Is this what you call service?

I am a customer.

I walked into a bank to pay for my hire purchase instalments.

I give my credit card, identity card and filled up bank in slips.

Clerk takes my credit card and went to one corner where the credit card machines are placed.

Clerk swipes my credit card for more than 10 times only to find that my credit card won't go through

Why?

Because my credit card has a security chip.

Being rather concerned I tried to call the clerk.

Her officer then stood up and told the clerk that she was doing it the wrong way.

Now there are 2 persons standing over the credit card machine to deal with my credit card.

I see buttons being pressed but nothing is happening.

My concern turns into irritation.

I call for the clerk to come over.

The clerk walks to the counter.

I asked her if there was something wrong and asked for the return of my credit card.

Guess what?

Clerk walks off on me while I was talking.

Irritation gives way to utter annoyance.

Clerk comes back with my bank in slips, my credit card and one set of sales slips and asked me to sign on it.

I replied that I will not sign on it because I came here to make 2 payments, the transaction took so long and I did not know what was happening to my card. I asked what the problem was but she walked away from me.

Clerk replied that one payment has already been approved when I asked her about my card.

I replied I did not know because SHE WALKED AWAY.

I asked what happened to my other payment.

Clerk replied that its not gone through yet because the machines takes a long time.

I said that I wouldn't know that because SHE WALKED AWAY when I was talking to her.

Clerk told me to sign on the sales slip at it has already been approved.

I said that I do not want to make payments here anymore because when I asked for what the problem was SHE WALKED AWAY and that she SHOULD NOT HAVE WALKED AWAY WHEN I WAS SPEAKING TO HER. Now I do not want to make payment in this bank.

Clerk asked me to sign because one transaction has been approved.

I came here to get to make TWO hire purchase payments and I get this kind of service. I said that if this was the case I will make payment at the hire purchase office.

Clerk said the transaction has been approved.

I said it can be voided.

Clerk refers to officer.

I overheard officer telling clerk to just tell me that transaction has been approved. ( My unhappiness at the clerk's service and attitude now extends to that of the officer.)

Clerk comes back and tells me that transaction has been approved.

I told her that I don't want to pay here. VOID THE TRANSACTION.

Clerk goes back to officer.

Officer reluctantly voids the transaction and pass the void sales slip to clerk.

Clerk comes back and returns my cards, bank in slips with the sales slip and voided slip and sat down without saying a word. No apologies. NOTHING. Nothing from the officer either.

KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK GUYS

To Grandpa, a truly great man.

It is yet another new day of a new week and nearly one month since you left us. I still can't believe that you are gone. Grandma called out your name this morning as she was going through some old clothes. I asked her if she wanted to speak to you and she replied that she is so used to calling your name. Your wheelchair still sits in the living room and I really wish you were sitting in that chair everytime I walk into your house. My heart weeps whenever I see the empty chair. Are you smiling down at us from heaven?

You never spoke much but I know how much love and care you have for all of us. You dedicated you whole life to your family and your work, never uttering a single complaint. You made sure that everyone of your children receives a decent education. We were never short of anything.

You love family and you love us. I remember with much fondness of the time you brought your grandchildren to Kuching for a holiday. I remember how you and grandma were so worried when the currents brought Ling and I out to sea no matter how hard we paddled. We made it back eventually but not before giving you a mighty scare. Then you brought us to the pool and told us to swim for our lives because you are playing the shark. We screamed and swam and had so much fun. I could see the contented smile on your face from the joy that our company gave you. I will never see that again.

As I got older you stopped talking to me as much as you did. But you never stopped caring for me. You never stopped loving me. Time and again you will ask about me, my father and my brothers because we all matter to you. You would lecture me about the importance of education, because you never had much of it and made sure I am well educated. You would reprimand me whenever I misbehave, because you want me to know the importance of being respectable and acting with integrity. You would ask who cooked a particular dish because you wanted to eat my mother's cooking. You would always steal glances at me because you want to see me for just that one more time.

Despite coming to Brunei with nothing but the clothes on your back, you married a wonderful and supportive wife, bore 9 beautiful children and they gave you even more beautiful grandchildren, and in the process you made you mark as a giant in the construction industry. You were a man of honesty, responsibility and integrity. We are the legacy that you leave behind. I never realized how sophisticated you were, until it was too late. You time on earth brought forth us, and when you left us you brought us together.

I am glad that during the last few weeks of your time here I was there to spend it with you, right up until the time just before you were called back to the Lord. We spoke and held hands all the time, I fed you and you would tell me not to overly mush the vegetables. I stroked your soft grey hair as you rest. You would look sometimes to see if I was still next to you. Even at a time when you were not conscious you would hold my hand tightly whenever I held yours. At a time when we were uncertain of how long you would still be with us, you gave me the chance to say goodbye.

