I am currently doing an attachment in another department for 11 weeks. While it may be refreshing to not be doing calls for the next 2 months plus, there is something intolerable about being functionless.
At least in my own department, I knew where I am supposed to be and what I am supposed to do. Boredom is a terrible way to pass the time.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Sunday, January 08, 2012
Thursday, January 05, 2012
Jalan-jalan Pekan-Rompin
I love road trips. There is an excitement which is hard to describe, in going through small 'kampungs' and discovering hidden treasures.
During the recent three-day weekend, we decided we would spend it in Kuantan, having gone back to KL the last two, and just thinking about driving to Kelantan was enough to exhaust me.
Since we're only about 40km from Pekan, I googled things to do there. Almost all the websites mentioned decent-enough sites like the Royal Palace, Sultan Abu Bakar museum and the Water Transport museum.
So off we went, cruising along the 4 lane road (passing only a handful of other vehicles, tau la nak pergi Pekan DiRaja kannn) - and in 20 mins we had arrived!
Pintu gerbang pun ada payung
One of the mosques in Pekan
and this was what greeted us:
How come no one bothered to update the tourist information sites that the museum is undergoing renovation? Hel-lo....?
View down the road from the under renovation museum
and across the road, the Watercraft gallery looked interesting enough - on the notice board, it says opening times 9.30 am.
Badly maintained tourist site in Pekan (Royal Town some more!)
It was about 10.45am when we were there and the gate was securely locked, complete with rusted chains.
Locked gates
Undeterred, we drove around the almost -unpopulated town, went round the Palace and the Polo Club.
Gates of the Palace
I especially like this very old building - old building makes me sad, I wonder what history comes with it, but the gates are locked and there are no notices to explain what this building is. Abg tells me it's the tombs for the Royal Family.
**further googling has revealed that this is Sultan Abdullah Mosque next to the Royal Tombs
Royal Tombs, apparently
Severely disappointed but still cheerful, we decided to drive further down to Rompin - apparently it's famous for 'udang galah's.
From Pekan just before you reach Rompin, on your right is an R&R with a prawn shaped statue. There are about 4-6 shops there, all selling the specialty dish.
'Udang' shaped statue, see...?
Anyone who can correctly name the price of these babies gets a mystery gift!
I think it is safe to say that we won't be running back to this makan place.
and finally, stopped by this stretch of road where there are several stalls set up selling pickled fruits, apparently locally made in Muadzam Shah. Bought a small jar of 'buah salak' [snake fruit] and 'sengkuang'. Discovered the salak pickle to be rotten when we got home. Ah well.
I love road trips.
During the recent three-day weekend, we decided we would spend it in Kuantan, having gone back to KL the last two, and just thinking about driving to Kelantan was enough to exhaust me.
Since we're only about 40km from Pekan, I googled things to do there. Almost all the websites mentioned decent-enough sites like the Royal Palace, Sultan Abu Bakar museum and the Water Transport museum.
So off we went, cruising along the 4 lane road (passing only a handful of other vehicles, tau la nak pergi Pekan DiRaja kannn) - and in 20 mins we had arrived!
Pintu gerbang pun ada payung
One of the mosques in Pekan
and this was what greeted us:
How come no one bothered to update the tourist information sites that the museum is undergoing renovation? Hel-lo....?
View down the road from the under renovation museum
and across the road, the Watercraft gallery looked interesting enough - on the notice board, it says opening times 9.30 am.
Badly maintained tourist site in Pekan (Royal Town some more!)
It was about 10.45am when we were there and the gate was securely locked, complete with rusted chains.
Locked gates
Undeterred, we drove around the almost -unpopulated town, went round the Palace and the Polo Club.
Gates of the Palace
I especially like this very old building - old building makes me sad, I wonder what history comes with it, but the gates are locked and there are no notices to explain what this building is. Abg tells me it's the tombs for the Royal Family.
**further googling has revealed that this is Sultan Abdullah Mosque next to the Royal Tombs
Royal Tombs, apparently
Severely disappointed but still cheerful, we decided to drive further down to Rompin - apparently it's famous for 'udang galah's.
From Pekan just before you reach Rompin, on your right is an R&R with a prawn shaped statue. There are about 4-6 shops there, all selling the specialty dish.
'Udang' shaped statue, see...?
Anyone who can correctly name the price of these babies gets a mystery gift!
