Why does everything have to be online? Is it trendy?

I have nothing against the virtual world.. In fact.. I like it, I agree with it.. It's easy, convenient, safe paper (therefore very GREEN), safe time and space (you don't need physical space to store documents). So when a hospital wants to go online.. I say, GO FOR IT! When the government services want to go online.. JUST DO IT!

Having said that... some of us are rather.. "cincai" or how should I say this... don't think far, do things for the sake of doing it.. WHICH IS VERY WRONG! (especially if you are a Muslim)..

I am saying all these because I am so disappointed! with this online SKT thing.. ask us to do online, but can only use internet explorer... Hello, a lot of people moving to MACINTOSH and do not have Internet Explorer! Even if we do, we need certain version pulak.. and it's soooo slow! imagine how many people use the system?! and quarter way doing it... hang! And this thing is weird.. there's no such thing as log out... and when we try to go in again... I can't?

Please.. don't spoil good things. Good things should be done well.. Plan, and execute with all ur heart and faith.. It's good to push your limit sometimes... but not when it involves thousands of people and.. you are pushing a system which is created by human!

So, whoever created this.. please look at it again.. I am begging you to do whatever you can to increase the speed and stop hanging! and stop sending me to "Selenggara Sandangan" page.. What does that suppose to mean anyway?

Selamat Hari Raya.. 2012

Almost exactly one year I have not been blogging. Did a bit more "tweeting" lately. Again, thought I would want to blog again.. For a start, I change my blog template and layout. Perhaps it will more appealing to blog with the new layout... Hehe.. We'll see!

With that, I am taking this chance to say... Selamat Hari Raya! Maaf Zahir Batin.. or in short.. "SHRMZB".. Hihi.

Once a year gathering..

I am not sure how other people celebrate Hari Raya.. but for my family, since I first came to this world it has always been house visits.. We would usually start from our late grandmother's house then our aunts and uncles.. My mother has about 10 siblings.. So you can imagine the number of houses we visit in a day and how long will the celebration continue...

It has been 3 years now since my maternal grandmother passed away.. but the tradition continues. Though we do not have a "kampung" to go back to during Hari Raya, we still celebrate it with full of excitement. So we still continue going from one house to another. And during this month of Syawal that we cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles, meet very often.. almost everyday in the first week and once a week thereafter.. and at each house we would spend hours and hours.. never bored and tired talking to each other.. we make jokes, update each other about our lives, we talk, we eat etc.. Sorry colleagues, hence the reason for me to take long leave during Raya though my "kampung" is just in KL.

Each house would have their own special delicacies.. Lontong, Ayam Golek, Laksa Asam, Laksa Johor, Beriyani, Soto, Lamb Kuzi, Chocolate Cake etc.. Everything is just delicious and mouth-watering. But as our aunts and uncles are ageing gracefully, food had to be catered nowBut that still do not spoil the spirit of togetherness.

The family grows each year. There is always new addition to the family... either someone just got married or just give birth.. This year, I see that little baby sleeping on mommy's lap and next year, I see her crawl and the year after that, I see her running around!

There were suggestions to cut this tradition short. Instead of going from one house to another.. we spend the whole day in ONE house (taking turns).. but most of my uncles and aunts did not agree to this. So continue with this current tradition. Though this current tradition is tiring... but it's fun!

I had them coming to my house yesterday.. Extremely tired.. worked all day long and did not manage to entertain most of them.. but we were happy.. Glad celebrate Hari Raya this way.. and more houses to visit next weeks!

After Syawal.. most of us will continue with our lives.. rarely get to meet and chat.. Luckily we have facebook and twitter.. a great way to update and share some pieces of our lives with others... :)

Selamat Hari Raya

SELAMAT HARI RAYA

Hope it's not too late... Selamat Hari Raya and Maaf Zahir Batin to all...

I've been extremely busy this year.. and I'm not sure why.. Do I really have a lot of things to do or I am not managing my time well..

Anyway, this is just to explain as to why I might not reply Raya wishes or even send raya wishes to a lot of people this year.. So I with this hari baik and bulan baik.. I am forgiven. :)

I hope this year's Ramadhan was our best! Just in case we do not meet another Ramadhan next year. And Eidul Fitri is also a celebration of us battling our nafsu. So, hope we didn't lose to it right on the day of celebration..

