Home Improvement

My home's been kinda cramped these last few weeks. It looks like a refugee camp.There we were all huddled and bundled from room to room.Food ,at the mercy of the nearest warungs. Doing a little home improvement ,you see.Barely have time to update this blog. Anyway,its almost complete.Next task,dusting,mopping and putting things back in place. And the garden needs to be revitalised.Most of the plants looked shocked and unkempt. In a few days,hopefully,everything will be spick and span.

Tun Ghaffar Baba

Former Deputy PM Tun Ghaffar Baba passed away on 23 April 2006. He was Dr Mahathir's second deputy after Musa Hitam. Throughout his life he was faithful to UMNO and its leaders. He served under four PMs (Tunku Abdul Rahman,Tun Razak,Tun Hussein and lastly Tun Mahathir. But Tun M let him down in 1993.He was allowed to be defeated by a more financially secure Anwar Ibrahim.He lost his DPM post to Anwar. He declined numerous titles offered by the states rulers until he retired from politics. He is largely credited to the establishment of MARA and FELDA and like agencies to help the rural folks,especially the Malays.Hand in hand with Tun Razak. He should be remembered for that contribution to the Malays. My deepest condolences to his family.Al Fatihah.

The Rambutan Tree

There is this rambutan tree which I planted 7 or 8 years ago. For the past 3 seasons it didn't produce many fruits. I mean 3 or 4 fruits in a season.I got to taste its fruits only once, I think.The kids got to it earlier. So I said to the tree : ` Look here you miserable tree.I'm very very disappointed with your productivity.Three seasons I've tolerated with your poor production.This season is your last chance to prove me wrong,or its the axe for you.I kid you not,I'll chop you down.' A couple of months ago ,had a discussion with the missus and kids. If we got rid of the rambutan tree,break down the side wall of the porch,we could have a bigger porch for two cars.Everyone okayed. Started negotiating with the contractor to build the porch last month. And then surprise,surprise. The tree that I had threatened to do in started sprouting flowers from every branch.At least a hundred rambutans possibly. I couldn't chop it off now,this is rezeki (God's bounty). So I told the contractor, no you're not chopping off my tree.No extension to the porch.Instead,we'll widen the veranda,raise the floor and still have the rambutan tree and a reduced garden. Long live the trees and may they be fruitful forever.

Wiz Kid

There is this very gifted six year old in Perak.A maths wiz. He is able to solve maths problems way way beyond his years. I'm talking about very high level maths (university level). His proud parents took him all over the country to demonstrate his skills. He has been `adopted' by the Terengganu government, cos his dad was born and raised in that state. His parents declare that they nor anyone else would never exploit his ability for monetary gains. Turning seven this year,this young boy had to go to school,just like any other seven year old. It has been reported that this smart boy has been skipping school. There was a possibility that he might be expelled. The boy's reason for cutting classes,he was bored.The maths syllabus was too easy. It is reported that though he was a wiz at maths,he was almost on par with the other kids at other subjects. His parents are considering to enrol him in a private school,for special exclusive education.How that is going to help the boy,we don't know. I hope his parents consult child experts and get some expert advice. Recently ,I was shocked to read this latest news about the boy. His parents are allowing a herbal food/drink firm to use their kid's name on its products.His dad says its not exploitation.Then, what is it? Sorry kid,you're smart but your dad,I wonder.