I think it is safe to say that we won't be running back to this makan place.
and finally, stopped by this stretch of road where there are several stalls set up selling pickled fruits, apparently locally made in Muadzam Shah. Bought a small jar of 'buah salak' [snake fruit] and 'sengkuang'. Discovered the salak pickle to be rotten when we got home. Ah well.
I love road trips.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Digging a hole in the rain
Six cats in three weeks.
I am never rescuing strays ever.
It must be that scrawny yellow tabby who came meowing for food. I noted that my younger kittens started to get sick after that. We didn't see him for quite a while when he suddenly appeared at my door last night, pathetically thin, drooling at the mouth, tail crusted with dried feces. His eyes were almost completely shut by the discharge, he was meowing pitifully but I could not risk my older cats getting what he has.
He was still under my car this morning, and still on the porch this afternoon and already dead by the time I got home.
A dead cat always makes me sad - even when it's not my own.
So, even with the drizzle outside, I took the 'cangkul' and dug a shallow grave for the nameless cat.
I learnt that the 'cangkul' isn't built for digging graves. After about 10 minutes of digging (I wonder what the neighbours were thinking, this baju kurung-clad lady huffing and a puffing digging a hole in the rain at dusk), I placed him in it and buried him when I noticed his two hind feet were protruding through the soil. I managed to redistribute the soil so the whole cat is covered.
May you rest in comfort, yellow one.
I am never rescuing strays ever.
It must be that scrawny yellow tabby who came meowing for food. I noted that my younger kittens started to get sick after that. We didn't see him for quite a while when he suddenly appeared at my door last night, pathetically thin, drooling at the mouth, tail crusted with dried feces. His eyes were almost completely shut by the discharge, he was meowing pitifully but I could not risk my older cats getting what he has.
He was still under my car this morning, and still on the porch this afternoon and already dead by the time I got home.
A dead cat always makes me sad - even when it's not my own.
So, even with the drizzle outside, I took the 'cangkul' and dug a shallow grave for the nameless cat.
I learnt that the 'cangkul' isn't built for digging graves. After about 10 minutes of digging (I wonder what the neighbours were thinking, this baju kurung-clad lady huffing and a puffing digging a hole in the rain at dusk), I placed him in it and buried him when I noticed his two hind feet were protruding through the soil. I managed to redistribute the soil so the whole cat is covered.
May you rest in comfort, yellow one.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Post tak puas hati
This morning in the ward, a bunch of innocent looking chaps were lounging around, occasionally being led by sister looking at god knows what - later I was informed that they were future medical students, waiting to be flown overseas for their education.
As they were leaving, they thanked one of my housemen for showing them around and I was tempted to say, "Remember to come home after you finish - you are there on Rakyat's money - jangan perasan nak jadi mat saleh" but of course I didn't. It must be the age but I am finding that I am much better at keeping my mouth shut nowadays.
I reckon the government should just save their money and just let all students study locally. Bila dah study overseas, rasa macam bagus, that you are not good enough to work at home. Crap.
Some say, when sponsored to study overseas, the first thing that they try to find out is, apart from where the nearest halal meat store is, how they can stay permanently. Patut la Malaysia is the way she is. Dah la ahli politik tak berapa cerdik, rakyat selfish, pentingkan diri.
Crap.
As they were leaving, they thanked one of my housemen for showing them around and I was tempted to say, "Remember to come home after you finish - you are there on Rakyat's money - jangan perasan nak jadi mat saleh" but of course I didn't. It must be the age but I am finding that I am much better at keeping my mouth shut nowadays.
I reckon the government should just save their money and just let all students study locally. Bila dah study overseas, rasa macam bagus, that you are not good enough to work at home. Crap.
Some say, when sponsored to study overseas, the first thing that they try to find out is, apart from where the nearest halal meat store is, how they can stay permanently. Patut la Malaysia is the way she is. Dah la ahli politik tak berapa cerdik, rakyat selfish, pentingkan diri.
Crap.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Loss
Tell me again why I let myself get attached to my pets - all I wanted to do is make sure they have enough to eat and not sleep in the rain but when they die, all I can think about is how they would play at my feet and get on top of us whenever we're watching tv. All it takes is a crumpled ball of paper, and they are entertained for hours.
They would never let a debilitating condition keep them down. As long as they are fed and warm, they are happy.
I don't know what happened but once in a while we would have an outbreak of viral infection and my cats will die at such a rapid rate that I am left helpless.
After 4 dying in quick succession, now two of my constant companions while I was stressed out with exams preparation aren't feeling too well. All I can do is keep them warm with hot water bottles and keep them hydrated and hope they are strong enough to weather through the worst.
