GOLF POEM

In My Hand I Hold A Ball,
White And Dimpled, And Rather Small.
Oh How Bland It Does Appear,
This Harmless Looking Little Sphere.

By Its Size I Could Not Guess,
The Awesome Strength It Does Possess.
But Since I Fell Beneath Its Spell,
I've Wandered Through The Fires Of Hell.

My Life Has Not Been Quite The Same,
Since I Chose To Play This Stupid Game.
It Rules My Mind For Hours On End,
A Fortune It Has Made Me Spend.

It Has Made Me Curse And Made Me Cry,
And Hate Myself And Want To Die.
It Promises Me A Thing Called Par,
If I Hit It Straight And Far.

To Master Such A Tiny Ball,
Should Not Be Very Hard At All.
But My Desires The Ball Refuses,
And Does Exactly As It Chooses.

It Hooks And Slices, Dribbles And Dies,
And Disappears Before My Eyes.
Often It Will Have A Whim,
To Hit A Tree Or Take A Swim.

With Miles Of Grass On Which To Land,
It Finds A Tiny Patch Of Sand.
Then Has Me Offering Up My Soul,
If Only It Would Find The Hole.

It's Made Me Whimper Like A Pup,
And Swear That I Will Give It Up.
And Take To Drink To Ease My Sorrow,
But The Ball Knows... I'll Be Back Tomorrow.

Stand proud you noble swingers of clubs and losers of balls....

MY FAVOURITE THINGS

Maalox and nose drops and needles for knitting,
Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings,
Bundles of magazines tied up in string,
These are a few of my favourite things.

Cadillac's and cataracts, and hearing aids and glasses,
Polident and Fixodent and false teeth in glasses,
Pacemakers, golf carts and porches with swings,
These are a few of my favourite things..

When the pipes leak, When the bones creak,

When the knees go bad,
I simply remember my favourite things,

And then I don't feel so bad.

Hot tea and crumpets and corn pads for bunions,
No spicy hot food or food cooked with onions,
Bathrobes and heating pads and hot meals they bring,
These are a few of my favourite things.

Back pains, confused brains, and no need for sinnin',
Thin bones and fractures and hair that is thinnin',
And we won't mention our short, shrunken frames,
When we remember our favourite things.

When the joints ache, When the hips break,

When the eyes grow dim,
Then I remember the great life I've had,

And then I don't feel so bad.

MICROSOFT'S YOUNGEST RECRUIT

On the third day in Bandung, Tasha grew tired of the Factory Outlets and decided not to follow us in our search for golf clothing. To accommodate her request, we decided to limit our outing to 2 hours, and during our absence, I arranged for her to have a manicure and pedicure at the hotel spa and she was to spend the rest of the time at the club lounge.

Upon our return, we went straight to the club lounge only to find that she was no where to be seen there. We checked the hotel room and she wasn't there either. I was getting angry by the minute and worried that she had gone into the pool even though there was clear instruction for her not to go anywhere near the water without us around.

We headed to the pool area nevertheless and there she was....by the poolside with a bunch of cyber people, competing to build the tallest structure using a few pieces of cardboards.

According to unreliabe source, she had been "invited" (although I think she probably had volunteered herself will be a more likely story) to participate in the Microsoft team building activities!

TASHA'S FINAL PERFORMANCE

For 5 years, we endured the double classes before the exam, daily practices prior to the concerts or performance, the sewing of sequins and endless purchases of make ups and hair pins....

For 5 years we fought who picked her when, who would do the video and took the photos of the performance, who would do up her hair and how....

For 5 years, we cried when we saw her on stage, gracefully moving on her tippy toes...

All that came to an end this July.

Tasha was sad to leave her friends and teachers behind but let me tell you...her decision was such a relief for us.

N/B: For parents who aspire their kids to be ballerinas, think before you commit!

STANDARD CHARTERED RUN 2010

The duo running the half marathon

The unexpected happened - I tossed and turned the night before the race and finally managed to get in just under 4 hours of sleep.

Not to be deterred by this setback, we woke up at 4 as planned and fuelled ourselves with bread, bananas, dates and juices.

When the race started, the expected happened. The pressure started to build up in my shin and it was so intense that I had to stop running and start walking.

The thought of quitting at that point ran through my mind a million times or maybe more but I pressed on, hoping that with every step that I took the pressure will be reduced and eventually withered away. It did after 4 km after which I started running and didn't stop (well, except for water and 100 Plus breaks) until the finishing line.

I overtook Franco on the 14th km, gave him some Power Gel and sped on to finish in 2:20.

Very happy indeed that I have achieved another milestone in my life. The next will be the Newton Run 30km in Singapore @ 10/10/10

BANDUNG'S BEST KEPT SECRET

The Factory Outlets are everywhere in Bandung.

