ranking staff, ok?

Tuesday, December 01, 2009

Sometimes....

...I wish I can lay caution to the wind and spend all my savings on the things that I WANT rather than the things that I NEED.

LASIK surgery so that I won't bother with glasses anymore.

A holiday to the UK with Abg.

A Prada handbag, much like the one Sandra Bullock was using in The Proposal.


taken from My Women Stuff

Staying in the most expensive hotel in town whenever I'm on holiday.

A solitaire necklace and a tennis bracelet.

One can dream, yes?