They would never let a debilitating condition keep them down. As long as they are fed and warm, they are happy.
I don't know what happened but once in a while we would have an outbreak of viral infection and my cats will die at such a rapid rate that I am left helpless.
After 4 dying in quick succession, now two of my constant companions while I was stressed out with exams preparation aren't feeling too well. All I can do is keep them warm with hot water bottles and keep them hydrated and hope they are strong enough to weather through the worst.
Friday, December 09, 2011
Bliss is....
...checking in into a hotel, ordering room service and knowing that you REALLY don't have anything to do but to take it easy.
My friend said, he went home after getting the results, (he had passed by the way) and felt empty because for once in a long while, he didn't have to hit the books and make sure he knew the differences between the three types of muscles. It had actually felt weird. I, for one, (call me strange) had wanted to keep on studying!
The exams had been pretty straighforward. Unlike the exit exams which would require the candidate to have read beyond the recommended text, the entrance exam (we call it Part 1) basically tested how much you know the fundamentals. I had dreaded Anatomy - for the life of me, I still can't tell the difference between the intrinsic muscles of the hand! One takes one hand for granted; until you work in a hospital which is a Hand centre and you will never look at it the same way.
With hindsight - despite all the tears and frustrations and threatening to quit 'once and for all' - it was all worth it, just to say 'I passed' - and there had been MANY times when I came this close to throwing in the towel. If not for my wonderful wonderful colleagues, I think I would have done it. Just knowing that someone else felt the same way was enough.
To all future candidates, I cannot stress enough how important having a study group is. If I had to write it a million times, I will. It isn't just the studying, but the support system it provides. Just knowing that other people too felt crap was comforting. Of course, it helps heaps if they turn out to be the best group in the world. Seriously, I wouldn't have wished for a better group of mad mad people.
Mad because we had actually voluntarily put ourselves through it! Mad!
However, jokes aside - with everything now water under the bridge, I am glad I persevered. I wouldn't have been able to look at myself in the mirror if I had chickened out and quit before I knew how far I could go.
I know this sounds like a cliche, but SERIOUSLY, if I made through it, then ANYONE can.....
My friend said, he went home after getting the results, (he had passed by the way) and felt empty because for once in a long while, he didn't have to hit the books and make sure he knew the differences between the three types of muscles. It had actually felt weird. I, for one, (call me strange) had wanted to keep on studying!
The exams had been pretty straighforward. Unlike the exit exams which would require the candidate to have read beyond the recommended text, the entrance exam (we call it Part 1) basically tested how much you know the fundamentals. I had dreaded Anatomy - for the life of me, I still can't tell the difference between the intrinsic muscles of the hand! One takes one hand for granted; until you work in a hospital which is a Hand centre and you will never look at it the same way.
With hindsight - despite all the tears and frustrations and threatening to quit 'once and for all' - it was all worth it, just to say 'I passed' - and there had been MANY times when I came this close to throwing in the towel. If not for my wonderful wonderful colleagues, I think I would have done it. Just knowing that someone else felt the same way was enough.
To all future candidates, I cannot stress enough how important having a study group is. If I had to write it a million times, I will. It isn't just the studying, but the support system it provides. Just knowing that other people too felt crap was comforting. Of course, it helps heaps if they turn out to be the best group in the world. Seriously, I wouldn't have wished for a better group of mad mad people.
Mad because we had actually voluntarily put ourselves through it! Mad!
However, jokes aside - with everything now water under the bridge, I am glad I persevered. I wouldn't have been able to look at myself in the mirror if I had chickened out and quit before I knew how far I could go.
I know this sounds like a cliche, but SERIOUSLY, if I made through it, then ANYONE can.....
Wednesday, December 07, 2011
and now what....
I can't remember the last time I felt like vomiting, having to PU and BO (that's a number 1 and a number 2 respectively, in English, hehe) at the same time and it was not good.
Why and a thousand more WHYs came and passed unanswered. I vowed to get myself out of this, I must have been mad to even think I could.
But when the good news came, I had to ask my HOD to say it again, just in case, you know, all that lack of sleep had made me delirious. The fact that not everyone made it put a damper on the celebratory mood and of course Abg's the first person I called.
Syukur Alhamdulillah. So this old hag still has it in her, huh.
So now what? Will I be able to do this all over again in 3 and a half years?
Why and a thousand more WHYs came and passed unanswered. I vowed to get myself out of this, I must have been mad to even think I could.