We didn't have much time for shopping as most of our days were spent on the golf course. However, we did check out Jalan Setiabudi (Rumah Moda, Mode Plus, Donnatello), Jalan Riau (Oasis, Secret, Heritage) and Dago (Blossom; Jetset). Our favourites are probably Rumah Moda and Blossom since we spent the most time here.

The prices are good as compared to Factory Outlets in the States but the difference is that in the States each brand has its own outlet whereas in Bandung, each outlet carries so many different brands and sometimes you end up going through the same materials in different outlets.

So, be prepared to spend a lot of time shopping, even if you know what you are looking for.

MOUNTAINVIEW GOLF CLUB, BANDUNG

Mountain View Golf Club

A swing of a champion

Tasha getting advice from her caddy

Papa enjoying the view from the back of the buggy

La famiglia enjoying their short golfing break in Bandung

Tasha's second round of 18 holes @ 27th August 2010

She played well here, partly because she had played 18 holes just the day before and felt more relaxed about finishing the game, her personal caddy was very chatty (to her liking) - they talked about Blackberry to America's Next Top Model while walking the course, the weather was so pleasant and best of all, she was in top form.

She nailed the speed of the green, her irons were just solid rock and the combination scored her 141 strokes - not bad for a budding golfer!

This was an expensive round of golf but well worth every penny for Tasha to have her first taste of how fun golf really is.

DAGO ENDAH GOLF COURSE, BANDUNG

The paddy terrace

The narrow fairway



The undulating terrain

Dago Endah a par 70, (about 1 km shorter than an average golf course) may lack in distance but it makes up for it by having such a challenging layout. The fairways are very narrow and take the shape of paddy terraces. Once off the fairway, the borrowed fairway will be either below or above the hole you are playing. The contour of the fairway is undulating, there is no half way hut or rest room on the course, and with the latter especially, there never was a dull moment at Dago Endah.

Tasha played her first 18 holes here....so, it makes the experience even more memorable.

I'VE GOT TIME

Date: 21st August 2010

Venue: Pavillion Swiss Watch

I was "timeless" for so long - 2 years, 4 months and 17 days to be exact, and now I am the proud owner of a timeless masterpiece.

Thank you Tasha for helping me with the choices, Samme who acted as my professional negotiator, Sherm for the great company and Franco - not sure for what.....(just kidding!) for finally getting the watch of my dream.

MELANKOLIS SANG ANAK BUAT ARWAH EMAK

Franco and I were late for this performance.
Also found this on her laptop.

(SING IBU SONG)

BERMULA DARIPADA SEGUMPAL DAGING MERAH
HINGGALAH KEPADA PEMBENTUKAN TULANG-TEMULANG
TERBENTUK DI DALAM RAHIM SEORANG INSAN
MENJADI PERANTARAMUKA
ANTARA MAKHLUK DENGAN TUHAN

SELAMAT SEJAHTERA
DARIPADA INSAN YANG SERING ALPHA
INGIN BERKONGSI NASIB
BERKONGSI CERITA
KISAH SANG ANAK YANG RINDUKAN EMAKNYA
DENGARKANLAH
SUARA HATI
BUAT EMAK
INSAN YANG TERCINTA
TERNGIANG-NGIANG DI TELINGA KAMI
KETIKA EMAK MEMANGGIL KAMI
KETIKA EMAK MENASIHATI KAMI
KETIKA EMAK MENEGUR KAMI
KETIKA EMAK MENDODOI KAMI
DAN KETIKA EMAK
MENDOAKAN KESEJAHTERAAN KAMI

MASIH SEGAR DALAM INGATAN KAMI
KETIKA EMAK BERKATA “ANAK-ANAK MAK……. EMAK TAK ADA PUSAKA UNTUK DIWARISI…. EMAK TIADA HARTA UNTUK DIBERI.
MAK HANYA MAMPU MENYEKOLAHKAN KAMU…. KERANA MAK PERCAYA HANYA ILMU SAHAJA YANG DAPAT MENGUBAH NASIB KAMU SEMUA….
JANGANLAH ANAK-ANAK MAK SIA-SIAKAN SEMUA INI…… KERANA MAK TAK HARAPANKAN APA-APA BALASAN DARIPADA KAMU SEMUA…
CUKUPLAH BAHAGIAN ANAK-ANAK EMAK DI DUNIA INI”


