My nest

My comfortable nest for the last few weeks...

From RIPAS 1st Class

(Click on the photo for more pics)

Bad start? No, it's the start of new challenges.

Happy New Year 2009 to everyone from us in RIPAS Hospital. Yes we're still here and today is the 17th day of our stay.
Whilst we were here my parents and my brother and family returned safely from hajj pijgrimage on 18th December. My dad however had to be taken to the doctor that night complaining of constipation and difficulty in passing urine. Given medication, the next day it was the opposite. He cannot control passing urine and after consultation with the specialist yesterday it was confirmed that he has prostate problem and was admitted to RIPAS Hospital yesterday evening. I took his admission as a blessing in disguise. I can now take care of my dad and wife. This Saturday my dad will undergo prostate operation and my wife will be undergoing colonoscopy. I don't know what to expect but pray for both of them and whatever the result for both of them would be the challenges to the start of 2009...
And I have not been back to office since 15th December. My email must be full by this time and that's another challenge to go through later. My sincere thanks to my dept head and colleagues for doing whatever they can to fill in during my unplanned absence.
I planned to summarise my ups and downs in 2008 but this posting is already lengthy enough for me who prefer my photos to do the talking.
Thanks everyone for all you've given to my family and me throughout 2008 and wish all of you a happy and prosperous 2009 and may you achieve and fullfil all your resolutions.

Maal Hijrah

Today is our 14th day in RIPAS Hospital

In hiatus

Families, friends and visitors,

I will not be updating this blog for the next few days. Hope you understand.

Work Life Balance?

We now know a bit more of what is happening to my wife. She has an infected liver and will have CTScan in RIPAS on Monday. Further treatment will then depend on the outcome of the scan. She's still having the violent trembling every night. Her temperature and glucose level are still unstable.

On another note, my parents, brother and his family had completed the hajj rituals. Semoga beroleh haji yang mabrur and we look forward to welcoming you all back in Brunei on the 18th. It is still not certain up to today whether I'll be in Brunei that day as I may be required elsewhere from 17-20th December. I hope my wife will be better then, otherwise it will again be a battle between work and personal life.

I've been tagged by RDC"; BaBy-R to post 10 random facts about myself. Here they are in no order of preference of course:

1. I'm a lawyer (graduated at 33) who loves photography.
2. Moved house 18 times since I was born and grew up in 2 squatter areas in Seria/KB.
3. Received my 1st scholarship when I was only 11 years old to study in Singapore.
4. Started smoking at 13 and used to smoke 3 packs a day before I quit in 1994.
5. Loved football and played in all positions before my archilles tendon ruptured in 2002.
6. Can be stubborn and easily lose my temper if provoked.
7. A qualified teacher at 18 and taught English in Govt. Primary Schools (Seria, Melilas and Labi) from 1981-1986.
8. I love cars and because I cannot afford to buy the real one, I have a collection of replicas greeting anyone who enters my house.
9. Mee mamak is my favourite dish and jackfruit and tarap my favourite fruits.
10. Love to be the 1st in office and always try to be the last to go home (but my boss always goes home later than me!)

There are still a lot of other interesting facts about myself but lets keep them at 10. And no, I'm not going to tag anyone.

New pet

My wife had been admitted to the KB hospital since Friday evening with high temperature and high glucose level. From time to time she will be shivering/trembling strongly like I never seen before. I, however, had to spent the whole day Saturday in a meeting. Yesterday and today was spent between home and hospital. I am supposed to be back to work tomorrow...

Wasai Batu Mapan

Tasik Merimbun 4 - Landscape

Tasik Merimbun 3 - Macro

Tasik Merimbun 2 - Ripples

When you think calm water makes perfect photo...



Ripples may also do the same...

Tasik Merimbun 1 - Tourist Heaven

Just look at these two Bruneian tourists:

So excited. They must have seen something...



Ahh... there it is. [Click, click, click]



There's something in the bush. Catch it [on camera of course]



Taking a break...



I think they've got enough. Time to go.

JIS Football Funday (HDR)

purple & green (macro)

Aa Da ... sunburnt

Went to JIS this morning to support my son (jersey 27) and his team.



I'm now suffering from sunburn. AaDahhhh....

Aperture 2

Thanks to Bro Puzian, I am trying out Aperture2 but still not sure what I am actually looking for... in terms of what makes an outstanding wedding pic. Maybe I am not meant to be a wedding photographer.

The original photo



After tweaking using Aperture 2



Oh by the way, this is Nazurah, Medy's bride which was featured in my previous blog.

Zzzzzzz... (macro)

lady finger lookalike (macro)

Hajj Trip

My parents, brother, sis-in-law and niece went for Hajj today. Semoga mendapat Haji yang Mabrur, Amin.

Memories

Congrats to my niece Ira for doing well in her PSR. Semoga berjaya selalu.

Just found out yesterday that MUMU is now in Keele University and it instantly brought back memories of my time in that University years ago (1988-1992 to be exact) Went through my photo album and scanned the following...


Keele Hall view from the lakes


Miss the snow...


Keele lakes when it started to snow


This was how it looked when the lake was frozen. They said you can walk on it but we never dared.


The University library in autumn.


MUMU, all the best in your studies. Show me how Keele looks today.

Sunset