Grandpa, I just want to tell you that I am so proud to have you as my grandfather. Your blood flows in my body. Fond and loving memories of you and our time together are forever etched in my mind. I will strive to live by the principles that you have instilled in your life and be a good and giving person. I will love, take care and honour grandma whom you have entrusted on us.

I hope that I made you proud. I hope that we all made you proud.

Goodbye grandpa. May you rest in peace in the eternal kingdom of the Lord Almighty. I love you.


with love,
your granddaughter Chui

Where I failed, LT succeeded

LT's bathing in a tea cup

I was playing around with my camera at Takara waiting for the table to be filled before the start of the sungkai buffet. I took a few photos of LT posing sideways above a glass of water. The pictures did not come out so well and LT decided to give it a try.

She took the above photo and proudly commented that I looked as if I was bathing in the tea cup! Looks pretty much like it doesn't it? I did not want to leave her talent undiscovered and decided to post this picture.

Well done LT!

Visit to Crush

Last night was supposed to be aikido and karaoke night but none of that materialized. I decided to visit Miles at his dojo anyway to see how the training is done.

Abas was also there training fresh from Jakarta. He brought back with him the T-shirt that I asked him to help me buy as well as what he learnt for the 4 extra days that he stayed after attending Takeda shihan's seminar. He showed me the 1 and 0 that Hakim sensei shared with us during my time in Jakarta. To put it briefly there is only 1 in aikido and if one of the pair the 1 then the other must be a 0 so that together both become 1. It involves feeling your partner with you heart and boy it will take me long enough to really understand if not to start training on it!

I hope that there will be a chance for me to go back to Jakarta to train under Hakim sensei because I enjoyed his selfless sharing and seemingly soft but effective aikido. Sensei strikes a harmonious balance between waza and aiki and that is something that I want to learn from him.

I miss you so much

Let's make a date to meet up June next year ok? Your jia jia misses both of you very much...

Attention aikidokas, please take note and pen this event in your diary.

The above pictures are all courtesy of the Malaysian Aikido Association

Visit to Low sensei's class

From left to right, Low sensei, Andrew, Richard, Hui, Tong, Bryan and myself


With Low sensei, President/Chief Instructor of MAA at its HQ dojo at Jalan Scotts. Sensei is also part of MAA's National Teaching & Technical Commitee

After a week of being aikido class-less it was good to be in class again. My first session was at UKAY aikido dojo which was conducted jointly by Hafiz and Zizi sensei. Having fun I visited Low sensei on Monday night at the MAA HQ dojo in Jalan Scotts. Low sensei started with kokyu exercises, tai sabaki and tai no henko. Sensei placed emphasis on ukemi and refreshed my memory of the ukemi that he taught at Sugani Shihan's seminar in July this year. Taking ukemi in the traditional manner could eventually be hard to do as an aikidoka advence in age and sensei showed us how ukemi can be done to reduce impact to the body. We practiced taking ukemi with nage using a jo and uke would attempt to grab the nage's jo by the other end. The first time nage will move before the jo is grabbed and uke takes the ukemi. The second time around the uke grabs the jo and the nage moves with the jo for the uke to take a yoko ushiro kaiten ukemi. I had a very big problem doing it so its back to more training. Come to think of it my ukemi does need alot more work.

We moved on to kihonwaza thereafter and started with shomenuchi dai ikkyo. What struck me as different in this class is the way the nage takes the shomen from the uke. In this class the nage practices to have a hard shomen to "receive" the uke's shomen. We were told not to grab the uke's shomen by the wrist. The kamae taken is gyaku hanmi and initially it caused some confusion on my part. Luckily my aite were patient with me. I also got a tip on how to bend the uke's arm for nikkyo ura. As someone who's gotten comfortable in a certain way of learning it was a good change for me. I am always reminded to empty my glass for every class that I go to and I hopefully I can take back something I learnt back home with me to share with others.

I enjoyed the practice and company and hope to make more trips back to the dojo.

PS: to know more about the japanese terms that I used in this blog please go here.

My Sunday with SM

It was supposed to be a day of shopping with SM but we were short of time because yours truly went for an aikido class in the morning and after the commuting, getting ready etc etc time went short. Nevertheless we stopped at Delicious to have some food and chit chat before the sumptous dinner later. I enjoyed the bruschettas and the tomatoes were grilled tastefully. We did managed to squeeze in some time to get some very comfy sheets. I hope we get to spend more time together. Time always fly by when I am with SM.