So everyone, keep controlling your emotion, your desire to eat, spend etc.. drive safe! I can imagine how bad the traffic going to be on Sunday!! So.. be patient and have a wonderful Raya celebration!

A neglected blog..

OMG! I have neglected my blogs for ages!! Blame this on the phone! I rarely use the computer to access the internet these days and find typing on the small iPhone as too tiring.. so no update!

See.. that's human.. very simple.. always blame on others.. haha.

It has been exactly 9 months since I last updated this blog. So many things happened... of course the ups and downs.. but alhamdulillah more ups than down. Also blessed with great people around me who were always there to catch me fall and offered their hands to bring me up again.. :)

So... here I am.. gonna start BLOGGING AGAIN (I hope this is for real!)

Thanks 2010, it has been great and hello 2011!

2010 is coming to an end. In just 8 minutes, 2011 will say hi to all of us. So does this exact timing matters? Why must it be hallmark for change? Why do we have to wait for certain time to make resolution?
Hmm.. I guess this specific time help us to set our turning point. Without it some of us may not have any vision or will be lost.. Where is the end of my journey?
For me, i cherish two new years.. 1st muharram and 1st jan.. Both serve as a cornerstone for me to stop.. Look back what i have gone through past 12 months.. What I did and what I didn't do, what I should do and should not do...
Then, sit down and think how I want my life in the new year be..
But i don't quite see the point counting down the new year, watching fire crackers and partying.. What happens after that? Hangover? Tired and sleepy on the first day of a new year? Thought it should be THE day for us to start working for a new start?!
Oh, well.. It's one minute past midnight.. Happy new year all.. Hope you all had a great time in 2010 like I did and 2011 will be even greater..
Back to my comfortable warm blanket and pillow.. Hoping for a good start at work tmrw!

Pleasure of doing nothing...

Oh.. This has been the most awaiting week before the new year begins... Breakaway week.. The most interesting part is, this breakaway week has 2 parts. Part 1 is ending soon.. Tomorrow that is..

So this first part of breakaway is kewl.. Really enjoying the pleasure of doing nothing. All I did was relaxing, siting by the beach and reading story books... All the stress totally gone. Could feel the energy coming back and I think I am ready to go back to work! Oops.. Not so soon! Second part will follow soon and can't wait for that too!

Oh, yeah... The new year in the Islamic calendar begins tomorrow.. Anything should have done but didn't do? Well, I suppose worth carrying forward.. Ready with new year resolution? Anyway, I wish everyone Salam ma'al hijrah and inshaAllah we will have a better and blessed year ahead.

Letting go..

Half of my patients in the female ward are in the geriatric group (age more than 65). Some are good old people - a term we use describing the functional status - independent, mobile and lucid. Some are the opposite..

So I had a patient.. 95 year-old lady... with some underlying medical problems. She was admitted to a different hospital before this. She told her children she wanted to die at home.. so they brought her home. However, the children noted their mother was very breathless that they could not bare looking at her mother like that.. she brought her to my hospital...

In the ward, she was not doing well and she knew her time is coming.. she wants to leave in peace. Some culture believe the best to die is to die at home, not the hospital. So, both the team and family decided to let her go if she deteriorate further. A mutual understanding that can sometimes be difficult to achieve between healthcare and family members.. May she rests in peace..

Loving someone is not only by keeping them with you, but sometimes letting them go. Letting them go in a dignified way.. in peace. I am sure she has had a wonderful 90 years of life. As for the children.. I am sure they were good children to her that they do not have guilt and regrets if she goes. Some people, at the very last minute of someone's life.. tend to decide to keep them. Not for the best interest of that someone.. But for their own best interest.. due to guilt etc... 

The thing is, cherish whatever we have, whoever that person is.. more so if they are our parents. Treat them well. Think as if either one of us can go at anytime and we do not want regrets and guilt. Keeping is not always a sign of love but letting go can be a sign of love.. a TRUE and SACRED love.. A sacrifice.. 

Losing another friend to the neighbour..