But when the good news came, I had to ask my HOD to say it again, just in case, you know, all that lack of sleep had made me delirious. The fact that not everyone made it put a damper on the celebratory mood and of course Abg's the first person I called.
Syukur Alhamdulillah. So this old hag still has it in her, huh.
So now what? Will I be able to do this all over again in 3 and a half years?
Crap crap....
crappity crap.
Why did I put myself through this?
Ah well, terima je lah......padan muka sape suruh buat sangat.....
Why did I put myself through this?
Ah well, terima je lah......padan muka sape suruh buat sangat.....
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Monday, October 31, 2011
New additions to the family
Harry and Cat - sambil tgk Masterchef Malaysia
Learning hemostasis with Harry.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
The last stretch
Loyal companion
This is it - the last month before the part 1 exam and I am going full steam ahead. Am I regretting I didn't start sooner? A little bit, but there's no use moping around about something I can't change.
Doubts, I had more than I can count and repeatedly I have moaned to Abg about quitting but apparently this is common - whether one acts on it or not is what makes each person different I guess. The only thing that is keeping me going is the fact that someone must have seen something in me that justifies me being chosen out of the so many that have applied. Some candidates had applied as many as three times and still didn't get in; I applied once with absolutely no expectations and had this given to me on a plate, so am I going to mope around and feel sorry for myself? Heck no!
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Ramblings of an insomniac
It is half three in the morning and I can't sleep. We're planning to drive to KL in about 3 hours time but my phlegm-filled chest is killing me.
I had suffered from coughing since the last one week which subsided after Abg got me special sinseh medications that were recommended by a friend. Lo and behold the cough improved but now I can't get the secretions out. I guess even coughs have a purpose. I wonder if it is possible to initiate coughing like making someone sneeze by making him/her sniff pepper
I've always found it ironic that I can barely keep my eyes open beyond 9pm on a working night, yet be so energised at 1 am on a weekend night. Similarly, on a working day, the snooze button gets hit at least 3 times before I groggily make my way to the bathroom, but come weekend, I am up half an hour before the alarm is due to go off.
I had suffered from coughing since the last one week which subsided after Abg got me special sinseh medications that were recommended by a friend. Lo and behold the cough improved but now I can't get the secretions out. I guess even coughs have a purpose. I wonder if it is possible to initiate coughing like making someone sneeze by making him/her sniff pepper
I've always found it ironic that I can barely keep my eyes open beyond 9pm on a working night, yet be so energised at 1 am on a weekend night. Similarly, on a working day, the snooze button gets hit at least 3 times before I groggily make my way to the bathroom, but come weekend, I am up half an hour before the alarm is due to go off.
Tuesday, October 04, 2011
Self doubt is a dangerous dangerous thing
I am not only having second, but maybe third, fourth and fifth and to the nth thoughts since I joined the programme.
Am I too old, am I too stupid, am I really good enough, why did they choose me, or am I just plain lazy - doubts like these crept into my mind over and over and over again and it is driving me nuts.
Why did I leave my wonderful life behind? I didn't need the extra money, I could rescue as many cats as I wanted, my home was near to completion and Abg would come home to me every day - sigh. When they say you have to make sacrifices joining the masters programme, I must have forgotten what the word meant.
Am I too old, am I too stupid, am I really good enough, why did they choose me, or am I just plain lazy - doubts like these crept into my mind over and over and over again and it is driving me nuts.
Why did I leave my wonderful life behind? I didn't need the extra money, I could rescue as many cats as I wanted, my home was near to completion and Abg would come home to me every day - sigh. When they say you have to make sacrifices joining the masters programme, I must have forgotten what the word meant.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Wordy Wednesday
I have had a couple of weeks of hecticness lately. Travelling to and fro Machang, Kelantan to Kuantan, Pahang may seem fun when I was 5 years younger but now it is just a hassle.
Though, having said that, the thing I love most about it is the amount of time I get to spend with Abg. Even after all these years I still find it very interesting finding out what he thinks about certain issues and the goings on in the world. At home he may be busy with meeting up with friends and running errands but in the car, he is all mine.
Sometimes he would tell me about what his mates have been up to. I still get surprised (maybe naively so) when he tells me so and so who has gotten married to wife number 2 or 3 or 4 - or maybe I am that naive. or when he tells me of the antics of a particular acquaintance who is old enough to have grandchildren, in a club - in the name of entertainment.