SM enjoying her "Death by Chocolate" drink



The yummy bruschettas

Carbonara spaghettini

SM with that look on her face whenever I pull out my camera...snap snap snap!

For dinner we met up with a few friends at Fatty Crab. Variety is not present on the menu but they do a good job with the prawns and crabs that we ordered. The crabs and prawns were served steamed and wok fried. I did not eat much in case my allergy acts up (so far it has been dormant since I was 12). It was an enjoyable night over good food, great company and some red wine.

PS:- SM seems to be adapting very quickly to my penchant on food photography, as long as she is not hungry when I am taking my time to snap away! Hehehe.

Century eggs and ginger. I didn't try this dish as century eggs don't appeal to my palate.

SM negotiating a claw

Remnants of the dinner.

An interesting T-shirt

Need I say more? He he he

Showdown of Champions 2008, KL Malaysia

From left to right: Bjorn Borg, Roger Federer (drool...), lucky man who got to do the coin toss, John McEnroe and James Blake

I was wondering when I will ever get to have the chance to watch Roger Federe a.k.a. FedEx play in a match since missing out on his last 2 Australian Open appearances but lo and behold! I get to see FedEc play in Kuala Lumpur! I am so thankful. There were 3 matches and each comprising of one super tie breaker set match. I would have settled for just a 3 set match between FedEx and James Blake but it was good to see all 4 players in action.

The first singles match was between John McEnroe and Bjorn Borg. It was played at a more laid back pace and McEnroe won the tie breaker at 7-6(13-11). Although McEnroe is 49 and Borg is 52 years of age they both look as fit as a fiddle for their age. The second singles match was between FedEx (the absolue best!) and James Blake. FedEx won the tie breaker at 7-6(10-7). The last match was a doubles match between USA (McEnroe/Blake) vs Europe (Borg, SWE/Federer,SUI). Europe won the match 7-5.

The matches and antics of the players provided much entertainment but I feel rather disappointed with how the event was organised. Below are a few of the notable glitches.

Firstly when we arrived we were not informed of when the gates wil be opened for seating as we were only allowed to collect the tickets at least 2 hours before the match on the day itself. Kurei and I had to loiter around the area before the gates opened at 10 past 6 pm.

Secondly the booths for selling souvenirs were places inside the stadium and by the time the gates were opened there wasn't much time left for ticket holders to spend time and decide. It created a rather tense atmosphere because on one hand you want to buy souvenirs for yourself or for the players to sign on it AND get to your seats on time but on the other hand you are worried about the barrage of people rushing in to do the same.

Thirdly, the ball boys. If you can't secure ball boys who are tennis players then at least brief them on how to be proper ball boys. The ball boys were running across the net picking up balls when the ball is in play, not knowing when to roll the balls to the serving players end because they don't know how a tie break is played and raising their arms to offers balls when they shouldn't be...just to name a few.

Fourthly, the usherettes and support staff. The MC Mahatir Lockman had very clearly from the outset reminded all in the stadium to observe the appropriate etiquette during matchplay for example not to make movements or walk round when the match is in play and to observe the code of silence. But NO you still see persons with VIP tags walking in whenever they want with the usherettes and at one point McEnroe just stopped playing at looked at the VIPS who came sauntering into their boxes. Shame on you! It was only after getting a stern reminder from the MC that people started doing their jobs. I am sure some VIPS were unhappy to be made standing until breaktime but it just reflects on their personality. When in Rome do as the Romans does. Grow up! I don't even want to talk about the staff who were gaurding the doors when the match was in session...

Fifthly, the ghastly music played during the doubles match changeover intermission. It was a techno piece (extended version) with lyrics like "blow my whistle b****", "blow it hard blow it like you mean it". I cannot believe that from the millions of songs available it was this song that was chosen and they played it throughout the match. Halfway through I screamed for the song to be changed which attracted agreeing applause but all fell on deaf ears. There were so many kids there too. What a shame that is all I can say.

I hope that Excess will look into the feedback given to them and do a better job the next time around. I do appreciate that it was a great job making the Showdown of Champions KL happen in the first place but there is much room for improvement in the event organization as some of the undesirable incidents that happened could have been avoided.

Hopefully Kurei and I will get to watch Federer play in a Grand Slam match, like how Hiko and A.L. did this year at the Australian Open. Better yet of all 4 of us get to watch it together.

With bro Kurei in Stadium Putra


With bro Kurei outside Stadium Putra


One of my all time favourite tennis players, Bad Boy McEnroe!

Finally! We get to watch FedEx!