Past 5 years in my career, met a lot of friends.. Good ones mostly. Went through thick and thin, ups and downs together... 2 have left.. But with the current technology, we are still in touch!

And tomorrow, losing another friend. T.R.Y. in short, will be going to Lion City to pursue her dreams to be a nephrologist.. To get into fellowship programme in Malaysia is taking too long until the country lost a lot of good doctors. Maybe we need to do something about it?

Anyway, T.R.Y., it's been a great pleasure to know you. Thanks for being there for me through thick and thin, from the first time we took our first part together to Singapore until now. I am sure supernova will agree with me on this!

Hard to say goodbye..

With supernova and ward sisters

Farewell present

Lastly, T.R.Y. all the best and do come back after your training.. 

So blessed...

Every Monday, I will go to work with the feeling of... I guess what they call as Monday blues.. Sad, unmotivated, tired, (especially after a good doing nothing weekend).. But, I still drag my feet, take a deep breath, walk pass the corridor of the fifth floor, glancing at the white board of ward 22 (looking for space for potential transfer), ward 24 (looking for how many patients I need to see) and ward 23 (comparing how many patients they have in that ward).. That's my routine before I start my day..

So today, I am glad to see there are enough space for potential transfer, and empty spaces in my ward.. No offense, not that I do not like to see patients.. That's my job and I love it! The thing is.. It's good for the staff as well as the patients when the ward is less full.. More air to breathe in...

Back to my routine.. Rush down to the clinic after my rounds, and as usual, clinic will finish around at the end of lunch time.. Quickly had a quick lunch and there you go another clinic in the afternoon. So today, my clinic ended 4 something.. So again, walked back to the ward and 2 new cases to be seen! Phewwww!!! I am very glad and happy. Despite the tiring, busy and a bit chaotic Mondays, I am always blessed because at the end of the day, it isn't as bad as I thought it would be and manageable! Alhamdulillah.. Thank you Allah.

Care for a walk?

 I was very happy to take off from work last week. Not that I don't like my work but, sometimes you need to be away from work.. to rejuvenate yourself, and kind of recharge yourself. It was a last minute thing, so didn't go outstation. But I decided to take a walk at the nearby lake garden.. TAMAN TASIK TITIWANGSA, and took some photos.. gave me some kind of satisfaction.. here were some of the photos taken..

The entrance of the lake garden

Hello, little ants!

Beautiful trees.. Subhanallah

Pokok semalu, right?

Ongoing construction

Hardworking man, keeping the area clean...

That's the spirit!

I was approached by my dedicated, wonderful houseman yesterday.. she likes paediatrics and plan to take exams ie. MRCPCh. So, she asked me if it's a good idea to take exams early.. I wanted to say... "Yes, of course, especially before you start having a family." Luckily I changed the question to, "Do you have a family on your own?" and she replied,  "Oh, yes. I have 2 kids." My jaw almost dropped.. I am so amazed with the spirit and motivation some people have. She's married with two kids, went through housemanship in one of the busiest hospital with no negative issues.. Way to go, girl!

So, my advise to her.. "Well, you have gone through housemanship with two kids, taking exams won't be a very big deal. Yeah.. do take exams early.. you never know whether you can make it in first, second or third attempts. So, need to be prepared early. The later you take, the lazier you will get and you will lose the momentum to study." - that's my view on postgraduate exam because that's how I am. Other people might look at it differently.

Still remember when we were in medical school, some lecturers were complaining about students getting married to early etc.. Well, let them be! As long as you know your limitation and your spouse's, you will be fine, I think. The thing is.. whatever you do in whatever circumstances, be sincere, be honest and always do the best for Allah. InshaAllah everything will be fine and in place.

So, you go, girl! You will be a good paediatrician!

Thank you, aunties...

Who says courtesy is out of fashion now?? I met two nice and caring aunties last week. First auntie in the hospital, at the walkway on my way home. I was rushing home, with hands on the phone tapping SMS to supernova, I think and was wearing my sling bag with the bag at the back.. One nice auntie came to me and said, "Assalamualaikum.. Don't face your bag to the back. People can do anything without you realizing it including putting drugs into your bag." I was speechless and replied her with a big smile and said "Thank you".