MACAM KAMU SEMUA EMAK KAMI CANTIK, LEMAH LEMBUT, SOPAN SANTUN BAIK BUDI PEKERTINYA


BETUL! BETUL! BETUL!
EMAK KAMI CEKAL,GIGIH, DAN PENYABAR ORANGNYA
9 BULAN 9 HARI EMAK KANDUNGKAN KAMI
TIBA MASA EMAK LAHIRKAN KAMI
EMAK JAGA KAMI
DENGAN PENUH KASIH SAYANG
EMAK SUSUKAN KAMI
DENGAN SUSU BADANNYA SENDIRI
EMAK BELAI KAMI
DENGAN KELEMBUTAN DAN KEIKHLASAN
EMAK TAK PERNAH ABAIKAN KAMI
KERANA EMAK AMAT MENYAYANGI KAMI

SAKIT, PENAT, LELAH
SEMUANYA EMAK PENDAM

EMAK…..! EMAK……! DI MANAKAH EMAK?
KAMI RINDUKAN EMAK! KAMI SAYANGKAN EMAK
MAAFKAN KAMI JIKA KAMI MALAKUKAN KESALAHAN
KAMI DAH MENYESAL KAMI MENYESAL…… EMAK!
JIKA ADA SATU HARI LAGI TIDAK AKAN BERHENTI
TANGAN INI MERANGKUL ERAT TUBUH EMAK
TIDAK AKAN BERHENTI IKHTIAR KAMI

MENCAPAI KEJAYAAN

POEM FOR MUM

Found this on Tasha's laptop, during one of my random surveillance....
(the documet is saved as POEM FOR MUM.doc)

10 years ago I was born.
My mum always told me it was
the happiest day of her life.
I wonder if she just said that because
all mums say that.

One day I was flipping through the album
of my first few pictures at the hospital.
These pictures had been taken several hours
after my mum gave birth to me.
Some of her friends were there to.

As my mum held me in her arms I
could tell from her eyes that she was about
to break down in tears.
I nearly broke down in tears when I saw
the pictures.

It was such a beautiful moment.

Now that’s how I know my mum didn’ just say
that it was the happiest day of her life.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!!
God Bless You

ATHENS MARATHON

The modern Athens Marathon commemorates the run of the soldier Pheidippides from a battlefield at the site of the town of Marathon, Greece, to Athens in 490 B.C., bringing news of a Greek victory over the Persians. Legend has it that Pheidippides delivered the momentous message "Niki!" ("victory"), then collapsed and died, thereby setting a precedent for dramatic conclusions to the marathon.

When the modern Olympic games were inaugurated in 1896 in Greece, the legend of Pheidippides was revived by a 24.85 mile (40 km) run from Marathon Bridge to Olympic stadium in Athens.

Twenty-five runners assembled on Marathon Bridge. The starter mumbled a few words and fired the gun, and the race was on. Spiridon Louis, a Greek postal worker from the village of Marusi and veteran of several long military marches, crossed the finish line a full seven minutes ahead of the pack. His time was 2 hours, 58 minutes, 50 seconds for the 40 kilometer distance (average pace of 7:11 minutes per mile). When it was all over nine runners finished, 8 of them Greeks. The host nation was ecstatic, and the marathon was born.

The United States was one of 9 nations at the 1896 Athens Olympics, thanks to sponsorship of athletes by the Boston Athletic Association. Middle distance runner Arthur Blake was the only American to enter the first marathon. Blake won a silver medal in the 1500 meters 3 days before the marathon but unfortunately this left him exhausted and he dropped out after about 14.5 miles. Planning for North America's first marathon began on the boat back to United States. The first annual Boston Athletic Association marathon was conducted on April 19, 1897.

At the 1908 Olympic Games in London, the marathon distance was changed to 26.2 miles to cover the ground from Windsor Castle to White City stadium, with the 2.2 miles added on so the race could finish in front of royal family's viewing box. This added two miles to the course, and is the origin of the Marathon tradition of shouting "God save the Queen!" (or other words relating to the Queen) as mile post 24 is passed. After 16 years of extremely heated discussion, this 26.2 mile distance was established at the 1924 Olympics in Paris as the official marathon distance.

Today, marathons have become a running tradition throughout the world. Yet the annual Marathon at Athens, where it all began, has a tradition and an appeal like no other.

It is so appealing that we are training to run there in 2011.....

ANTERIOR TIBIAL COMPARTMENT SYNDROME

Compartment Syndrome is a condition characterised by increased intracompartmental pressure within the inelastic fascia that surrounds muscular compartments.

During strenuous exercise, increase up to 20% may occur in muscle volume and weight due to blood flow and edema. Although normal fascial compartment can accommodate increased muscular volume during strenuous exercise, in chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) a noncompliant compartment leads to abnormally elevated tissue pressures.

Repeated episodes of CECS may lead to compartment fascia thickening which increasingly affects the ability to return to its normal state of yield.

University of Athens’s research confirmed correlation between long distance runners and increased risk of CECS development.