Sometimes he would tell me about his childhood, memories of his late mother and what he plans to do in the future. At times like this I am glad that both of us are genuinely enjoying each other's company - interrupted only when I doze off and go snoring my head off (which I do quite often nowadays - must be the age).
I pointed out to Abg recently that I think men just love having a sweet young thing (SYT) by their side - hanging on to everything they say and looking up at them with adoring eyes. My fellow male MOs (current and in the past) do this all the time. Even with a wife and kids at home, some ask SYT housemen out for drinks and meals and most say that's how far it goes.
I guess it offers them a reprieve from the boring humdrum of home life. I guess it is human nature to yearn for what we don't have.
"If you had a SYT on the side, would you tell me?" - I asked Abg recently. He laughed loudly and said "Of course not!"
His laugh was not forced and his answer seemed spontaneous with just the right amount of incredulousness that I am placated - I hope he realises that behind that question lies another one that I can barely voice out and hope to never be true.
Though, having said that, the thing I love most about it is the amount of time I get to spend with Abg. Even after all these years I still find it very interesting finding out what he thinks about certain issues and the goings on in the world. At home he may be busy with meeting up with friends and running errands but in the car, he is all mine.
Sometimes he would tell me about what his mates have been up to. I still get surprised (maybe naively so) when he tells me so and so who has gotten married to wife number 2 or 3 or 4 - or maybe I am that naive. or when he tells me of the antics of a particular acquaintance who is old enough to have grandchildren, in a club - in the name of entertainment.
Sometimes he would tell me about his childhood, memories of his late mother and what he plans to do in the future. At times like this I am glad that both of us are genuinely enjoying each other's company - interrupted only when I doze off and go snoring my head off (which I do quite often nowadays - must be the age).
I pointed out to Abg recently that I think men just love having a sweet young thing (SYT) by their side - hanging on to everything they say and looking up at them with adoring eyes. My fellow male MOs (current and in the past) do this all the time. Even with a wife and kids at home, some ask SYT housemen out for drinks and meals and most say that's how far it goes.
I guess it offers them a reprieve from the boring humdrum of home life. I guess it is human nature to yearn for what we don't have.
"If you had a SYT on the side, would you tell me?" - I asked Abg recently. He laughed loudly and said "Of course not!"
His laugh was not forced and his answer seemed spontaneous with just the right amount of incredulousness that I am placated - I hope he realises that behind that question lies another one that I can barely voice out and hope to never be true.
Monday, September 05, 2011
I am trying to comprehend...
...though it is difficult to understand how someone who has accepted a responsibility can simply just ignore it and still have a clear conscience?
I was hanging about on FB when a friend started to post links to cats being rescued from a pet boarding facility. Apparently, some cat owners were trying to get their pets back and were told that the cats will be delivered to their homes. When the pets never arrived, the owners became suspicious and went to the store. What they found was beyond anything I could ever imagine.
From the photos that had emerged, cats were left in their carriers, wading in their own excrement with no water or food. A photo of a dead brown-black mummy cat hugging her also dead kitten tugged at my heart strings. My sympathies go to the owner.
Being a cat lover and owner myself, I am outraged by the blatant lack of 'amanah' that the store owner has shown. Please tell me that you have a logical explanation to this debacle before I totally lose my trust in mankind.
Suddenly that journey home with 12 cats in 4 carriers was worth it afterall.
I was hanging about on FB when a friend started to post links to cats being rescued from a pet boarding facility. Apparently, some cat owners were trying to get their pets back and were told that the cats will be delivered to their homes. When the pets never arrived, the owners became suspicious and went to the store. What they found was beyond anything I could ever imagine.
From the photos that had emerged, cats were left in their carriers, wading in their own excrement with no water or food. A photo of a dead brown-black mummy cat hugging her also dead kitten tugged at my heart strings. My sympathies go to the owner.
Being a cat lover and owner myself, I am outraged by the blatant lack of 'amanah' that the store owner has shown. Please tell me that you have a logical explanation to this debacle before I totally lose my trust in mankind.
Suddenly that journey home with 12 cats in 4 carriers was worth it afterall.
Sunday, September 04, 2011
I love hotels
Biar salah eja surname pun.
I needed a holiday to recover from the holiday we just had.
The fact that the whole of Pahang decided to come over to HTAA on Friday with 2-month old smelly fungating feet and black toes did not help either.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Sunday, August 07, 2011
Finally.....
..after many years of patiently waiting, our home is completed.
Too bad we're stuck in Kuantan for a while. That's life, I guess.
Too bad we're stuck in Kuantan for a while. That's life, I guess.
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