That's the entrance to the ballroom lobby
where the glamorous was taken place

Second auntie in Surau at the Marriot Hotel. They were having some KL Islamic Fashion Festival there. I wasn't attending it.. came straight from work to accompany a friend of mine who wanted to pick up something from Star Hill. Couldn't find a Surau in Star Hill. Is there a Surau there? Anyway, had to go to the hotel's surau... Felt so small, with my non-glamorous work attire I entered the lobby of the grand ballroom to see beautiful and elegant looking ladies and gentlemen. So do not belong there! So, being a forgetful and careless me, I left my laptop bag as well as my had handbag at the back and prayed.. As I finished, an auntie asked me, "Is this yours? Be careful.. Next time put it in front of you and don't leave it like this. I have lost my belongings just last week in a surau too." So ashamed of myself.. 29 year-old yet do not know how to take care of my stuff, could not say more than.. "Thank you".

See... Courtesy is not out of fashion.. So come on, bring courtesy back into our culture. Another message of the day... make sure things are in front of you... not at the back!

Introducing the new Nokia N8

Should this be my new love?? Can't wait to check out....!

Struggle of a single human being

29 and single ain't easy! Pressure is high until I feel I want to explode! I am blessed with good life, good career and great friends and family. But of course, more is expected of you by this age ie. having a family of your own.. Everywhere I go.. "so now that you are already at this stage of life and career, and when are you moving to the next step.. ie. wife and mother?" All I can do.. smile and say... next year! (Have been saying next year for the past few years though!) Hahaha.. what other answers can I give? 

Just please understand, I am not against it.. THE THING IS.. it's complicated. Ain't gonna elaborate here but please just wait.. If there is news, will tell the world about it... Meanwhile chill and leave me alone?! 

p/s: more bonus questions will be expected once one is married ie... when are u going to have a baby? when are you having a second/third/forth etc baby? when is your kid getting married? You see.. we are surrounded by too many concerned and caring people who want us to be happy and they've forgotten that by asking these questions, they add more ache and pain then help...

Not Meant To Be?

Hmm.. blessing in disguise.. So we say.. and we guess what is the blessing.. Yes, I am still talking about my missing/stolen iPhone. I am over it but.. still can't stop talking about it..

Without a doubt, I need to buy a new phone. But what I am thinking about is now.. which one? Buy another iPhone or buy a different phone... a smartphone I guess so that I can still continue my contract with Maxis...

That brings me to think why did I want an iPhone so badly.. Is it for the style? Is it because it's the trends? I was stupid enough to think that I need it because I am a Mac user and that's the only phone that can synchronize well with my macbook.. THE THING IS... I am so wrong! I just realized there are a lot of phones these days that can synchronize well with macbook.. without additional cost using iSync (a software that has been readily available in my macbook)

So, I was looking at other phones now.. and I am eyeing on Nokia N8.. I think it is worth buying... so battle between iPhone and N8.. who will win my heart???

Not a very "happy" birthday..

Thanks a lot for all the birthday wishes.. good wishes of course.. for my happiness, blessed life, wishes to come true etc...

But! It was the most depressing birthday.. as you would know by now, I lost my love of my life.. on the very same week. So, I was mourning the whole week..

The morning of my birthday, I felt empty, sad, and lost. At work I was very irritable and felt like screaming and shouting at all the house officers and.. patients too. Fortunately, I could still control myself not to do it to patients.. but to some of the house officers.. sorry, man! If you guys dun buck up by next week... disciplinary actions will be taken. And I am serious!

So the whole Friday was totally a gloomy day.. I let it get into me.. I got too carried away.. Then I realised, why am I letting this get into me so deeply. Yes, I love it so much.. It's something that I have always wanted. I enjoyed and no regrets on the effort I made to get it. But sometimes, God is just testing you on how one would handle a loss.. Luckily this is an object.. What it is someone I love....? Hopefully that will not happen in the near future.. Amin.

The thing is.. life is never perfect.. There will always be challenges and obstacles to face. I think I have been lucky and blessed enough on how I have been tested....

"God does not impose on any soul a responsibility beyond its ability. Every soul receives whatever it gains and is liable for whatever it does. Lord, do not hold us responsible for our forgetfulness and mistakes. Lord, do not lay upon us that burden You laid on those who lived before us. Lord, do not lay on us what we cannot afford. Ignore and forgive our sins. Have mercy on us. You are our Lord. Help us against the unbelievers." (Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayah 286)

To all my family and friends.. thanks so much for the support and empathy. You all know me so well on how "it" meant to me...

So, it's time to cheer up and be a bit more careful next time.

Frustrated like #!*#!*^?!!!!!!

I am very sad today.. and frustrated... I have lost something that I really like and love.. especially the way I have lost it.. I lost my iPhone!!!!

I have "worked" very hard for it.. but I spent so little time with it.. about 3 weeks. Moments I have spent with it was so great and I don't think anything else can replace it.. and I am still in denial....... (hoping for someone to return it back to me.. )

Oh, dear iPhone.. please come back to me..
Oh, dear people who have "accidentally" taken it.. please return it back to me..
Oh, dear Maxis.. please be kind to me, let me buy the phone at cheaper price and do not have to wait for the queue.
Oh, dear Mr IO (Investigating Officer).. please locate my phone..
Last but not least.. Oh, dear Allah.. give me strength to accept this..

(Okay.. I am being too dramatic.. can't help it..)

How bad this may look.. I am sure there is blessing indisguise.. Thank you Allah..

For healthy living..

Thanks, Supernova! She introduced me to this kewl website.. So many tips on health and weight management. The best part.. the recipes.. the meal planner. So, dieting is not about not eating.. but it is about eating right:

• portion control
• choosing the right ingredients
• eat regularly - 3 main meals and 2 snacks

So I recommend you to drop by this site and register.. You don't have to crack your head choosing menu etc. They provide the meal plan for the week and recipes too!

Visit.. Everyday Health at http://www.everydayhealth.com

Can't wait to try the recipes..!

Good morning.. Time for healthy cooking!

This new addiction can be fatal.. yes, baking and cooking can be fatal! Especially to others as I like to see other people to eat. At the moment, the whole family.. brother, sister, SIL, BIL and even my mom are trying to adapt "healthy lifestyle". Running obesity clinic gives me more motivation to comply to it. So, everytime I say I want to bake something.. my SIL will say, "Oh, no! We will fat!"

My SIL and I were successful in turning down (oh, acutally we couldn't resist taking 1 spoon) chocolate lava from Chef & Brew. It's our favourite desert and so yummy.. we decided to just see the kids enjoying it until I had to stop feeding my niece... Afraid of taking the spoon and feed myself than her!

So, don't worry SIL.. I baked something healthy today.. Pumpkin Muffin. I took this recipe from Kitchen Stewardship. The motto of this website is good and logical - Balancing God's Gift.. Some people would say.. "We live only once.. why think so much of the calorie, fat etc.. Not good to waste.. Now that we are healthy we should enjoy the food.. Nikmat yang Allah berikan etc... When we are sick, we will not be able to enjoy it" BUT STOP! THE THING IS.. Food is not the only nikmat/goodness that Allah gives us. How about health and strength? So, be careful when you want to use religion to defend your action. Look at it this way.. WE EAT TO LIVE AND NOT LIVE TO EAT. Practise how out Prophet ate. Remember to enjoy all the nikmat given to us.. food, sleep, health, strength, wealth, love... lists will just go to infernity..

Coming back to the recipe.. very simple!

Ingredients:

Mix together and allow to rest (soak) overnight at room temperature:

• 1 2/3 cup white whole wheat flour
• 1 c. pureed pumpkin
• 3/4 c. water + 2 Tbs buttermilk or plain yogurt
• 1/2 c. melted butter

Do make sure your butter is cooled a bit before mixing in, and pour while mixing so the colder ingredients don’t harden up the butter.

When ready to bake, add:

• 1 cup sugar or natural granular alternative
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp cloves
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg

Method: Pour into muffin cups and bake 45 minutes at 325 degrees F.  They’ll be a bit more moist than you’re used to with the “toothpick test”.  Do not overbake!  Allow to rest 5 minutes in the tins, then tip out to cool on racks.

Have a good time enjoying it!